The Central Bucks West football team looks to go 2-for-2 against defending District 1 champs as the Bucks welcome Upper Dublin to War Memorial Field for a Suburban One League nonconference clash 7 p.m. Friday night.
West avenged a pair of 2022 losses to Garnet Valley – the second a 35-7 defeat in the district Class 6A final – with a 17-13 victory over the visiting Jaguars in the season opener last Friday.
Cooper Taylor gave the Bucks a 7-0 lead with his 62-yard first-quarter touchdown run. Garnet Valley pulled even in the second quarter but Matt Cleland scored on a three-yard run to send West into halftime up 14-7.
A Ryan Clemens 22-yard field goal in the fourth gave the Bucks a 10-point advantage, enough to hold on and hand the Jaguars their first loss to a District 1 opponent since falling to Coatesville in the 2019 district semifinals. GV’s two losses since came to St. Joseph’s Prep in the 2021 and 2022 PIAA semifinals.
Upper Dublin, which also reached state semis last year after winning the District 1-5A crown, opened up its 2023 campaign by making the trip to Chester County last Friday and shutting out Kennett 21-0.
The Cards collected 225 rushing yards, Ronald Shepard leading the way with 115 yards and a pair of touchdowns – scoring from 68 and six yards out – on 11 carries. Shyne Roberts added 72 yards and a one-yard TD on 11 carries.
CB West and Upper Dublin met in Week 2 of last season, the host Cards cruising to a 35-7 victory as the Bucks dropped to 0-2. West was 1-3 after four weeks before a late surge – winning five of six to earn the 11th seed in the 16-team District 1-6A playoffs. Wins over Central Bucks East, North Penn and Perkiomen Valley sent West in its first district final since 2000.
Upper Dublin, meanwhile, went on to win its first 14 games, claiming its third district 5A title in five seasons before falling to Imhotep Charter 21-14 in the PIAA semis.
Norristown at Upper Merion
Time/Place: 7 p.m. Thursday, Upper Merion High School
Records: Norristown is 0-1 (0-0 Pioneer Athletic Conference Liberty Division). Upper Merion is 0-1 (0-0 PAC Frontier Division).
Last Week: Norristown lost to Penn Wood 20-6. Upper Merion was edged by Plymouth Whitemarsh 21-19.
Last Meeting: Upper Merion scored all of its points in the second quarter in a 21-14 victory over the Eagles in Week 2 last season.
Players to Watch: Upper Merion quarterback Jackson Solley threw for 103 yards and also ran for a touchdown in Week 1. The Eagles look to receivers Quadir Drummond and Rashon Giddens to help the offense improve on the six points put up last week.
Prediction: Upper Merion 23, Norristown 14.
Plymouth Whitemarsh at Methacton
Time/Place: 7 p.m. Thursday, Methacton High School.
Records: Plymouth Whitemarsh is 1-0 overall (0-0 Suburban One League American Conference). Methacton is
Last Week: Plymouth Whitemarsh defeated Upper Merion 21-19. Methacton earned a 16-13 win over Pottsgrove.
Last Meeting: PW cruised to a 34-0 win over the Warriors in Week 2 last year.
Players to Watch: PW got 100-yard rushing games from both Nazye Boogs (113 yards, TD on 16 carries) and Luke Winterbottom (108 yards, TD on 15 carries) last week. Wes Conover paced Methacton’s ground game in Week 1, posting 84 yards on 21 carries.
Prediction: Plymouth Whitemarsh 20, Methacton 17.
Quakertown at North Penn
Time/Place: 7 p.m. Thursday, Crawford Stadium, North Penn High School.
Records: Quakertown is 0-1 (0-0 Suburban One League Continental Conference). North Penn is 0-1 (0-0 SOL National Conference).
Last Week: Quakertown lost to Southern Lehigh 28-21. North Penn fell 34-3 to La Salle.
Last Meeting: North Penn went up to Quakertown and topped the Panthers 49-7 last year in Week 2.
