Reporter/Times Herald Football Week 7: North Penn, Souderton meet for 1st place in SOL Continental

Two old rivals will do battle with first place at stake, as North Penn travels to Souderton Area Friday night in a matchup for the top spot in the Suburban One League Continental Conference.

The Knights come into this one a perfect 6-0, including a 2-0 mark in the conference. Souderton Area won its third straight last week to even its overall record to 3-3, and is a perfect 3-0 in the Continental.

A game with pivotal playoff implications, North Penn is currently the top-ranked team in all of District 1-6A. Souderton is looking to make a push into the 16-team playoff field, right now ranked 17th.

The Knights are coming off a thrilling, double-overtime victory over Council Rock South, by the count of 27-24. Souderton had a big second half to earn a win over Central Bucks East, 21-14.

Quarterback Solomon Robinson continues to make big plays for North Penn and was a key part of its overtime heroics last week. Meanwhile, Deandre Wakefield continues to rumble in the Souderton ground attack. He has scored a total of nine touchdowns the past three weeks — all victories for the Indians.

North Penn aims to continue its winning ways against Big Red. Most recently, the Knights rolled to a 47-20 victory over Souderton in 2017.

Souderton, meanwhile, will try to get its first win over the Knights since 1989. North Penn has won 14 straight over the Indians.

The Knights have a 50-27-3 overall edge in the series. The two rivals began playing each other way back in 1924, when then Lansdale High earned a 28-6 victory over Souderton.

La Salle at Father Judge
Time/Place: Friday, 6 p.m., at Ramp Athletic Complex
Records: The Explorers are 1-4 overall and 0-1 in the PCL Red. Father Judge is 1-4 overall and 0-1 in the PCL Red.
Last Week: La Salle fell to rival St. Joe’s, 49-12. Judge lost 38-20 to Archbishop Ryan.
Last Meeting: The Explorers rolled, 34-0.
Players to Watch: Quarterback Jack Machita will try to get the Explorer attack back on track. Judge has a fast wide receiver on the outside in Dan Foy.
Prediction: La Salle 31, Father Judge 14.

Boyertown at Spring-Ford
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Spring-Ford.
Records: The Bears are 1-5 overall and 0-2 in the PAC Liberty Division. The Rams are 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the PAC Liberty Division.
Last Week: Boyertown lost 35-13 to Owen J. Roberts. Spring-Ford blew away Methacton, 41-7.
Last Meeting: The Rams shut out the Bears, 16-0.
Players to Watch: Linebacker Blaise Caroselli anchors the defense for the Bears. Ryan Engro throws to a lot of different targets for Spring-Ford.
Prediction: Spring-Ford 29, Boyertown 9.

Cheltenham at Plymouth Whitemarsh
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at PW.
Records: The Panthers are 4-2 overall and 1-1 in the SOL American. The Colonials are 1-4 overall and 1-1 in the SOL American.
Last Week: Cheltenham fell 20-7 to Upper Dublin. The Colonials were idle.
Last Meeting: The Panthers held on for a 23-20 win over the Colonials.
Players to Watch: Jamir Barnes is a speedy back for Cheltenham. PW can get the ball downfield with quarterback Larry McLaughlin.
Prediction: Cheltenham 19, Plymouth Whitemarsh 6.

Lansdale Catholic at Cardinal O’Hara
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at O’Hara.
Records: The Crusaders are 2-3 overall and 1-2 in the PCL Blue. The Lions are 3-2 overall and 1-2 in the PCL Blue.
Last Week: LC came back to beat Bonner-Prendergast 35-28. O’Hara lost 21-12 to West Catholic.
Last Meeting: O’Hara blanked LC, 31-0.
Players to Watch: Danny Dutkiewicz ran the ball hard all game long for LC, a key to its victory over Bonner. Derrick Patrick makes the tough catches for the Lions.
Prediction: Cardinal O’Hara 21, Lansdale Catholic 14.

Norristown at Owen J. Roberts
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Owen J. Roberts
Records: The Eagles are 1-5 overall and 0-2 in the PAC Liberty Division. OJR is 4-2 overall and 1-1 in the PAC Liberty Division.
Last Week: Norristown lost 14-7 to Perk Valley. The Wilcats rolled, 35-13, over Boyertown.
Last Meeting: The Wildcats took it, 15-0.
Players to Watch: Quarterback Daniel Watson moved the Eagles on their touchdown drive against PV last week and looks for further success. Linebacker Bryce Pippin racked up three sacks last week for OJR.
Prediction: Owen J. Roberts 19, Norristown 8.

North Penn at Souderton
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Souderton.
Records: The Knights are 6-0 overall and 3-0 in the SOL Continental. Big Red is 3-3 overall and 3-0 in the SOL Continental.
Last Week: North Penn won in dramatic fashion, 27-24 in double overtime over Council Rock South. Souderton won over CB East, 21-14.
Last Meeting: The Knights pulled away to a 47-20 win over Big Red.
Players to Watch: Quarterback Solomon Robinson continues to make big plays for North Penn. Deandre Wakefield continues to rumble in the Souderton ground attack.
Prediction: North Penn 42, Souderton Area 28.

