Reporter/Times Herald Area Week 2 Football Previews

Souderton Area and Council Rock North each had satisfying season-opening victories last week and both will be looking to get to 2-0 when the two squads square off Friday night in a Suburban One League Continental Conference battle at Rock North.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

Big Red is coming off a 28-23 victory over rival Quakertown while Rock North is fresh off a 40-6 thrashing of Bensalem.

“We had to get the first one,” Big Red coach Ed Gallagher said after Souderton’s win last week. “It was sloppy but we took care of what we needed to. It’s the first time (this year) we’ll be on a bus and it’s gonna be different (with social distancing) – getting on the bus with masks on, but we have a season. I’m thrilled that we have a season.”

Big Red began the season with a dominant ground attack, which featured the speedy Willie Goods and the power running of Brayden Porter. Jalen White should be back from injury this week and could also be a major factor for Souderton as well.

Big Red was able to turn the tide against the rival Panthers a week ago.

“We came in at halftime and we challenged them,” Gallagher said. “And they came back and played a really good second half.”

“At halftime, the coaches were putting things together and we were coming together as a team,” Porter said. “We picked it up.”

Rock North also got things going on the ground in its opener, with Gavin Papp finding his way to the end zone twice.

It’s only Week Two, but the game could be a pivotal one in the shortened season. Upper Dublin and CR South also come into this week 1-0 in the Continental.

Pennsbury at North Penn
Day/Time: Friday, 7 p.m., at North Penn’s turf field.
On Twitter: @khunter10.
Records: Pennsbury is 0-1 overall and 0-1 in the SOL National. North Penn is 0-1 overall and 0-1 in the SOL National.
Last Week: The Knights lost 35-19 to Neshaminy. The Falcons fell 28-21 to Central Bucks East.
Players to Watch: The Knights’ Khalani Eaton rumbled for 134 yards on 14 carries last week. Falcon QB Patrick Kirk threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another last week.
Prediction: North Penn 28, Pennsbury 21.

Souderton at Council Rock North
Day/Time: Friday, 7 p.m., at Rock North.
Records: Souderton is 1-0 overall and 1-0 in the SOL Continental. CR North is 1-0 overall and 1-0 in the SOL Continental.
Last Week: Big Red won 28-23 over Quakertown. The Indians rolled 40-6 over Bensalem.
Players to Watch: Willie Goods and Brayden Porter each reached the end zone twice for Big Red last week in the Wing-T. Gavin Papp rushed for two scores last week for CR North.
Prediction: Souderton 24, CR North 17.

Pennridge at Neshaminy
Day/Time: Friday, 7 p.m., at Neshaminy.
Records: Neshaminy is 1-0 overall and 1-0 in the SOL National. Pennridge is 1-0 overall and 1-0 in the SOL National.
Last Week: The Rams won 35-14 over CB West. The Skins won 35-19 over North Penn.
Players to Watch: Shane Hartzell had three rushing TD’s last week for the Rams. Chris James ran for 146 yards and a score last week for the Skins.
Prediction: Neshaminy 31, Pennridge 14.

Central Bucks West at Abington
Day/Time: Friday, 7 p.m., at Abington.
On Twitter: @ADRobinson3.
Records: CB West is 0-1 overall and 0-1 in the SOL National. Abington is 1-0 overall and 1-0 in the SOL National.
Last Week: CB West fell 35-14 to Pennridge. The Ghosts won 42-28 over CB South.
Players to Watch: Eli Boehm had a 96-yard kickoff return for the Bucks last week. Beau Pearson contributes at linebacker and tight end for the Ghosts.
Prediction: CB West 31, Abington 28.

Wissahickon at Hatboro-Horsham
Day/Time: Friday, 7 p.m., at Hatboro-Horsham.
On Twitter: @mpcabrey.
Records: Wissahickon is 0-1 overall and 0-0 in the SOL American. Hatboro-Horsham is 0-1 overall and 0-1 in the SOL Continental.
Last Week: The Trojans fell 31-27 to Upper Dublin. The Hatters lost 14-6 to Council Rock South.
Players to Watch: Kyle Lehman scored twice on the ground for Wiss last week. Omar Ali is a force in the running game for the Hatters.
Prediction: Wissahickon 20, Hatboro-Horsham 14.

Plymouth Whitemarsh at Muhlenberg
Day/Time: Friday, 7 p.m., at Muhlenberg.
Records: PW is 0-1 overall and 0-0 in the SOL American. Muhlenberg is 0-3 overall and 0-2 in Berks Inter-County 1.
Last Week: Muhlenberg lost 51-0 to Exeter. PW was shut out 44-0 by Wyomissing.
Players to Watch: Joseph Molinaro is a contributor at wide receiver and cornerback for the Colonials. Rayshaun Crocker is a speedy running back for Muhlenberg.
Prediction: PW 20, Muhlenberg 19.

Bensalem at Upper Dublin
Day/Time: Friday, 7 p.m.
On Twitter: @emor09.
Records: Bensalem is 0-1 overall and 0-1 in the SOL Continental. Upper Dublin is 1-0 overall and 0-0 in the SOL Continental.
Last Week: The Owls lost 40-6 to Council Rock North. The Cardinals won 31-27 over Wissahickon.
Players to Watch: Aidan Clancy had a 13-yard touchdown run last week for the Owls. Senior captains Micah Bootman, John Kohlbrenner and Jacob Rossman all scored TD’s last week for the Cards.
Prediction: Upper Dublin 28, Bensalem 14.

Boyertown at Methacton
Day/Time: Friday, 7 p.m., at Methacton.
Records: Boyertown is 0-2 overall and 0-2 in the PAC. Methacton is 1-1 overall and 1-1 in the PAC.
Last Week: The Bears lost 49-13 to Spring-Ford. Methacton fell 24-15 to OJR.
Players to Watch: Noah Segal nearly rushed for 100 yards last week for the Bears. Justin Carfrey had 87 yards and a pair of scores on the ground last week for the Warriors.
Prediction: Methacton 23, Boyertown 11.

Upper Perkiomen at Spring-Ford
Day/Time: Friday, 7 p.m.
Records: Upper Perk is 0-2 overall and 0-2 in the PAC. Spring-Ford is 2-0 overall and 2-0 in the PAC.
Last Week: Spring-Ford rolled 49-13 over Boyertown. Upper Perk was shut out 34-0 by Perk Valley.
Players to Watch: Nick Teets had 100-plus yards of total offense last week for the Rams. Malachi Duka did some productive running for Upper Perk a week ago.
Prediction: Spring-Ford 35, Upper Perk 22.

La Salle at Downingtown East
Day/Time: Friday, 7:30 p.m. p.m., at Kottmeyer Stadium, Downingtown West.
Records: La Salle is 2-0 overall and 2-0 in PCL Red. Downingtown East is 0-0 overall and 0-0 in the Ches-Mont National.
Last Week: The Explorers won 27-23 over Delaware Valley. Downingtown East did not play.
Players to Watch: Timothy Mehlmann had a pair of rushing TD’s for La Salle against Del Val. Stanley Bryant is a tough, slashing runner who rushed for more than 1,200 yards last season for East.
Prediction: La Salle 28, Downingtown East 20.