Reporter/Times Herald Football: SOL National rivals CB West, Pennridge battle in District 1-6A 1st round

Two Suburban One League National Conference rivals will square off in the first round of the District 1-6A Playoffs, as No. 9 Pennridge travels to No. 8 Central Bucks West on Friday evening.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

The Rams finished the regular season 7-3 overall and 5-2 in the conference. The Bucks were 8-2 overall and 6-1 in the National.

The winner of this contest advances to next week’s quarterfinals and a matchup with either top-seeded Garnet Valley or No. 16 Haverford.

The Bucks and Rams met in the regular season, with West prevailing 28-24 on the road at Helman Field.

The game came down to a fourth-down stop by the Bucks around their 10-yard line, keyed by Donte Mancini. It was a down-to-the-wire battle of two teams possessing stellar running games and defenses that swarm to the football.

In the contest, Eli Boehm rushed for 120 yards, Vinny Cherubini ran for 84 and Mancini gained 60 on the ground for West. The Rams countered with Tyler Wetzel (57 yards), Phil Picciotti (34 yards), Nate Mossbrook (103 yards), and Brayden Landherr (74).

Both squads come into the game riding some pretty good momentum, as Pennridge has won four straight, including last week’s 27-0 win over Abington. West won four of five in the season’s second half, including a 35-15 victory over rival CB East in the regular-season finale.

(9) Pennridge at (8) Central Bucks West (District 1-6A First Round)
Time/Site: Friday, 7 p.m., at CB West.
On Twitter: @ADRobinson3.
Records: The Rams are 7-3 overall and 5-2 in the SOL National. The Bucks are 8-2 overall and 6-1 in the SOL National.
Last Week: Pennridge closed out the regular season strong with a 27-0 blanking of Abington. West rolled 35-15 over CB East.
Last Meeting: The Bucks held on to beat Pennridge 28-24 in Week Six.
Up Next: The winner advances to face (1) Garnet Valley or (16) Haverford in the quarterfinals.
Players to Watch: Pennridge has a variety of backs to go to, including Brennan Fisher and Tyler Wetzel, both of whom had big games last week. The Gans Cooper-to-Connor McFadden connection clicked for two scores last week for the Bucks.
Prediction: Pennridge 21, CB West 14.

(12) Souderton at (5) Quakertown (District 1-6A First Round)
Time/Site: Friday, 7 p.m., at Quakertown.
On Twitter: @khunter10.
Records: Souderton is 6-4 overall and 4-2 in the SOL Continental. The Panthers are 10-0 overall and 7-0 in the SOL Continental.
Last Week: Big Red won 34-12 over Bensalem. The Panthers won 50-6 over Truman.
Last Meeting: Quakertown won 36-14 over Souderton in Week Six.
Up Next: The winner advances to face (4) Downingtown East or (13) Spring-Ford in the quarterfinals.
Players to Watch: Brayden Porter rumbled for 202 yards last week for Big Red. Tyler Woodman is tough to bring down in the Panthers’ ground game.
Prediction: Quakertown 28, Souderton 21.

(15) Central Bucks South at (2) North Penn (District 1-6A First Round)
Time/Site: Friday, 7 p.m., at North Penn.
On Twitter: @mpcabrey.
Records: North Penn is 10-0 overall and 7-0 in the SOL National. South is 6-4 overall and 3-4 in the SOL National.
Last Week: The Knights beat the Titans 35-7 in the regular-season finale.
Up Next: The winner advances to face (7) Ridley or (10) Conestoga in the quarterfinals.
Players to Watch: Khalani Eaton has had a magnificent season running the football for the Knights. Quarterback Brett Szarko will try to direct a South upset.
Prediction: North Penn 35, CB South 21.