Players to Watch: Quakertown quarterback Vince Micucci ran for two TDs while also throwing for 154 yards. Amir Major led North Penn’s rushing attack last week with 76 yards on 24 carries.
Prediction: North Penn 24, Quakertown 16.
Germantown Academy vs. Simon Gratz
Time/Place: noon, Carey Stadium, Ocean City High School (N.J.)
Records: Germantown Academy is 0-0 (0-0 Inter-Ac League). Simon Gratz is 1-0 (0-0 Philadelphia Public League Independence Division).
Last Week: Simon Gratz shut out Mastery North Charter 12-0. GA is starting its season Friday.
Last Meeting: The teams met in OCNJ last season with the Patriots earning a 28-0 victory.
Players to Watch: New starting QB Xavier Stearn looking to keep the Patriots offense rolling after it averaged 26.3 points per game in 2022.
Prediction: Germantown Academy 27, Simon Gratz 12.
La Salle vs. Malvern Prep
Time/Place: 6 p.m., Carey Stadium, Ocean City High School (N.J.)
Records: La Salle is 1-0 (0-0 Philadelphia Catholic League Red Division). Malvern Prep is 0-0 (0-0 Inter-Ac).
Last Week: La Salle rolled past North Penn 34-3. Malvern begins its season Friday.
Last Meeting: Malvern dominated the teams’ 2022 matchup in Ocean City, the Frias blanking the Explorers 35-0.
Players to Watch: La Salle quarterback Gavin Sidwar threw for 322 and three touchdowns in 11-of-16 passing in Week 1. Senior tackle Peter Jones, an All-Inter-Ac first team selection last year, helps lead a veteran Malvern offensive line.
Prediction: Malvern Prep 24, La Salle 21.
Bensalem at Central Bucks East
Time/Place: 7 p.m., Friday, 1st Lt. Colby Umbrell Field at Patriot Stadium, Central Bucks East High School
Records: Bensalem is 0-1 overall (0-0 SOL Continental Conference). Central Bucks East is 1-0 (0-0 SOL National Conference)
Last Week: CB East cruised past Truman 42-0. Bensalem lost to Lower Merion 6-0.
Last Meeting: The Patriots blanked Bensalem 42-0 in Week 2 last year.
Players to Watch: East senior Dean Blackwell had a big game on the ground last week, rushing for 148 yards and three TDs on 10 carries. The Owls’ Aiden Mayfield ran for 90 yards on 20 carries against Lower Merion.
Prediction: Central Bucks East 35, Bensalem 12
George Washington at Archbishop Wood
Time/Place: 7 p.m. Friday, William Tennent High School.
Records: George Washington is 1-0 (0-0 Philadelphia Public League National Division). Archbishop Wood is 1-0 (0-0 PCL Red Division).
Last Week: George Washington shut out Frankford 37-0. Archbishop Wood defeated Archbishop Ryan 37-34.
Players to Watch: Wood’s Joey Scarpello caught eight passes for 177 yards and three touchdowns as the Vikings topped Ryan in a PCL nondivision matchup.
Prediction: Archbishop Wood 28, George Washington 22.
School of the Future at Archbishop Carroll
Time/Place: 7 p.m. Friday, Conshohocken A Field
Records: School of the Future is 0-1 overall (0-0 Philadelphia Public League National Division). Archbishop Carroll is 0-1 (0-0 PCL Blue Division). Archbishop Carroll is 0-1 (0-0 PCL Blue Division).
Last Week: School of the Future lost 36-14 to Lansdale Catholic. Carroll fell to Springfield (Montco) 24-6.
Players to Watch: Carroll will be looking to senior Hassan Bailey to pace the Patriots’ rushing attack.
Prediction: School of the Future 20, Archbishop Carroll 18.
Souderton at Pennridge
Time/Place: 7 p.m. Friday, Helman Field, Pennridge High School.
Records: Souderton is 1-0 (0-0 SOL Continental Conference). Pennridge is 0-1 (0-0 SOL National Conference).
Last Week: Souderton held off Haverford 21-17. Pennridge was shut out by Downingtown East 43-0.
