The Reporter/Times Herald Week 5 Football: Pennridge carries 3
North Penn aims to stay undefeated while visiting Pennridge tries to snap a long losing streak against their SOL National Conference when the football meet Friday night at Crawford Stadium.
Kickoff for the Week 5 matchup is set for 7 p.m.
North Penn rolled to 4-0 on its home field last Friday, building a 31-0 halftime over Neshaminy before claiming a 37-7 victory in the conference opener both sides.
Matt Pownall had a touchdown rushing and receiving for North Penn while Aidan Eves, Christian Johns-Wallace and Josiah Coleman all found the end zone on the ground.
Pennridge, meanwhile, earned their third straight win since a 40-14 loss to Liberty in the Week 1, holding to edge visiting Pennsbury 18-13 last Friday.
The Rams trailed 7-3 at the half before quarterback Noah Keating threw a pair of touchdown passes – a 12-yard completion to Trevor Fuhs then a 60-yard strike to Chase Marshall.
Keating threw for 151 yards and ran for another 46 on 12 carries while Marshall had six catches for 93 yards.
North Penn has won the last 10 meeting with Pennridge, the Rams last victory over the Knights coming in 2012.
In last year's contest, host North Penn held on for a 17-16 win in Week 9. Down 17-7 in the third quarter, Pennridge rallied to within 17-16 after a Keating 1-yard touchdown run with 4:07 left in the fourth but the Rams missed the tying extra point.
In other games in the SOL National, the conference's other unbeaten side Central Bucks South hosts Central Bucks West at 7 p.m. Friday.
The Titans (4-0) topped other CB rival last Friday, going to Central Bucks East and besting the Patriots 34-15. West (3-1) bounced back from falling to Souderton in Week 3 by routing Abington 38-6.
South and West played twice last – West winning the first matchup in Week 9 40-29 but the Titans handed the Bucks' their only loss of 2023 in the District 1-6A semifinals 42-14 en route to claiming the district title.
The Pioneer Athletic Conference begins division this week with a big clash in the Frontier Division as 3-1 Pope John Paul II hosts 3-0 Phoenixville 1 p.m. Saturday.
The teams met in Week 9 last season with the division crown on the line and PJP II earned a 38-21 win with the Golden Panthers capturing the PAC championship a week later.
Phoenixville found a way to a win in a defensive battle with Kennett last Friday, the Phantoms shutting out the Blue Demons 9-0. Pope John Paul II – which lost to West Chester Rustin 20-13 in Week 3 – cruised past Bishop Shanahan in a rematch of last season's District 1-4A final 42-13 last Friday.
Central Bucks East at Pennsbury
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Records: Central Bucks East is 2-2 (0-1 Suburban One League National Conference), 16th in District 1-6A rankings. Pennsbury is 2-2 (0-1 SOL National), 14th in District 1-6A rankings.
Last Week: Both teams had two-game win streaks snapped last Friday. East fell to visiting Central Bucks South 34-14 while Pennsbury lost 18-13 at Pennridge.
Last Meeting: The Falcons topped host CB East 16-14 in Week 6 last season.
Players to CB East's Michael Shine collected 160 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries last Friday. Pennsbury's Jordan Brensinger ran for 142 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries last week.
Prediction: Central Bucks East 24, Pennsbury 18.
Boyertown at Methacton
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Records: Boyertown is 0-4 (0-0 PAC Liberty Division), 30th in District 1-6A rankings. Methacton is 1-3 (0-0 PAC Liberty), 24th in District 1-5A rankings.
Last Week: Boyertown lost to host Downingtown East 35-7 last Friday. Methacton went on the road last Friday and earned its first win, defeating Great Valley 35-12.
Last Meeting: The Bears and Warriors played an offensive shootout last season in Week 7, visiting Methacton coming away with a 43-40 win.
Players to Boyertown's Tilman Henley has caught seven passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns. Methacton quarterback Kolby Howarth looks to help the Warriors' off their best offensive output last week.
Prediction: Methacton 27, Boyertown 13.
Central Bucks West at Central Bucks South
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Records: Central Bucks West is 3-1 (1-0 SOL National), 6th in District 1-6A rankings. Central Bucks South is 1-0 (1-0 SOL National), fourth in District 1-6A rankings.
Last Week: West bounced back from its first loss last Friday by rolling past host Abington 38-6. South stayed undefeated with a 34-15 win at Central Bucks East last Friday.
Last Meeting: The intra-district rivals played twice at West's War Memorial Field in 2023, the Bucks winning the Week 9 matchup 40-29 but four weeks later South earned a 42-14 victory in the District 1-6A semifinals.
Players to Ryan Clemens will be a key factor in the West rushing attack. Danny Gies paces South with 197 receiving yards – four of the senior's seven receptions have gone for touchdowns.
Prediction: Central Bucks South 28, Central Bucks West 26.
