Reporter/Times Herald Area Week Eight Football Previews

Two teams with Suburban One League Continental Conference titles hopes will square off Saturday, as Souderton Area travels to Upper Dublin in a battle between two playoff hopefuls.

Kickoff is at 11 a.m.

Both teams come into this one with matching 3-1 conference records, tied with Bensalem and trailing first-place Quakertown by a game. Upper Dublin is 5-2 overall on the year, and Souderton is 4-3.

“Eddie’s guys, they’re so well-coached and disciplined,” Upper Dublin coach Bret Stover said of Ed Gallagher and Souderton. “He basically says, ‘here’s what I’m doing, it’s no secret.’ And we’re kind of the same way. So it will be interesting Saturday morning.”

The Cardinals are coming off a 28-9 victory over Pennsbury, in a game in which Nyfise McIntyre rushed for 73 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Colin O’Sullivan found six different targets, completing 13 of his 16 passes for 125 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

The Cards got the win but would like to play a more complete game this week.

“We did enough to win,” Stover said. “We’re not happy with only doing enough. We want to do more. We want to be clean and we want to have momentum going into the playoffs.”

Upper Dublin is currently fifth in District 1-5A. Souderton is ranked 14th in 6A.

Big Red is coming off a 28-14 win over Abington, powered by four rushing touchdowns by Brayden Porter.

The winner of this contest stays in the hunt for a conference title and also picks up a heavy dose of momentum with the postseason approaching.

North Penn at Central Bucks West

Site/Time: Friday, 7 p.m., at CB West.

On Twitter: @mpcabrey.

Records: The Knights are 7-0 overall and 4-0 in the SOL National. The Bucks are 6-1 overall and 4-0 in the SOL National.

Last Week: North Penn won 48-20 over Truman. West won by forfeit, 1-0, over Hatboro-Horsham.

Players to watch: Quarterback Ryan Zeltt and running back Khalani Eaton have been a formidable tandem for the Knights all season. Eli Boehm and Donte Mancini help power a tremendous ground game for the Bucks.

Prediction: North Penn 28, CB West 21.

Central Bucks East at Pennridge

Site/Time: Friday, 7 p.m., at Pennridge.

Records: The Rams are 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the SOL National. The Patriots are 6-1 overall and 4-0 in the SOL National.

Last Week: Pennridge blew away Bensalem, 45-0. East rolled, 35-7, over Council Rock North.

Players to watch: Nate Mossbrook had a 56-yard touchdown run for the Rams last week. Quinn Moody had four receptions for 101 yards and two touchdowns for the Pats last week.

Prediction: CB East 27, Pennridge 20.

Souderton Area at Upper Dublin

Site/Time: Saturday, 11 a.m., at Upper Dublin.

On Twitter: @khunter10.

Records: The Cardinals are 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the SOL Continental. Big Red is 4-3 overall and 3-1 in the SOL Continental.

Last Week: Upper Dublin shut down Pennsbury, 28-9. Souderton beat Abington, 28-14.

Players to watch: Brayden Porter had four rushing touchdowns last week for Big Red. Nyfise McIntyre is coming off a two-touchdown performance on the ground for the Cards.

Prediction: Upper Dublin 31, Souderton Area 24.

Cheltenham at Wissahickon

Site/Time: Friday, 7 p.m., at Wissahickon.

Records: The Trojans are 2-5 overall and 1-2 in the SOL American. The Panthers are 3-4 overall and 2-1 in the SOL American.

Last Week: Wissahickon beat Lower Moreland, 48-28. Cheltenham lost 21-13 to PW.

Players to watch: Zaheim Welton-Salahuddin had an 85-yard touchdown run last week for the Panthers. Kyle Lehman racked up 153 yards and three scores last week for the Trojans.

Prediction: Cheltenham 20, Wissahickon 14.

Plymouth-Whitemarsh at William Tennent

Site/Time: Friday, 7 p.m., at Tennent.

On Twitter: @khunter10.

Records: PW is 5-1 overall and 3-0 in the SOL American. The Panthers are 0-6 overall and 0-3 in the SOL American.

