Reporter/Times Herald Area Week 10 Football Previews

Playoff hopes will be at stake Saturday afternoon when Pennridge travels to Central Bucks East for a key Suburban One League Continental Conference contest.

Kickoff is at 1 p.m.

The Patriots come into this one ranked 16th in the District 1-6A Playoff standings (16 teams get in). The Rams are right behind, ranked 18th. 

East raised its record to 5-4 overall and 3-2 in the conference last week with a 45-21 win over William Tennent while Pennridge fell to 4-5 overall and 3-2 in the conference with a 42-20 loss to Truman. 

The Rams need a win to get in, and would like to duplicate last year’s effort, when they earned a 28-12 victory over the Patriots. 

They’ll try to slow down and contain a tough East attack.

Quarterback Evan O’Donnell is heating up, throwing for almost 200 yards and three scores last week, and the Pats have a variety of backs to go to in the ground game, including Bryan Kelly. In the victory over Tennent, Kelly scored from 22 yards out on the first possession of the third quarter and later added a 33-yarder.

On the play, Kelly got into the open field and cleanly hurdled a William Tennent player at the 10 before falling into the end zone. Kelly was not finished there. On the Patriot’s third possession of the second half, he scored yet again from 14 yards out.

“(Kelly) is a freak of an athlete,” Pats coach John Donnelly said. “He’s a guy whose responsibilities we’re trying to grow on offense, defense and special teams. He did a really nice job.”

Pennridge quarterback Zak Kantor can spread the ball around, and Ryan Garner chews up yardage in the ground game. 

“I said it to my kids, I need 11 guys that want to be here for each other. We need to find it. I need to find who those 11 are that are going to fight,” Pennridge coach Cody Muller said heading into the final week of the regular season. “We got a big game (against) Donnelly and East. I’m looking forward to it.”

Archbishop Wood at Father Judge
Date/Time: Friday, 6 p.m., at Ramp Athletic Complex.
Records: Wood is 5-3 overall and 3-2 in the PCL Red. Judge is 2-6 overall and 1-3 in the PCL Red.
Last Week: The Vikings won 31-12 over La Salle. The Crusaders lost 69-14 to St. Joe’s Prep. 
Last Meeting: The Vikings rolled, 49-19 over Judge. 
Players to Watch: Bill Cook cashed in with two touchdown receptions last week for Wood. Speedy Dameir Johnson plays both running back and wide receiver for Judge. 
Prediction: Wood 35, Judge 14

Central Bucks West at Abington
Date/Time: Friday, 7 p.m., at Abington.
Records: The Bucks are 3-6 overall and 2-4 in the SOL Continental. The Ghosts are 4-5 overall and 2-5 in the SOL National. 
Last Week: West was a 28-21 winner over Souderton Area. Abington lost 35-28 to Pennsbury. 
Players to Watch: Joe Fay made a lot of plays as a runner last week for West. Abington can turn to Andrick Welsh, who does a little bit of everything at running back, wide receiver and corner. 
Prediction: Central Bucks West 21, Abington 17.

Cheltenham at Wissahickon
Date/Time: Friday, 7 p.m., at Wissahickon.
Records: The Panthers are 6-3 overall and 3-2 in the Suburban One League American Conference. Wissahickon is 1-8 overall and 0-5 in the SOL American. 
Playoff Rankings: Cheltenham is No. 7 in District 1-5A.
Last Week: The Panthers won 19-14 over Upper Moreland. The Trojans won 58-43 over Eastern York. 
Last Meeting: Cheltenham prevailed, 20-13 over Wiss. 
Players to Watch: Maurice Willis stands out at wide receiver and corner for Wiss. Adonis Hunter threw a pair of touchdown passes last week for the Panthers. 
Prediction: Cheltenham 26, Wissahickon 10.

Germantown Academy at Episcopal Academy
Date/Time: Friday, 7 p.m., at Episcopal Academy.
Records: The Patriots are 6-1 overall and 1-1 in the Inter-Ac. The Churchmen are 5-2 overall and 1-1 in the Inter-Ac. 
Last Week: GA won 23-14 over Springside-Chestnut Hill. Episcopal Academy lost 24-7 to Malvern Prep.
Players to Watch: Running back Trae Vance scored a pivotal touchdown for GA last week. Episcopal counters with quarterback Maurcus McDaniel, who had a rushing touchdown in Week Nine.
Prediction: Germantown Academy 24, Episcopal Academy 14.

North Penn at William Tennent
Date/Time: Friday, 7 p.m., at William Tennent.
Records: The Knights are 9-0 overall and 5-0 in the SOL Continental. The Panthers are 2-7 overall and 0-5 in the SOL Continental. 
Playoff Rankings: The Knights are No. 1 in District 1-6A.
Last Week: North Penn won 21-10 over Central Bucks South. Tennent fell 45-21 to CB East. 
Last Meeting: The Knights rolled, 56-7 over the Panthers. 
Players to Watch: Jon Haynes was a deep threat for the Knights last week against South. Quarterback Kip Mooney can air it out for Tennent.
Prediction: North Penn 42, William Tennent 14.

