The Reporter Week 1 Preview Capsules
Here is a look at the seven games on the local high school football schedule for Week One.
LA SALLE at NORTH PENN
Time/Place: Friday, 7:30 p.m., at Crawford Stadium, North Penn High School.
On Air: The game will be broadcast live on the radio on 1440 AM and live on the internet at wnpv1440.com.
On Twitter: @khunter10.
Records: North Penn is 0-0 overall and 0-0 in the Suburban One League National Conference. La Salle is 0-0 overall and 0-0 in the Philadelphia Catholic League.
Last Year: North Penn finished 7-4 overall, falling in the first round of the District One Class AAAA Playoffs to West Chester Henderson. La Salle finished 8-3 overall, losing to St. Joe’s Prep in the PCL Playoffs.
Last Meeting: La Salle won 29-7 over North Penn in last year’s season opener.
Players to Watch: The Knights have a proven runner in Nyfease West and a veteran leader on defense in senior defensive end Keith Earle. First-year starter Chris Ferguson will be under center for the Explorers, and he’ll have a couple of potential playmakers to go to in Syaire Madden and Isaiah Jones.
Prediction: North Penn 28, La Salle 24.
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST at CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Central Bucks South High School.
Records: CB West is 0-0 overall and 0-0 in the Suburban One League Continental Conference. CB South is 0-0 overall and 0-0 in the Suburban One League National Conference.
Last Year: The Bucks finished 2-8 overall while the Titans finished 7-3, falling to Garnet Valley in the opening round of the District One Class AAAA Playoffs.
Last Meeting: The Titans rolled in last year’s opener, downing West 41-14.
Players to Watch: West quarterback Eddie Shields is poised for a big year in what could be an explosive offense for the Bucks. Senior Joe Vitelli is a versatile weapon for South, both as a receiver and a runner.
Prediction: CB South 24, CB West 21.
HATBORO-HORSHAM at PENNRIDGE
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Helman Field, Pennridge High School.
On Twitter: @mpcabrey.
Records: Hatboro-Horsham is 0-0 overall and 0-0 in the Suburban One League American Conference. Pennridge is 0-0 overall and 0-0 in the Suburban One League National Conference.
Last Year: The Hatters finished 3-9 overall while the Rams went 7-5, losing in the first round of the District One Class AAAA Playoffs to Quakertown.
Last Meeting: Pennridge dominated last year’s season opener, winning 35-6 over the Hatters.
Players to Watch: The Rams have an experienced quarterback in DeVon Balmer while the Hatters can turn to Kingsley Nworu in the ground game.
Prediction: Pennridge 28, Hatboro-Horsham 14.
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH at SOUDERTON
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Souderton Area High School.
On Twitter: @ADRobinson3.
Records: PW is 0-0 overall and 0-0 in the Suburban One League American Conference. Souderton Area is 0-0 overall and 0-0 in the Suburban One League National Conference.
Last Year: The Colonials finished 7-3 last year, narrowly missing the playoffs. Big Red was 4-6 in 2014.
Last Meeting: The Indians pulled out a 21-14 victory at PW in last year’s opener.
Players to Watch: Big Red has a deep, experienced backfield that includes fullback Blake Gular and halfback Jamar White while the Colonials will give the ball to Nafeese Nasir, a 1,300-yard rusher a year ago.
Prediction: Souderton Area 28, PW 21.
CENTRAL at WISSAHICKON
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Wissahickon High School.
Records: Central is 0-0 overall and 0-0 in the Public League. Wissahickon is 0-0 overall and 0-0 in the Suburban One League American Conference.
Last Year: Central finished 1-11 overall. Wissahickon was 2-8 a year ago.
Last Meeting: Wissahickon was a 47-6 winner over Central in the 2014 season opener.
Players to Watch: Quarterback Mike Marino and fullback Rick Pons form a seasoned tandem for the Trojans while Central has a 6-foot-3, 200-pound wide receiver in senior Naseer Basil.
Prediction: Wissahickon 27, Central 15.
NORRISTOWN at METHACTON
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Phoenixville High School.
Records: Methacton is 0-0 overall and 0-0 in the Pioneer Athletic Conference. Norristown is 0-0 overall and 0-0 in the Suburban One League Continental Conference.
Last Year: The Warriors went 8-3 last season, coming close to a District One Class AAAA Playoff bid, while the Eagles finished 4-7.
Last Meeting: The two teams met in last year’s season finale, with the Warriors prevailing, 37-10.
Players to Watch: Quarterback Jason Eckman leads the Warriors’ option attack while the Eagles have a speedy running back in Corey Davenport.
Prediction: Methacton 27, Norristown 20.
LANSDALE CATHOLIC vs. PENN CHARTER
Time/Place: Saturday, 10 a.m., at Ocean City High School (N.J.).
On Twitter: @khunter10.
Records: Lansdale Catholic is 0-0 overall and 0-0 in the Philadelphia Catholic League. Penn Charter is 0-0 overall and 0-0 in the Inter-Ac.
Last Year: The Crusaders finished 4-6 overall, falling to Neumann-Goretti in the PCL Class AA Semifinals. Penn Charter went 5-6 a season ago.
Players to Watch: The Crusaders have a running and receiving threat in workhorse running back Ryan Quigley while the Quakers have a big junior quarterback in 6-foot-2, 200-pound Michael Hnatkowsky.
Prediction: Lansdale Catholic 21, Penn Charter 13.