Pennridge at Central Bucks South
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Central Bucks South.
Records: The Titans are 3-3 overall and 2-0 in the SOL Continental. Pennridge is 2-4 overall and 1-2 in the SOL Continental.
Last Week: South won 38-6 over William Tennent. Pennridge prevailed, 21-10 over CB West.
Last Meeting: Pennridge won 21-7 over the Titans.
Players to Watch: South running back Connor DiLisio has helped put the steam back in the Titan ground game. Ryan Garner has been a force at running back for the Rams and a big threat in the red zone.
Prediction: CB South 24, Pennridge 17.

Perkiomen Valley at Methacton
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Methacton.
Records: The Vikings are 4-2 overall and 2-0 in the PAC Liberty Division. The Warriors are 1-5 overall and 1-1 in the PAC Liberty Division.
Last Week: Perk Valley held off Norristown, 14-7. Methacton lost 41-7 to Spring-Ford.
Last Meeting: It was Perk Valley in a rout, 51-0.
Players to Watch: Quarterback Cole Peterlin made some clutch plays for the Vikes last week. Linebacker Gary Knox covers a lot of ground for the Warriors.
Prediction: Perk Valley 21, Methacton 7.

Phoenixville at Pope John Paul II
Time/Place: Saturday, 1 p.m., at PJP.
Records: The Phantoms are 2-4 overall and 0-2 in the PAC Frontier Division. The Panthers are 5-1 overall and 1-1 in the PAC Frontier Division.
Last Week: Phoenixville lost 14-8 to Pottstown. Pope John Paul II had a 35-28 setback against Pottsgrove.
Last Meeting: It was a thriller – PJP, 34-31 in overtime.
Players to Watch: Alex Washington has plenty of burst running the football for the Phantoms. A.J. Natale has plenty of breakaway speed in the ground game for PJP.
Prediction: Pope John Paul II 32, Phoenixville 14.

Pottstown at Upper Merion
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Upper Merion.
Records: The Trojans are 4-2 overall and 1-1 in the PAC Frontier Division. Upper Merion is 4-2 overall and 2-0 in the PAC Frontier Division.
Last Week: Pottstown edged Phoenixville, 14-8. The Vikings won 17-9 over Upper Perk.
Last Meeting: The Vikings prevailed, 27-6.
Players to Watch: Quarterback Josiah Wiggins is a versatile threat for Pottstown. Zaire Savage is a threat as a runner and receiver for Upper Merion.
Prediction: Upper Merion 15, Pottstown 14.

Quakertown at Upper Dublin
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Upper Dublin.
Records: The Panthers are 5-1 overall and 2-1 in the SOL American. The Cardinals are 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the SOL American.
Last Week: Quakertown won big, 42-12 over Wissahickon. Upper Dublin won 20-7 over Cheltenham.
Last Meeting: It went to OT, with Quakertown pulling out the 34-28 win.
Players to Watch: Brad Bryan quarterbacked the Panthers to a big offensive performance last week. Linebacker Logan Heim leads a tough defense for Upper Dublin.
Prediction: Quakertown 21, Upper Dublin 20.

Upper Moreland at Wissahickon
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Wissahickon
Records: The Bears are 2-4 overall and 1-2 in the SOL American. Wissahickon is 0-6 overall and 0-3 in the SOL American.
Last Week: Upper Moreland lost 14-8 to Hatboro-Horsham. Wissahickon was thumped, 42-12 by Quakertown.
Last Meeting: The Bears romped, 46-26.
Players to Watch: Upper Moreland running back Caleb Mead is a workhorse back for the Bears. The Trojans have a tough defensive end in Tyler Caso.
Prediction: Upper Moreland 26, Wissahickon 10.

Central Bucks West at Central Bucks East
Time/Place: Saturday, 1 p.m., at CB East.
Records: The Bucks are 2-4 overall and 1-2 in the SOL Continental. The Patriots are 2-4 overall and 0-2 in the SOL Continental.
Last Week: West fell to Pennridge, 21-10. East lost to Souderton, 21-14.
Last Meeting: West nipped East, 14-13.
Players to Watch: Garrett Hitchens found the end zone last week in the Bucks’ ground attack. Quarterback Evan O’Donnell got the passing attack going last week for the Pats.
Prediction: CB East 27, CB West 20.

Archbishop Wood at Archbishop Ryan
Time/Place: Saturday, 3:30 p.m., at George Washington HS.
Records: The Vikings are 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the PCL Red. Ryan is 6-0 overall and 1-0 in the PCL Red.
Last Week: Wood blew out Roman Catholic, 42-0. The Lions got by Father Judge, 38-20.
Last Meeting: The Vikings hammered Ryan, 42-6.
Players to Watch: Wood quarterback Jake Ross was hard to stop last week. Mekhi Lang is a terrific two-way player for Ryan, as a receiver and in the secondary.
Prediction: Archbishop Wood 27, Archbishop Ryan 12.