Reporter/Times Herald Area Week Eight Previews

It’s the battle for the top spot in the Suburban One League Continental Conference, as North Penn travels to undefeated Central Bucks West Friday night for a Week Eight showdown at War Memorial Stadium.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

The Knights come into this one 6-1 overall and a perfect 4-0 in the conference. The Bucks are also 4-0 in the Continental, with a 7-0 mark overall.

North Penn defeated previously-unbeaten Souderton last week, 47-21, while the Bucks beat Central Bucks East 45-10.

In what is a long-standing rivalry, CB West (formerly Central Bucks, Doylestown) owns a 47-41-4 record overall against North Penn, but the Knights have dominated recent history. CB West’s last win over the Knights came way back in 2000.

Both teams have a dynamic runner to hand the ball to, as Khalani Eaton helps power the NP ground attack and Jack Felton is racking up big yards for the Bucks.

The game will be broadcast live on WNPV, 98.5 FM, and can be followed live on Twitter @mpcabrey.

The following is a game-by-game preview of the area for Week Eight.

Pottstown at Pope John Paul II

Time/Place: Saturday, 1 p.m., at PJP.
Records: The Trojans are 4-3 overall and 1-2 in the PAC Frontier. PJP is 6-1 overall and 3-0 in the PAC Frontier.
Last Week: Pottstown won 39-20 over Upper Merion. The Golden Panthers romped 47-6 over Phoenixville.
Players to Watch: Freshman quarterback Joneil Oister exploded for five total touchdowns last week for Pottstown.
Prediction: Pope John Paul II 37, Pottstown 23.

Upper Merion at Pottsgrove

Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Pottsgrove.
Records: The Vikings are 4-3 overall and 2-1 in the PAC Frontier. The Falcons are 3-4 overall and 2-1 in the PAC Frontier.
Last Week: Upper Merion lost 39-20 to Pottstown. Pottsgrove won 21-6 over Upper Perk.
Players to Watch: Anthony Swenda ran hard last week for the Vikings. Isaiah Taylor rushed for 153 yards and all three scores for the Falcons last week.
Prediction: Upper Merion 17, Pottsgrove 10.

Norristown at Methacton

Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Methacton.
Records: The Eagles are 0-7 overall and 0-3 in the PAC Liberty. Methacton is 2-5 overall and 0-3 in the PAC Liberty.
Last Week: Norristown lost 46-7 to Owen J. Roberts. The Warriors lost 49-21 to Perk Valley.
Players to Watch: Zion Malone had a 70-yard touchdown run for the Eagles last week. Mike Merola and Larry Dickerson hooked up for a 68-yard touchdown last week for Methacton.
Prediction: Methacton 24, Norristown 17.

Owen J. Roberts at Spring-Ford

Time/Place: Saturday, 2 p.m., at Spring-Ford.
Records: The Wildcats are 6-1 overall and 2-1 in the PAC Liberty. The Rams are 5-2 overall and 3-0 in the PAC Liberty.
Last Week: OJR blew away Norristown, 46-7. Spring-Ford romped 55-20 over Boyertown.
Players to Watch: Quarterback Cooper Chamberlain threw for 143 yards and three touchdowns while running for 89 yards and two scores last week for the Wildcats. Ryan Engro ran for a pair of touchdowns and threw for another pair for Spring-Ford last week.
Prediction: Spring-Ford 28, Owen J. Roberts 21.

North Penn at Central Bucks West

Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at CB West.
On the Air: The game will be broadcast live on WNPV, 1440 AM and 98.5 FM.
On Twitter: @mpcabrey.
Records: The Knights are 6-1 overall and 4-0 in the SOL Continental. The Bucks are 7-0 overall and 4-0 in the SOL Continental.
Last Week: North Penn won 47-21 over Souderton Area. West won 45-10 over CB East.
Players to Watch: Both squads have running backs in the midst of monster seasons: Khalani Eaton for NP and Jack Fallon for West.
Prediction: North Penn 35, CB West 28.

