Reporter/Times Herald Area Week Five Football Previews

It’s a Suburban One League National Conference battle at the midpoint of the season, as North Penn hosts rival Pennridge Friday night.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

The Knights look to stay unbeaten, bringing a perfect 4-0 record into this one, including a 2-0 mark in the National.

Pennridge has won three straight, and is now at 3-1 overall and also is a perfect 2-0 in the conference.

North Penn is fresh off a 35-20 win over Upper Dublin, a game in which quarterback Ryan Zeltt completed 11 of 18 passes for 202 yards and three touchdowns.

Meanwhile, the Rams shut out Council Rock North last week, with Brennan Fisher rushing for 96 yards and scoring two touchdowns on his seven carries.

Phil Picciotti has been a defensive force for the Rams. The linebacker had multiple tackles behind the line of scrimmage last week while Ryan Kirkwood and Hunter Burdick also made key plays that pushed CR North backwards. Vincent Dam broke up a pass and Stephen Reutlinger recovered a fumble for the Pennridge defense in the shutout.

The North Penn offense had many contributors in the win over Upper Dublin.

Levi Carroll made some tough catches for the Knights and was one of six receivers to catch a pass from Zeltt, including Luke Cody.

The winner of this contest takes a big step towards a conference title.

Week Five Preview Capsules

Pennridge at North Penn
Site/Time: Friday, 7 p.m., at North Penn.
On Twitter: @khunter10.
Records: The Knights are 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the SOL National. The Rams are 3-1 overall and 2-0 in the SOL National.
Last Week: North Penn got by Upper Dublin 35-20. Pennridge won 35-0 over Council Rock North.
Players to watch: Ryan Zeltt went 11-for-18 for 202 yards and three touchdowns last week for the Knights. Brennan Fisher racked up 96 yards on seven carries and scored two touchdowns last week for the Rams.
Prediction: North Penn 28, Pennridge 14.

Pennsbury at Central Bucks West
Site/Time: Friday, 7 p.m., at CB West.
Records: The Bucks are 3-1 overall and 2-0 in the SOL National. The Falcons are 0-4 overall and 0-2 in the SOL National.
Last Week: West won 27-3 over Council Rock South. Pennsbury lost 39-29 to Truman.
Players to watch: Eli Boehm is a force in the ground game for the Bucks. Wide receiver Johnny Maule gives the Falcons a boost.
Prediction: CB West 24, Pennsbury 10.

Council Rock South at Souderton
Site/Time: Friday, 7 p.m., at Souderton
On Twitter: @mpcabrey.
Records: Big Red is 2-2 overall and 2-0 in the SOL Continental. The Golden Hawks are 0-4 overall and 0-2 in the SOL Continental.
Last Week: CR South lost 27-3 to CB West. Big Red fell 17-6 to Neshaminy.
Players to Watch: Brayden Porter had 122 yards rushing and a pair of touchdowns on seven carries last week, along with a 54-yard touchdown reception for Big Red. Trey Bondy helps contribute on both sides of the ball for the Golden Hawks, at wide receiver and corner.
Prediction: Souderton 27, CR South 14.

Upper Dublin at Quakertown
Site/Time: Friday, 7 p.m., at Quakertown.
Records: Upper Dublin is 3-1 overall and 2-0 in the SOL Continental. Quakertown is 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the SOL Continental.
Last Week: The Cardinals lost 35-20 to North Penn. The Panthers prevailed 36-20 over Abington.
Players to Watch: Noah Lee made six catches for 74 yards and a touchdown last week for the Cards. Zach Greulich is a solid two-way player for the Panthers.
Prediction: Upper Dublin 27, Quakertown 20.

New Hope Solebury at Wissahickon
Site/Time: Friday, 7 p.m., at Wissahickon.
On Twitter: @emor09.
Records: The Trojans are 0-4 overall and 0-1 in the SOL American. New Hope is 1-3 overall and 0-1 in the SOL American.
Last Week: Wiss lost 35-31 to Upper Moreland. The Lions lost 55-0 to PW.
Players to Watch: Kyle Lehman scored two rushing touchdowns last week for Wiss. Fullback Santino Waschbusch runs hard for New Hope.
Prediction: Wissahickon 30, New Hope-Solebury 23.

