Reporter Week 9 Preview Capsules

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Here is a look at the six games on the high school football schedule for Week Nine.

Neshaminy at North Penn
Time/Place: Friday, 7:30 p.m., at Crawford Stadium, North Penn High School.
On Twitter: @khunter10.
Records: Neshaminy is 6-2 overall and 4-1 in the Suburban One League National Conference. North Penn is 6-2 overall and 5-0 in the SOL National.
What’s at Stake: With a victory, the Knights clinch at least a share of the conference crown.
Last Week: The Knights won a 27-20 showdown with Pennsbury while the Skins routed Bensalem 41-8.
Last Year: The Knights prevailed in a defensive battle with the Skins, 17-13.
Players to Watch: Will Dogba is the power gear in the Skins’ rushing attack while running back Nyfease West is back and healthy for the Knights.
Prediction: North Penn 27, Neshaminy 13.

Pennridge at Souderton
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Souderton Area High School.
On the Air: The game will be broadcast live on 1440 AM and live on the internet at wnpv1440.com.
On Twitter: @mpcabrey.
Records: The Rams are 5-3 overall and 3-2 in the SOL National. Big Red is 4-4 overall and 2-3 in the SOL National.
What’s at Stake: The Rams need a win to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Last Week: Pennridge won 28-17 over Central Bucks South while Big Red won a thriller, 42-41 over Abington.
Last Year: The Rams won 28-17 over Big Red in 2014.
Players to Watch: Quarterback Devon Balmer can make a lot of plays for the Rams. Big Red’s trio of backs, Jamar White, Blake Gular and Koby Khan, are coming off a big performance against the Ghosts.
Prediction: Pennridge 35, Souderton 28.

Lansdale Catholic at Neumann-Goretti
Time/Place: Saturday, 10 a.m., at South Philly Super Site
On Twitter: @khunter10.
Records: The Crusaders come into this one 6-2 overall and 2-1 in the Philadelphia Catholic League Class AA. Goretti is 1-7 overall and 0-3 in the PCL Class AA.
What’s at Stake: With a win, the Crusaders lock up the No. 2 spot in PCL Class AA.
Last Week: The Crusaders shut out Archbishop Carroll 21-0. Goretti was on the wrong end of a 41-20 decision against Bishop McDevitt.
Last Year: Goretti was a 24-12 winner over LC.
Players to Watch: Quarterback Dontae Mason can get the Goretti attack moving. LC can counter with a high-powered rushing attack featuring backs Ryan Quigley and Marlen Fenstermacher.
Prediction: Lansdale Catholic 28, Neumann-Goretti 14.

Methacton at Pottstown
Time/Place: Saturday, 1 p.m., at Pottstown High School.
Records: Methacton searches for its first win, coming in at 0-8 overall and 0-7 in the Pioneer Athletic Conference. The Trojans are 6-2 overall and 4-2 in the PAC 10.
What’s at Stake: Pottstown needs to win to stay on course for the District 1-AAA playoffs.
Last Week: The Warriors lost 47-7 to Owen J. Roberts while the Trojans were shut out 34-0 by Spring-Ford.
Last Year: Methacton earned a 56-12 win over the Trojans a year ago.
Players to Watch: Brandon Tinson is a solid runner for Pottstown. Methacton quarterback Jason Eckman will try to direct the Warriors to their first win of the season.
Prediction: Pottstown 21, Methacton 7.

Central Bucks West at Central Bucks East
Time/Place: Saturday, 1 p.m., Lt. Colby Umbrell Field at Patriot Stadium, Central Bucks East High School.
Records: The Bucks are 2-6 overall and 2-3 in the SOL Continental. The Patriots are 6-2 overall and 3-2 in the SOL Continental.
What’s at Stake: The Patriots need to win the annual rivalry matchup to keep their postseason hopes intact.
Last Week: The Bucks fell 33-15 to Council Rock North. The Patriots, meanwhile, were a 19-7 winner over Truman.
Last Year: East won by forfeit, 2-0.
Players to Watch: West quarterback Eddie Shields will help the Bucks try and end a three-game skid. East has a versatile quarterback of its own in Jack Lamb.
Prediction: Central Bucks East 24, Central Bucks West 14.

Upper Merion at Wissahickon
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Wissahickon High School.
Records: The Trojans are 1-7 overall and 0-5 in the SOL American. Upper Merion comes into this one 2-6 overall and 0-5 in the SOL American.
Last Week: Upper Merion lost 33-20 to Springfield Montco while Wissahickon fell 30-14 to Cheltenham.
Last Year: Upper Merion was a 14-7 winner over Wissahickon.
Players to Watch: Quarterback Mike Schoenleber will try to get the Trojan attack off to a strong start. Temple University commit Isaiah Graham-Mobley stars at free safety for Upper Merion.
Prediction: Upper Merion 21, Wissahickon 20.

Kev Hunter

Kevin Hunter
Kev Hunter is a sports reporter for Montco Media. He has been a staff writer for The Reporter Newspaper in Lansdale since 2000. Prior to that, he covered sports for The Day Newspaper in New London, Conn. He began his writing career at The Courier-Post in South Jersey, along with covering prep football in Pa. for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

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