Reporter/Times Herald Week 6 Football: Souderton, Quakertown meet for 1st in SOL Continental

The buzz has been building for quite a while.

Souderton travels to Quakertown Friday night for the 309 Bowl, in a battle for the top spot in the Suburban One League Continental Conference.

“They’re a good football team and we’ve seen them a couple of times already,” Big Red coach Ed Gallagher said. “We saw them when we went to scout Council Rock North earlier in the year so we’ve seen them live. We’ve seen them a couple times on film.

“They’re a really good football team. (Coach) George (Banas) always has those guys ready. I know they think that this is going to be their year because they had that senior class that’s been kind of playing a lot since sophomore year and they’re going to be ready to go. I know that and I think our kids are going to be ready to go. It’s going to be a great atmosphere.”

Big Red comes into the 7 p.m. contest one 3-2 overall and 3-0 in the Continental. Quakertown is 5-0 thus far, with a matching 3-0 mark in the conference.

This is a contest in which the Indians don’t mind hitting the road.

“We love playing there probably more than we like playing here. I mean, we play well here, but this is not as intimate. You have 30 yards and then the track and then another walkway and then you get to the stands. They’re right on top of you there. It’s just a great football atmosphere and they’re going to have a ton of people. The whole town of Quakertown’s going to be out. I’m hoping that our fans travel well and we pack that place Friday.”

Big Red is coming off a 35-7 win over Council Rock South. Elijah Goods and Brayden Porter both ran for over 100 yards for the Indians. Goods ran for the game-high with 115 on 11 carries, and Porter finished with 102 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries.

Big Red would like to keep its momentum in the ground game.

“I think this is a game where we got to get another game here under our belts that puts us back up on that level,” Gallagher said. “If not, we slide to 3-3 overall and that’s, you know, we don’t want to be average. We’re playing this game and I think we have an above-average team this year. Alright, so does Quakertown. But if you want to be a playoff-level team you’ve got to beat a playoff-level team and we got a chance on Friday.”

The Panthers are coming off a 31-0 shutout of Upper Dublin. Quarterback Will Steich and running back Tyler Woodman continue to be consistent forces in the offense while the defense is coming off a stellar performance.

“It’s always an electric atmosphere because we are so close,” said Souderton senior offensive guard and linebacker Nick Curotto. “Both student sections, no matter if we’re home or away, are there. They always bring an electric atmosphere and it’s going to be a fun one. We’re going to be coming out, hitting hard from the first play and hopefully until the last.”

Week Six Football Preview Capsules

Neshaminy at North Penn
Time/Site: Friday, 7 p.m., at North Penn.
On Twitter: @mpcabrey.
Records: North Penn is 5-0 overall and 3-0 in the SOL National. Neshaminy is 1-4 overall and 0-3 in the SOL National.
Last Week: The Knights beat Pennridge 21-14. The Skins fell 28-27 to CB South.
Players to Watch: Khalani Eaton was a driving force in the ground game for the Knights last week. Travis Lavelah and Jaydon Wilson help power the ground game for the Skins.
Prediction: North Penn 35, Neshaminy 0.

Central Bucks West at Pennridge
Time/Site: Friday, 7 p.m., at Pennridge.
On Twitter: @ADRobinson3.
Records: The Rams are 3-2 overall and 2-1 in the SOL National. CB West is 4-1 overall and 3-0 in the SOL National.
Last Week: Pennridge lost 21-14 to North Penn. The Bucks romped 42-14 over Pennsbury.
Players to Watch: Quarterback Xavier Dantzler brought the passing game further along last week for the Rams. Defenses have had difficulty all year stopping Bucks running back Eli Boehm.
Prediction: CB West 28, Pennridge 21.

Souderton at Quakertown
Time/Site: Friday, 7 p.m., at Quakertown.
On Twitter: @khunter10.
Records: Big Red is 3-2 overall and 3-0 in the SOL Continental. The Panthers are 5-0 overall and 3-0 in the SOL Continental.
Last Week: Souderton routed Council Rock South 35-7. Quakertown shut out Upper Dublin 31-0.
Players to Watch: Tyler Woodman runs the ball hard for the Panthers. Elijah Goods and Brayden Porter each rushed for over 100 yards last week for Big Red.
Prediction: Quakertown 21, Souderton 14.

Upper Dublin at Truman
Time/Site: Friday, 7 p.m., at Truman.
Records: The Cardinals are 3-2 overall and 2-1 in the SOL Continental. The Tigers are 2-3 overall and 0-3 in the SOL Continental.
Last Week: Upper Dublin was shut out 31-0 by Quakertown. Truman lost 47-18 to Bensalem.
Players to Watch: Quarterback Colin O’Sullivan will try to get the Cardinal offense back on track. Azijon Paxton is a versatile weapon for the Tigers.
Prediction: Upper Dublin 34, Truman 14.