Council Rock South at Upper Dublin
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Records: Council Rock South is 2-2 (1-0 SOL Continental), 15th in District 1-6A rankings. Upper Dublin is 2-2 (1-0 SOL Continental), 15th in District 1-5A rankings.
Last Week: The Golden Hawks and the Cardinals both got back to .500 with wins last Friday – South beating host Cheltenham 28-26 while visiting UD rolled past Council Rock North 42-7.
Last Meeting: Upper Dublin won 17-10 on the road over CR South in Week 7 last season.
Players to CR South looks to Shane Myers to lead its ground game. UD's Ryan O'Sullivan has caught 20 passes for 199 yards and three touchdowns this season.
Prediction: Upper Dublin 26, Council Rock South 14.
Interboro at Wissahickon
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Records: Interboro is 0-4 (0-0 Del-Val League). Wissahickon is 3-1 (0-0 SOL American).
Last Week: Interboro lost to host Upper Moreland 41-14 last Friday. Wissahickon cruised past Sun Valley 42-13 last Friday.
Players to Interboro QB Mike McLaughlin looks to help the Bucks get on track. Wissahickon QB Nolan Pounds threw for 180 yards and three touchdowns last week.
Prediction: Wissahickon 33, Interboro 13.
La Salle at Episcopal Academy
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Records: La Salle is 4-0 (0-0 Philadelphia Catholic League Red Division). Episcopal Academy is 1-2 (0-0 Inter-Ac League).
Last Week: La Salle rolled past host Haverford School 34-6 last Saturday to stay undefeated. Episcopal earned its first win, beating Hill School 47-14 at home last Friday.
Players to La Salle quarterback Gavin Sidwar has thrown for 980 yards and 12 TDs so far this season per easternpafootball.com. He finished with 181 yards and two TDs against Haverford School last Friday. Episcopal QB threw for 274 yards and four touchdowns on 14-of-16 passing and also ran for a TD in the win over Hill School last week.
Prediction: La Salle 34, Episcopal Academy 21.
Lansdale Catholic at Chichester
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Records: Lansdale Catholic is 2-2 (1-0 PCL Blue Division). Chichester is 0-4 (0-0 Del-Val League), 25th in District 1-5A rankings.
Last Week: LC snapped a two-game skid last Friday, topping visiting Conwell-Egan 21-14 in its PCL Blue opener. Chichester lost 51-8 at Cardinal O'Hara last Friday.
Players to LC's John Cobbold ran 13 times for 82 in last week's win and paces the Crusaders in rushing per easternpafootball.com with 103 yards on 21 carries.
Prediction: Lansdale Catholic 25, Chichester 14.
Norristown at Spring-Ford
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Records: Norristown is 3-1 (0-0 PAC Liberty). Spring-Ford is 1-3 (0-0 PAC Liberty).
Last Week: Norristown lost for the first time in 2024, falling to host West Chester Rustin 56-7 last Friday. It was a tough night for Spring-Ford last Friday, as the Rams lost senior quarterback Matt Zollers – a Missouri commit – to a season-ending broken ankle in a 21-12 loss to visiting Downingtown East. It was Spring-Ford's third straight loss.
Last Meeting: Spring-Ford defeated host Norristown 35-6 in Week 9 last season.
Players to QB Brendan Farrell had Norristown's lone TD last week on a 1-yard run and looks to help the Eagles bounce back. Spring-Ford's Jordan Marsilio caught five passes for 106 yards and two TDs last Friday.
Prediction: Spring-Ford 24, Norristown 15.
Pennridge at North Penn
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Records: Pennride is 3-1 (1-0 SOL National), fifth in District 1-6A rankings. North Penn is 4-0 (1-0 SOL National), first in District 1-6A rankings.
Last Week: Pennridge held off visiting Pennsbury 18-13 last Friday for its third straight win. North Penn built a 31-0 halftime lead over Neshaminy last Friday and went on to claim a 37-7 victory.
Last Meeting: North Penn held on to edge the visiting Rams 17-16 in Week 8 last season.
Players to Pennridge receiver Chase Marshall hauled in a 60-yard TD pass last week against Pennsbury and ended the win with six catches for 93 yards. Matt Pownall had a touchdown rushing and recovering in the win over Neshaminy last Friday, finishing with 8 carries for 59 yards and three catches for 24 yards.
Prediction: North Penn 28, Pennridge 17.
Plymouth Whitemarsh at Penn Wood
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Records: Plymouth Whitemarsh is 2-2 (0-0 SOL American), 20th in District 1-6A rankings. Penn Wood is 1-3 (0-1 Del-Val League), 21st in District 1-5A rankings.
Last Week: Plymouth Whitemarsh fell 20-18 to District 3's Manheim Township last Friday. Penn Wood lost to Academy Park 36-20 last Saturday.
Players to Plymouth Whitemarsh quarterback Caiden Leszczynski and running back Everett Baker help power the Colonials' offense. Penn Wood's Rashon Sanders has 14 receptions for 159 yards and four touchdowns in 2024.