Last Week: The Colonials defeated Cheltenham, 21-13. Tennent lost 49-21 to Upper Moreland.

Players to watch: Quarterback Aiden O’Brien had a pair of rushing touchdowns last week for the Colonials. Senior fullback Kyler Campbell helps power the ground game for the Panthers.

Prediction: PW 30, Tennent 14.

Pope John Paul II at Pottstown

Site/Time: Friday, 7 p.m., at Pottstown.

Records: PJP is 5-2 overall and 3-0 in the PAC Frontier. Pottstown is 0-7 overall and 0-3 in the PAC Frontier.

Last Week: The Golden Panthers romped, 39-6, over Upper Merion. Pottstown was shut out, 35-0, by Pottsgrove.

Players to watch: Quarterback D.J. Clarke is coming off a 183-yard, three TD performance for the Golden Panthers. Jamiere Williams did some productive running last week for the Trojans.

Prediction: Pope John Paul II 33, Pottstown 10.

Phoenixville at Upper Merion

Site/Time: Friday, 7 p.m., at Upper Merion.

On Twitter: @emor09.

Records: The Phantoms are 2-4 overall and 1-2 in the PAC Frontier. Upper Merion is 3-3 overall and 1-2 in the PAC Frontier.

Last Week: Upper Merion lost 39-6 to Pope John Paul II. Phoenixville blew away Upper Perk, 48-9.

Players to watch: Quarterback Zayd Etheridge looks to get the Upper Merion offense back on track. Quarterback Ty Romance looks to do the same for the Phantoms.

Prediction: Upper Merion 22, Phoenixville 21.

Spring-Ford at Methacton

Site/Time: Friday, 7 p.m., at Methacton.

Records: Methacton is 4-3 overall and 1-2 in the PAC Liberty. Spring-Ford is 4-3 overall and 2-1 in the PAC Liberty.

Last Week: The Warriors lost 42-11 to Boyertown. Spring-Ford rolled, 49-0 over Norristown.

Players to watch: Dan Brandi threw for 164 yards and a touchdown last week for the Warriors. Harry Adieyefeh Jr. reached the end zone twice on runs last week for Spring-Ford.

Prediction: Spring-Ford 25, Methacton 20.

Norristown at Owen J. Roberts

Site/Time: Friday, 7 p.m., at Owen J. Roberts.

Records: Norristown is 0-7 overall and 0-3 in the PAC Liberty. OJR is 5-2 overall and 2-1 in the PAC Liberty.

Last Week: The Eagles lost 49-0 to Spring-Ford. The Wildcats lost 49-7 to Perk Valley.

Players to watch: Chris Carter looks to get the passing game going for the Eagles. Avrey Grimm looks to break out, although he did still have 85 rushing yards and a score last week.

Prediction: Owen J. Roberts 28, Norristown 7.

Bonner-Prendie at Lansdale Catholic

Site/Time: Saturday, 6 p.m., at Wissahickon.

On Twitter: @khunter10.

Records: LC is 0-7 overall and 0-3 in the PCL Blue. Bonner is 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the PCL Blue.

Last Week: The Crusaders fell 36-7 to Neumann-Goretti. The Friars won 48-0 over Archbishop Carroll.

Players to watch: Quarterback Cole Meehan will try to point LC to a win, his his arm and some timely runs. Bonner Mason Peterson had three rushing TD’s last week for the Friars.

Prediction: Bonner-Prendie 28, Lansdale Catholic 14.

Germantown Academy at Episcopal Academy

Site/Time: Saturday, 7 p.m., at Episcopal.

Records: The Patriots are 3-1 overall and 0-0 in the InterAC. Episcopal is 3-2 overall and 0-0 in the InterAC.

Last Week: GA was idle. The Churchmen lost 21-13 to Blair Academy (N.J.).

Players to watch: Brian Allen should be a force on the ground for GA in its InterAC opener. Wide receiver Bryce Cooper gives Episcopal a speedy target downfield.

Prediction: Germantown Academy 21, Episcopal Academy 14.