Pennridge at William Tennent

Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Tennent.
Records: The Rams are 1-6 overall and 0-4 in the SOL Continental. The Panthers are 2-5 overall and 0-3 in the SOL Continental.
Last Week: Pennridge lost 27-7 to CB South. Tennent lost 34-14 to Neshaminy.
Players to Watch: Bobby Croyle is coming on at quarterback for the Rams. Tom Santiago continues to be a versatile threat for Tennent.
Prediction: William Tennent 28, Pennridge 21.

Quakertown at Plymouth Whitemarsh
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at PW.
On Twitter: @emor09.
Records: The Panthers are 3-4 overall and 3-1 in the SOL American. PW is 5-1 overall and 2-1 in the SOL American.
Last Week: Quakertown won 14-13 over Upper Dublin. The Colonials lost for the first time, 28-24 to Cheltenham.
Players to Watch: Sophomore quarterback Will Steich helped engineer a comeback for the Panthers last week. PW senior Larry McLaughlin is a smooth operator at quarterback.
Prediction: Plymouth Whitemarsh 24, Quakertown 13.

Souderton at Council Rock North

Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Council Rock North.
On Twitter: @khunter10.
Records: Big Red is 6-1 overall and 3-1 in the SOL Continental. CR North is 1-6 overall and 0-4 in the SOL National.
Last Week: Big Red lost to North Penn, 47-21. CR North lost 35-7 to Abington.
Players to Watch: DeAndre Wakefield is a breakaway back for the Indians. CR North has a solid senior cornerback/running back in Mike Long.
Prediction: Souderton 35, Council Rock North 7.

Upper Dublin at Wissahickon

Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Wissahickon.
Records: The Cardinals are 3-3 overall and 0-2 in the SOL American. The Trojans are 1-6 overall and 1-2 in the SOL American.
Last Week: Upper Dublin lost 14-13 to Quakertown. Wiss was shut out 20-0 by Upper Moreland.
Players to Watch: Jacob Rossman scored two rushing touchdowns last week for Upper Dublin. Kyle Lehman did some productive running last week for Wiss.
Prediction: Upper Dublin 21, Wissahickon 14.

Malvern Prep at Germantown Academy

Time/Place: Saturday, 2:30 p.m., at Germantown Academy.
Records: Malvern Prep is 1-4 overall and 0-0 in the InterAC. GA is 4-0 overall and 0-0 in the InterAC.
Last Week: Malvern was idle. The Patriots were idle.
Players to Watch: Ryan Mcguire provides some burst in the backfield for Malvern. GA has an explosive runner in Trae Vance.
Prediction: Germantown Academy 37, Malvern Prep 28.

Archbishop Ryan at La Salle

Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Upper Dublin.
On Twitter: @ADRobinson3.
Records: Ryan is 1-5 overall and 0-2 in the PCL Red. La Salle is 5-1 overall and 1-1 in the PCL Red.
Last Week: Ryan lost 51-7 to Archbishop Wood. The Explorers rolled 49-7 over Father Judge.
Players to Watch: Justin Collier is a contributor at both wideout and safety for Ryan. La Salle’s Sam Brown is tough to cover and an even tougher runner.
Prediction: La Salle 35, Ryan 13.

Archbishop Wood at St. Joseph’s Prep
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Widener University.
Records: The Vikings are 4-2 overall and 1-1 in the PCL Red. St. Joe’s is 3-2 overall and 2-0 in the PCL Red.
Last Week: Wood won 51-7 over Ryan. St. Joe’s rolled 44-7 over Roman Catholic.
Players to Watch: The Vikings can hand the ball to Ryan DeVergilis, a breakaway back. St. Joe’s Zavier Atkins can cover well in the secondary and also get deep as a wideout.
Prediction: St. Joseph’s Prep 35, Archbishop Wood 19.

Bishop McDevitt at Lansdale Catholic

Time/Place: Saturday, 5 p.m., at Wissahickon.
On Twitter: @khunter10.
Records: McDevitt is 3-4 overall and 2-2 in the PCL Blue. LC is 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the PCL Blue.
Last Week: McDevitt won 16-8 over West Catholic. The Crusaders won 14-0 over Cardinal O’Hara.
Players to Watch: Jaylen Dorsey is a tough two-way player for McDevitt. Danny Dutkiewicz rushed for both of LC’s touchdowns last week.
Prediction: Lansdale Catholic 27, Bishop McDevitt 14.