(13) West Chester Henderson at (4) Upper Dublin (District 1-5A First Round)
Time/Site: Friday, 7 p.m., at Wissahickon.
Records: Henderson is 4-6 overall and 3-4 in the Ches-Mont American. The Cardinals are 8-2 overall and 6-1 in the SOL Continental.
Last Week: The Warriors lost 18-0 to Oxford. The Cardinals had a forfeit win over Hatboro-Horsham.
Up Next: The winner advances to face (5) Plymouth-Whitemarsh or (12) Cheltenham in the quarterfinals.
Players to Watch: Running back Casey Killoran had some long gains last week for Henderson. Nyfise McIntyre is the workhorse back for the Cards.
Prediction: Upper Dublin 33, West Chester Henderson 14.

(12) Cheltenham at (5) Plymouth Whitemarsh (District 1-5A First Round)
Time/Site: Friday, 7 p.m., at Plymouth Whitemarsh.
On Twitter: @emor09.
Records: The Panthers are 5-5 overall and 4-1 in the SOL American. The Colonials are 8-1 overall and 6-0 in the SOL American.
Last Week: Cheltenham won 27-12 over Springfield Montco. PW rolled 54-7 over Wissahickon.
Last meeting: PW upended Cheltenham 21-13 back in Week Seven.
Up Next: The winner advances to face (13) West Chester Rustin or (4) Upper Dublin in the quarterfinals.
Players to Watch: Quarterback T.J. Taylor moves the offense for the Panthers. Quarterback Aiden O’Brien is under center for PW – his rushing yardage was key in the win over Cheltenham in the regular-season meeting.
Prediction: Plymouth Whitemarsh 28, Cheltenham 14.

(15) Upper Merion at (2) Strath Haven (District 1-5A First Round)
Time/Site: Friday, 7 p.m., at Strath Haven.
Records: The Vikings are 4-5 overall and 2-3 in the PAC Frontier. Strath Haven is 9-1 overall and 8-1 in the Central League.
Last Week: Upper Merion lost 20-19 to Boyertown. The Panthers won 33-7 over Radnor.
Up Next: The winner advances to face (7) Marple Newtown or (10) Phoenixville in the quarterfinals.
Players to Watch: Brayden Marino is a tough runner for the Vikes. Austin Conner, who had an interception last week, helps lead the Panther defense.
Prediction: Strath Haven 26, Upper Merion 12.

(4) Roman Catholic at (1) La Salle (PCL-6A Semifinals)
Time/Site: Saturday, 1 p.m., at Springfield Montco.
On Twitter: @khunter10. 
Records: La Salle is 8-1 overall and 3-1 in the PCL Red. Roman is 3-6 overall and 1-3 in the PCL Red.
Last Week: The Explorers blanked Archbishop Wood 20-0. The Cahillites lost 44-14 to St. Joe’s Prep.
Last Meeting: Roman won 27-20 over La Salle.
Up Next: The winner advances to face (2) St. Joe’s Prep or (3) Archbishop Wood.
Players to Watch: Ryan Moore is a threat as a runner and receiver for the Explorers. Tai Ellis is a speedy wide receiver for Roman.
Prediction: La Salle 28, Roman Catholic 7.

Lansdale Catholic vs. Neumann-Goretti (PCL-3A Final)
Time/Site: Saturday, 9 a.m., at South Philly Supersite.
Records: Goretti is 8-1 overall and 6-0 in the PCL Blue. LC is 1-9 overall and 1-5 in the PCL Blue.
Last Week: The Crusaders got their first win, 13-7 over Archbishop Carroll. Goretti won 40-6 over West Catholic.
Last Meeting: The Saints won 36-7 over the Crusaders in Week Seven.
Players to Watch: Quarterback Cole Meehan directs the upset-minded Crusaders. Marqui Adams can air it out for the Saints.
Prediction: Neumann-Goretti 28, Lansdale Catholic 14.

Haverford School at Germantown Academy
Time/Site: Saturday, 2 p.m., at Germantown Academy.
Records: Haverford is 4-3 overall and 2-1 in the Inter-Ac. The Patriots are 4-3 overall and 1-2 in the Inter-Ac.
Last Week: The Fords won 21-16 over Penn Charter. GA fell 31-7 to Malvern Prep.
Players to Watch: Mike Galasso has a solid arm for Haverford School. Taj Dyches is a versatile weapon for the Pats.
Prediction: Germantown Academy 24, Haverford School 17.