Neshaminy can’t afford any more hiccups
Just when it looked like the Neshaminy football team was in solid shape for a playoff berth after winning three of its four games, along came last Saturday night’s 17-7 loss to Pennridge on Heartbreak Ridge.
This somewhat surprising development did more than severely damage Neshaminy’s SONL title hopes. It also means the Redskins are going to need to pick up a difficult road win at either North Penn or Pennsbury to assure they will make the playoffs.
Although nobody realized it at the time, what’s also hurting Neshaminy is its season-opening game at Montclair. When the Redskins rallied to beat Montclair, it was hailed as a huge win over a defending New Jersey state champion.
How this inaccuracy got started is unclear because New Jersey doesn’t even have public school state championships, but that’s not really the point. What is important is Neshaminy’s win came over a struggling Montclair team that is now a dismal 0-4.
As a result, Montclair is dragging down Neshaminy’s power point total (see the chart on this page) and that trip to New Jersey could really come back to haunt them if they end up on the short end of the 16-team district bubble.
Pennsbury (4-1) at Bensalem (0-5), tonight, 7 p.m.
With the tougher part of its league schedule coming up, this is one last tune-up for the Falcons prior to taking on the likes of Pennridge, North Penn and Neshaminy. These teams are on such a different level from each other there’s no reason to even analyze the game.
Neshaminy (3-2) at Central Bucks South (2-3), tonight, 7 p.m.
As the 17-7 score against Pennridge last week would indicate, Neshaminy’s offense struggled and the lone TD came on a long pass. The good news is C.B. South is not strong at all on the defensive side of the ball and the Redskins should score four touchdowns or more.
Central Bucks West (2-3) at Council Rock South (3-2), tonight, 7 p.m.
After a slow start, C.B. West has won two in a row, including last week’s 27-0 triumph over Truman. Rock South, meanwhile, had a somewhat surprisingly tough time before prevailing in double overtime over Central Bucks East. Last week’s close call might be a perfect wake-up call for a veteran Rock South squad, which is a playoff caliber team when it takes care of business for four quarters.
Jenkintown (2-3) at Bristol (2-3), tonight, 7 p.m.
This BAL game projects as a toss-up. In addition to having identical records, both teams have recently been beaten by New Hope by similar scores. Bristol struggled offensively at unbeaten New Hope last week, but should be able to move the ball with much more success against the Drakes on its home field.
Episcopal (4-0) at Conwell-Egan (4-1), tonight, 7 p.m.
The visitors come in undefeated, but don’t read too much into that. They have not played a tough schedule and they barely beat a 1-4 Cardinal O’Hara team. The swarming Conwell-Egan defense allowed only 56 rushing yards last week against Neumann Goretti. It also recorded its second shutout in a row and third of the season. It’s been a long time since Conwell-Egan has been this strong defensively and the offense is starting to crank it up as well.
Harry S Truman (2-3) at Quakertown (5-0), tonight, 7 p.m.
This doesn’t look at all good for the locals. Following a pre-season filled with optimism, Truman (2-3) has had injury problems and just got shut out by C.B. West. Quakertown can both run and throw the ball. It also plays defense. To date, Quakertown has outscored its opponents by a staggering margin of 226 to 39.
Morrisville (2-3) at Calvary Christian (1-4), tomorrow, 3 p.m.
If you look at the records this appears to be a very winnable game for the Bulldogs. Unfortunately, that’s not necessarily the case. Morrisville lost to Lower Moreland, 10-7. Calvary Christian just beat Lower Moreland, 50-7. It also gave New Hope a very competitive game in a 21-6 loss. Mo’ville needs to get its offense going again. Last week against Valley Forge it had only 71 yards in total offense.
Council Rock North (3-2) at Norristown (2-3), tomorrow, 1 p.m.
After beating two struggling teams that are currently a combined 1-9, Norristown has lost three in a row. Led by Brandon McIlwain, who threw for 192 yards and four TDs last week, Rock North has been headed in the other direction with two straight wins. It’s looking more and more like the regular-season ending Rock North-Rock South game could be do or die in terms of the playoffs.
PIAA District 1 Power Points
CLASS AAAA
- Downingtown West (5-0) 630
- Downingtown East (5-0) 600
- Perkiomen Valley (5-0) 580
- Quakertown (5-0) 570
- Plymouth-Whitemarsh (5-0) 560
- Upper Dublin (5-0) 540
- Spring-Ford (5-0) 530
- Pennsbury (4-1) 520
- Unionville (3-2) 490
- Upper Darby (4-1) 480
- Coatesville (4-1), Garnet Valley (4-1), Haverford (4-1) Council Rock North (3-2) 470 apiece.
- Pennridge (3-2) 430
- C.B. East (3-2), Council Rock South (3-2), Souderton (3-2) 420 apiece
- Neshaminy (3-2), North Penn (3-2) 410 apiece.
CLASS AA
- New Hope (5-0) 550.
- Springfield Montco (2-2) 340
- Bristol (2-3) 320
- Valley Forge (1-4) 210
Class A
- Delco Christian (4-1) 500
- Bishop McDevitt (2-3) 370
- Jenkintown (2-3) 350
- Kipp DuBois (2-3) 340
- Morrisville (2-3) 280
