Pennridge, CB West look to bounce back in non-conference battle
Old rivals Pennridge and Central Bucks West will both be trying to shake off tough Week Two losses when the teams square off in a non-conference battle at Helman Field Friday night.
Kickoff time is 7 p.m.
The Rams are coming off a 16-10 overtime loss to Central Bucks East while the Bucks are coming off a 21-14 defeat to Souderton Area, in a game in which West overcame a 14-0 deficit to tie the game in the fourth quarter.
It will be the final contest before each squad opens conference play next week, with the Rams coming into Friday with a 1-1 record and the Bucks trying to get their first win of the season, at 0-2.
Key for both teams tonight will be cleaning up the penalties. Pennridge was flagged nine times last week in the loss to the Patriots while the Bucks were penalized 10 times.
West would like to duplicate the offensive success it had in the second half against Souderton, as quarterback Eddie Shields helped direct a pair of scoring drives, mixing in some timely passes with an effective rushing attack.
The biggest contributor on the ground was Jake Reichwein, who broke away for a 58-yard score for the Bucks’ first TD and then — on a 14-play drive in the fourth — Reichwein pounded it in for a one-yard score that tied the game.
The Bucks controlled things up front for much of the second half, something that will be essential if they are to contain the balanced running attack of the host Rams.
Nick Hirsch ran tough for Pennridge last week, especially on a game-tying drive in the fourth quarter. Quarterback DeVon Balmer and wide receiver Ryan Cuthbert hooked up early for a score against East, but a big gain later
between the two was called back due to a penalty. Pennridge aims for more consistency in the passing attack as the season progresses into Week Three.
The two squads used to meet every season as conference rivals, most recently as members of the Suburban One League Continental Conference before realignment sent Pennridge to the National.
In the non-conference clash between the two last year, the Rams went on the road and earned a 35-23 win at War Memorial Stadium.