Wissahickon at Springfield Montco
Time/Site: Friday, 7 p.m., at Springfield.
Records: Wiss is 1-4 overall and 1-1 in the SOL American. Springfield is 3-1 overall and 1-1 in the SOL American.
Last Week: The Trojans toppled New Hope Solebury 43-7. The Spartans lost 35-14 to PW.
Players to Watch: Quarterback Aidan Defeo looks to get the Trojan attack going. Ben Cooney rushed for 104 yards last week for Springfield.
Prediction: Springfield 28, Wissahickon 21.

Pope John Paul II at Phoenixville
Time/Site: Friday, 7 p.m., at Phoenixville.
Records: PJP is 3-2 overall and 1-0 in the PAC Frontier. The Phantoms are 1-3 overall and 0-1 in the PAC Frontier.
Last Week: The Golden Panthers romped 49-0 over Upper Perk. Phoenixville was shut out 31-0 by Pottsgrove.
Players to Watch: Quarterback D.J. Clarke was nearly perfect last week for PJP. Ty Romance’s arm could be key for the Phantoms.
Prediction: Pope John Paul II 22, Phoenixville 12.

Pottsgrove at Upper Merion
Time/Site: Friday, 7 p.m., at Upper Merion.
On Twitter: @emor09.
Records: The Falcons are 3-1 overall and 1-0 in the PAC Frontier. Upper Merion is 3-1 overall and 1-0 in the PAC Frontier.
Last Week: Pottsgrove blanked Phoenixville 31-0. The Vikings shut out Pottstown 41-0.
Players to watch: Bryce Caffrey and Amir Brunson are a one-two backfield punch for Pottsgrove. Senior linebacker Harrison Young returned an interception for a touchdown last week for the Vikes.
Prediction: Upper Merion 23, Pottsgrove 20.

Perkiomen Valley at Norristown
Time/Site: Friday, 7 p.m., at Norristown.
Records: Perk Valley is 3-2 overall and 1-0 in the PAC Liberty. Norristown is 0-5 overall and 0-1 in the PAC Liberty.
Last Week: The Vikings were 28-22 winners over Spring-Ford. Norristown lost 21-13 to Methacton.
Players to Watch: Ethan Kohler directs a balanced offense for PV. Chris Carter will try to throw the Eagles to a victory.
Prediction: Perk Valley 31, Norristown 17.

Methacton at Owen J. Roberts
Time/Site: Friday, 7 p.m., at OJR.
Records: Methacton is 4-1 overall and 1-0 in the PAC Liberty. OJR is 4-1 overall and 1-0 in the PAC Liberty.
Last Week: The Warriors won 21-13 over Norristown. The Wildcats won 27-20 over Boyertown.
Players to Watch: Senior quarterback Dan Brandi directed a Methacton comeback last week. Avrey Grimm rushed for a whopping 283 yards last week for OJR.
Prediction: Methacton 26, Owen J. Roberts 20.

La Salle at St. Joseph’s Prep
Time/Site: Saturday, 3 p.m., at Franklin Field.
On Twitter: @khunter10.
Records: The Explorers are 5-0 overall and 0-0 in the PCL Red. The Hawks are 2-1 overall and 0-0 in the PCL Red.
Last Week: La Salle won 38-14 over McDonogh School (Md.). St. Joe’s was idle.
Players to Watch: Abdul Carter has been getting to the quarterback for the Explorers. Running back Keenan Nelson has breakaway speed for St. Joe’s.
Prediction: La Salle 31, St. Joe’s 24.

Archbishop Ryan at Lansdale Catholic
Time/Site: Saturday, 6 p.m., at Wissahickon.
Records: Ryan is 2-3 overall and 1-0 in the PCL Red. LC is 0-5 overall and 0-2 in the PCL Blue.
Last Week: The Raiders won 32-6 over Archbishop Carroll. The Crusaders were shut out 21-0 by Cardinal O’Hara.
Players to watch: Arturo Brunelli is a tough runner for Ryan. Jake Lesher does some strong running for the Crusaders.
Prediction: Archbishop Ryan 28, Lansdale Catholic 14.

West Philadelphia at Germantown Academy
Time/Site: Saturday, 1 p.m., at GA.
Records: The Speedboys are 0-4 overall and 0-3 in the Philly Public League, Liberty. The Patriots are 3-1 overall and 0-0 in the Inter-Ac.
Last Week: West Philly lost 28-8 to Boys Latin Charter. GA lost 48-27 to Rock Creek Christian Academy (Md.).
Players to Watch: Tristian Machado threw for almost 200 yards last week for the Pats. Tyler Torrence is an imposing defensive end for West Philly.
Prediction: Germantown Academy 31, West Philly 14.