Plymouth Whitemarsh at Springfield (Montco)
Site/Time: Friday, 7 p.m., at Springfield.
On Twitter: @ADRobinson3.
Records: PW is 3-1 overall and 1-0 in the SOL American. Springfield is 3-0 overall and 1-0 in the SOL American.
Last Week: The Colonials romped 55-0 over New Hope Solebury. The Spartans won 35-21 over William Tennent.
Players to Watch: Nate Kern is a big part of the PW ground game and knows how to get to the end zone.
Prediction: PW 20, Springfield 13.

Norristown at Methacton
Site/Time: Friday, 7 p.m., at Methacton.
Records: The Eagles are 0-4 overall and 0-0 in the PAC Liberty. The Warriors are 3-1 overall and 0-0 in the PAC Liberty.
Last Week: Norristown lost 33-0 to Cheltenham. Methacton edged Pottstown 14-7.
Players to Watch: Marzan Carr brings some speed to the Norristown ground game. Dan Brandi threw for 134 yards last week for the Warriors.
Prediction: Methacton 22, Norristown 10.

Lansdale Catholic at Cardinal O’Hara
Site/Time: Friday, 7 p.m., at O’Hara.
Records: LC is 0-4 overall and 0-1 in PCL Blue. O’Hara is 1-1 overall and 1-0 in PCL Blue.
Last Week: The Crusaders fell 22-14 to West Catholic. The Lions prevailed 17-7 over Archbishop Carroll.
Players to Watch: Quarterback Cole Meehan made some plays with his legs and his arm last week for LC. Edmund Wisseh was a penetrating force last week for the O’Hara defense.
Prediction: Lansdale Catholic 17, O’Hara 14.

Upper Merion at Pottstown
Site/Time: Friday, 7 p.m., at Pottstown.
Records: The Vikings are 2-1 overall and 0-0 in the PAC Frontier. Pottstown is 0-4 overall and 0-0 in the PAC Frontier.
Last Week: Upper Merion was idle. Pottstown lost 14-7 to Methacton.
Players to Watch: Nolan Clayton does some tough running for Upper Merion. Mason Miller, who caught a touchdown last week, is a nice target for Pottstown.
Prediction: Upper Merion 19, Pottstown 7.

Upper Perkiomen at Pope John Paul II
Site/Time: Saturday, 1 p.m., at PJP.
Records: The Golden Panthers are 2-2 overall and 0-0 in the PAC Frontier.
Last Week: PJP lost 47-40 to Berks Catholic. Upper Perk is 1-3 overall and 0-0 in the PAC Frontier. Upper Perk lost 42-14 to Schuylkill Valley. 
Players to Watch: Josh Little broke free for a 50-yard touchdown run last week for PJP. Brady Thompson leads a tough Upper Perk defense. He reached the end zone on a scoop and score last week.
Prediction: Pope John Paul II 17, Upper Perk 12.

La Salle at McDonogh (Md.)
Site/Time: Saturday, 1 p.m., at McDonogh.
Records: The Explorers are 4-0 overall and 0-0 in the PCL Red. McDonogh is 1-2 overall and 0-1 in the Association of Independent Maryland Schools.
Last Week: La Salle won 44-0 over Haverford School. McDonogh romped 41-6 over St. Mary’s (Md.).
Players to Watch: Stevie Davis adds some speed to the Explorer ground attack. Preston Howard is a 6-foot-5 wide receiver for McDonogh and a nice, reliable target.
Prediction: La Salle 21, McDonogh 14.

Rock Creek Christian Academy (Md.) at Germantown Academy
Site/Time: Saturday, 1 p.m., at GA.
Records: The Patriots are 3-0 overall and 0-0 in the InterAC. Rock Creek is 2-1 overall.
Last Week: GA won 23-12 over Olney Charter. Rock Creek won 22-14 over Johnson Central.
Players to Watch: Brian Allen rushed for 123 yards and a touchdown last week for GA. Chauncey Spikes is a speedy wide receiver for Rock.
Prediction: GA 31, Rock Creek 17.