Prediction: Plymouth Whitemarsh 26, Penn Wood 19.
Souderton at Quakertown
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Records: Souderton is 2-2 (1-0 SOL Continental), 11th in District 1-6A rankings. Quakertown is 1-3 (1-0 SOL Continental), 23rd in District 1-6A rankings.
Last Week: Souderton shut out Truman 38-0 last Friday for its second straight win. Quakertown earned its first victory as the Panthers topped Bensalem 49-21.
Last Meeting: Souderton defeated Quakertown 35-14 in Week 6 last season.
Players to Hunter Smeltz paces Souderton's receivers with 26 catches for 354 yards and a touchdown. Quakertown QB Brady Martin has completed 46-of-87 passes for 539 yards and five TDs.
Prediction: Souderton 24, Quakertown 13.
Upper Merion at Pottstown
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Records: Upper Merion is 0-4 (0-0 PAC Frontier), 26th in District 1-5A rankings. Pottstown is 1-3 (0-0 PAC Frontier), sixth in District 1-4A rankings.
Last Week: Both teams lost on the road to Ches-Mont sides last Friday – Upper Merion falling 41-0 to West Chester Henderson while Pottstown was edged 28-26 by Oxford.
Last Meeting: Pottstown beat the visiting Vikings 38-19 in Week 9 last season.
Players to UM quarterback Jackson Solley looks to help spark the Vikings offense getting shutout the past two weeks. Pottstown's Chris Thomas aims to get the Trojans going on the ground.
Prediction: Pottstown 23, Upper Merion 18.
Archbishop Wood at Neumann-Goretti
Time/Place: Noon Saturday, South Philadelphia Supersite
Records: Archbishop Wood is 1-3 (1-0 PCL Blue). Neumann-Goretti is 0-3 (0-0 PCL Blue).
Last Week: Wood earned its first win in its first game under interim head coach Brian Goettner by beating Archbishop Carroll 20-14 last Saturday. Neumann-Goretti had a bye.
Last Meeting: Wood defeated the Saints 28-6 in 2021.
Players to Wood's Yasin Lowry ran for 167 yards on 19 carries in the win over Carroll and for the season has 431 yards on 91 carries per easternpafootball.com. Neumann-Goretti's Wydeek Collier has caught eight passes for 201 yards per easternpafootball.com.
Prediction: Archbishop Wood 19, Neumann-Goretti 14.
Central at Germantown Academy
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Records: Central is 3-1 (2-0 Philadelphia Public League Liberty Division) Germantown Academy is 2-1 (0-0 Inter-Ac).
Last Week: Central cruised past Olney Charter 44-16 last Friday. Germantown Academy beat host Northeast 28-13 last Friday.
Players to QB Xavier Stearn looks to help lead GA to third straight win.
Prediction: Germantown Academy 31, Central 20.
Hatboro-Horsham at Academy Park
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Records: Hatboro-Horsham is 2-2 (0-0 SOL American), 14th in District 1-5A rankings. Academy Park is 2-2 (1-0 Del-Val League), 17th in District 1-5A rankings.
Last Week: Both squads earned their second straight win, Hatboro-Horsham beating Upper Darby 35-20 while Academy Park defeated Penn Wood 36-20 last Saturday.
Players to QB Chris Roughton and the Hatboro-Horsham offense aims to keep rolling after putting up more than 30 points in consecutive games. Academy Park's Jayden Barton ran for a TD and also scored on defense last week after stripping a ball carrier and returning it 40 yards.
Prediction: Academy Park 24, Hatboro-Horsham 22.
Phoenixville at Pope John Paul II
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Records: Phoenixville is 3-0 (0-0 PAC Frontier), second in District 1-5A rankings. Pope John Paul II is 3-1 (0-0 PAC Frontier), second in District 1-4A rankings.
Last Week: Phoenixville won a defensive battle against Kennett 9-0 last Friday. PJP II rolled past Bishop Shanahan 42-14 last Friday.
Last Meeting: In the teams' Week 9 meeting last season to decide the PAC Frontier title, Pope John Paul II bested the visiting Phantoms 38-21.
Players to Phoenixville running back Deacon Williams had 108 yards on 20 carries last week. PJP II's Dylan Skarbek ran for 142 yards and a TD on 13 carries in the win over Shanahan last Friday.
Prediction: Pope John Paul II 34, Phoenixville 31.
Archbishop Carroll at Archbishop Ryan
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Records: Archbishop Carroll is 1-3 (0-1 PCL Blue). Archbishop Ryan is 2-2 (1-0 PCL Blue).
Last Week: Carroll lost to Archbishop Wood 20-14 last Saturday. Ryan beat West Catholic 34-16 last Friday.
Last Meeting: Ryan defeated Carroll 23-3 in Week 5 last season.
Players to Ryan QB Frankie Mawson has thrown for 489 yards and six TDs this season per easternpafootball.com. Aaron Barnes leads Carroll in rushing per easternpafootball.com with 311 yards on 44 carries.