Perkiomen Valley at Pottsgrove (PAC Championship)
Date/Time: Friday, 7 p.m., at Pottsgrove.
Records: The Vikings are 7-2 overall and 5-0 in the PAC Liberty Division. Pottsgrove is 9-0 overall and 5-0 in the PAC Frontier Division. 
Playoff Rankings: Perk Valley is sixth in District 1-6A. Pottsgrove is No. 1 in District 1-4A. 
Last Week: PV won 27-20 over Spring-Ford. The Falcons shut out Phoenixville 31-0.
Players to Watch: Jon Moccia made some clutch receptions last week for PV. Isaiah Glover ran for over 200 yards last week for the Falcons. 
Prediction: Pottsgrove 20, Perk Valley 14.

Plymouth Whitemarsh at Hatboro-Horsham
Date/Time: Friday, 7 p.m., at Hatboro-Horsham.
Records: PW is 1-7 overall and 1-4 in the SOL American. Hatboro-Horsham is 4-4 overall and 3-2 in the SOL American. 
Last Week: The Colonials lost 31-17 to Upper Dublin. The Hatters fell 29-16 to Quakertown. 
Last Meeting: Hatboro-Horsham was the winner, 49-28 over the Colonials. 
Players to Watch: Christopher Pierce caught three passes for 73 yards last week for PW. Ismael Collazo gives the Hatboro ground attack some punch. 
Prediction: Hatboro-Horsham 30, Plymouth-Whitemarsh 17.

Roman Catholic at La Salle
Date/Time: Friday, 7 p.m., at Plymouth Whitemarsh.
Records: The Cahillites are 0-8 overall and 0-4 in the PCL Red. The Explorers are 3-5 overall and 2-2 in the PCL Red.
Last Week: Roman lost 31-14 to Archbishop Ryan. La Salle lost 31-12 to Archbishop Wood. 
Last Meeting: The Explorers shut out Roman, 45-0.
Players to Watch: Ollie Fisher is a solid two-way player for Roman, at corner and running back. La Salle quarterback Sean Daly showed his versatility last week, breaking loose for a 54-yard touchdown run.
Prediction: La Salle 28, Roman Catholic 17.

Souderton at Central Bucks South
Date/Time: Friday, 7 p.m., at CB South.
On the Air: The game will be broadcast live on WNPV, 98.5 FM, and live online at www.wnpv1440.com.
Records: Big Red is 4-5 overall and 3-2 in the SOL Continental. CB South is 3-6 overall and 2-3 in the SOL Continental. 
Playoff Rankings: Souderton is No. 20 in District 1-6A. 
Last Week: Big Red lost 28-21 to CB West. The Titans lost 21-10 to North Penn. 
Last Meeting: The Titans shut out the Indians, 20-0.
Players to Watch: Deandre Wakefield is a breakaway threat for Souderton in the rushing attack. Connor Dilissio is a tough runner for South. 
Prediction: Souderton 24, CB South 14

Upper Moreland at Upper Dublin
Date/Time: Friday, 7 p.m., at Upper Dublin.
Records: The Bears are 3-5 overall and 2-3 in the SOL American. The Cardinals are 7-1 overall and 5-0 in the SOL American. 
Playoff Rankings: Upper Dublin is No. 1 in District 1-5A. 
Last Week: Upper Moreland lost 19-14 to Cheltenham. Upper Dublin was a 31-17 winner over Plymouth-Whitemarsh.
Last Meeting: Upper Moreland edged Upper Dublin, 21-20.
Players to Watch: Caleb Mead broke free twice for scores last week for the Bears. Quarterback Mike Slivka was smooth and accurate last week for the Cards. 
Prediction: Upper Dublin 31, Upper Moreland 20.

Pennridge at Central Bucks East
Date/Time: Saturday, 1 p.m., at CB East.
On the Air: The game will be broadcast live on WNPV, 98.5 FM/1440 AM, and live online at www.wnpv1440.com.
Records: The Rams are 4-5 overall and 3-2 in the SOL Continental. East is 5-4 overall and 3-2 in the SOL Continental. 
Playoff Rankings: The Rams are 18th in District 1-6A. East is No. 16.
Last Week: Pennridge lost 42-20 to Truman. The Patriots won 45-21 over Tennent. 
Last Meeting: The Rams beat the Patriots, 28-12. 
Players to Watch: Connor Pleibel continues to be a great target in the Pennridge passing attack. Quarterback Evan O’Donnell comes in hot for East, having thrown three touchdown passes last week. 
Prediction: CB East 28, Pennridge 21.

Neumann-Goretti at Lansdale Catholic
Date/Time: Saturday, 5 p.m., at Wissahickon.
Records: The Saints are 1-5 overall and 1-5 in the PCL Blue. The Crusaders are 2-6 overall and 1-5 in the PCL Blue. 
Last Week: Neumann fell 23-20 to West Catholic. The Crusaders lost 31-7 to Archbishop Carroll. 
Players to Watch: Middle linebacker Kamar Green helps lead the defense for Goretti. Danny Dutkiewicz is a workhorse for LC in the ground game. 
Prediction: Lansdale Catholic 24, Neumann-Goretti 17.