Last Meeting: Souderton traveled to Helman Field in Week 2 last season and handed the Rams a 24-21 loss.
Players to Watch: Souderton sophomore QB Ben Walsh threw for 196 yards and a pair of TDs passes to Ryan Sadowski in the win over Haverford. Sadowski also added a 35-yard rushing touchdown. Pennridge sophomore quarterback Noah Keating looks to get the Rams’ passing game going after last week’s shutout loss.
Prediction: Souderton 26, Pennridge 8.
Truman at Central Bucks South
Time/Place: 7 p.m. Friday, Central Buck South High School
Records: Truman is 0-1 (0-0 SOL Continental Conference). Central Bucks South is 1-0 (0-0 SOL National Conference).
Last Week: Truman was shut out to Central Bucks East 42-0. Central Buck defeated Father Judge 13-10.
Last Meeting: The Titans topped the Tigers 45-8 in Week 2 last season.
Players to Watch: South looks to senior running back Anthony Leonardi and Corey Moore to pace the ground attack.
Prediction: Central Bucks South 24, Truman 6.
Upper Dublin at Central Bucks West
Time/Place: 7 p.m. Friday, War Memorial Field, Central Bucks West High School.
Records: Upper Dublin is 1-0 (0-0 SOL Continental Conference). Central Bucks West is 1-0 (SOL National Conference).
Last Week: Central Bucks West won the rematch of last year’s District 1-6A final, knocking off two-time defending champ Garnet Valley 17-13 at War Memorial. Upper Dublin traveled to Chester County and shut out Kennett 21-0.
Last Meeting: Upper Dublin rolled past the visiting Bucks 35-7 in Week 2 last season.
Players to Watch: UD’s Ronald Shepherd ran for two touchdowns as he finished with 115 yards on 11 carries in the win over Kennett. West’s Cooper Taylor got things going for West’ offense last week with a 62-yard TD run.
Prediction: Central Bucks West 28, Upper Dublin 24.
Wissahickon at Hatboro-Horsham
Time/Place: 7 p.m., Friday, Steinly Stadium, Hatboro-Horsham High School.
Records: Wissahickon is 1-0 (0-0 SOL American Conference). Hatboro-Horsham is 1-0.
Last Week: Wissahickon topped Council Rock North 48-28. Hatboro-Horsham earned a rivalry win over Upper Moreland 16-7.
Last Meeting: Wissahickon bested the Hatters 14-12 in 2020.
Players to Watch: Trojans junior QB Nolan Pounds threw for 122 yards and also ran eight times for 82 yards in last week’s victory.
Prediction: Wissahickon 33, Hatboro-Horsham 20.
Lansdale Catholic vs. SCH Academy
Time/Place: 11 a.m., Carey Stadium, Ocean City High School (N.J.)
Records: SCH Academy is 0-0 (0-0 Inter-Ac). Lansdale Catholic is 1-0 (0-0 PCL Blue Division).
Last Week: Lansdale Catholic defeated School of the Future 36-14 last Saturday. SCH Academy is playing its season opener
Players to Watch: LC sophomore Jacahi Streeter scored a touchdown rushing, receiving and on a fumble return in the Crusaders’ win last week. SCH tight end/linebacker Danny Reagan was an All-Inter-Ac second team selection in 2022.
Prediction: Lansdale Catholic 27, SCH Academy 19.
Pope John Paul II at Archbishop Ryan
Time/Place: 1 p.m. Saturday, Archbishop Ryan High School.
Records: Pope John Paul II is 1-0 (0-0 PAC Frontier Division). Archbishop Ryan is 1-0 (0-0 PCL Blue Division).
Last Week: PJP II returned from its trip out to face Chambersburg with a 22-0 victory. Archbishop Ryan fell to Archbishop Wood 37-34.
Players to Watch: Golden Panthers running back Boyd Skarbek ran 29 times for 197 yards and a touchdown in the win over Chambersburg. Ryan quarterback Frankie Mawson threw for 447 yards and four touchdowns last week against Wood.
Prediction: Pope John Paul II 32, Archbishop Ryan 28.
