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| Pennridge's Mike Class,25, races past Abington defenders for a huge gain during first half action of the Rams' District ONe Class AAAA playoff contest at Poppy Yoder Field on Friday, Nov. 9, 2012. (Mark C Psoras/The Reporter) |
By MIKE CABREY
mcabrey@thereporteronline.com
Monday was the official start of high school football practice. And while having football is better than not having football, there's three weeks before the actual games are here.
So, with the need to talk about something until that happens, here's a look at the schedules for The Reporter's seven area teams.
North Penn
2012: 6-4, 5-2 SOL Continental
| Date | Opponent | 2012 Record | 2012 Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug. 31 | @ La Salle | 12-2 | La Salle, 20-7 |
| Sept. 6 | Archbishop Wood | 12-3 | North Penn, 24-10 |
| Sept. 14 | @ St. Joseph's Prep | 10-1 | St. Joseph's Prep, 31-3 |
| Sept. 20 | CB East | 4-5 | North Penn, 42-7 |
| Sept. 27 | @ Quakertown | 1-10 | North Penn, 42-7 |
| Oct. 4 | @ CB South | 10-2 | CB South, 36-29 |
| Oct. 11 | @ Hatboro-Horsham | 1-11 | North Penn, 34-0 |
| Oct. 18 | Pennridge | 12-2 | Pennridge, 28-21 |
| Oct. 25 | @ CB West | 5-5 | North Penn, 48-28 |
| Nov. 1 | Souderton | 7-4 | North Penn, 11-10 |
Opponents' 2012 Combined Record: 74-46 (.617)
Breakdown: North Penn kicks off 2012 with easily one of the toughest 3-game opening stretch in Pennsylvania. La Salle made the 4A state semis, Wood reached the 3A state final and Prep's lone loss came to La Salle in the PCL 4A championship.
The Knights collected just one win over the Catholic League trio, something they no doubt want to improve in starting their run back to making the District One postseason.
North Penn also dropped conference games to CB South and Pennridge last season, with those two contests going a long way in deciding the Continental crown.
Lansdale Catholic
2012: 5-5, 1-2 PCL 3A Division
| Date | Opponent | 2012 Record | 2012 Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug. 31 | @ Conwell-Egan | 6-5 | Did Not Play |
| Sept. 6 | Germantown Academy | 3-6 | Did Not Play |
| Sept. 13 | @ Morrisville | 6-6 | LC, 34-0 |
| Sept. 21 | @ Bishop McDevitt | 1-8 | LC, 35-0 |
| Sept. 28 | @ Neumann-Goretti | 3-6 | Neumann, 21-20 |
| Oct. 4 | Bonner-Prendergast | 10-2 | B-P 28-9; B-P 28-0 |
| Oct. 12 | Archbishop Wood | 1-11 | Wood, 28-14 |
| Oct. 19 | Archbishop Carroll | 12-2 | Did Not Play |
| Oct. 25 | @ Cardinal O'Hara | 5-5 | LC, 33-28 |
Opponents' 2012 Combined Record: 44-51 (.463)
Breakdown: With only 3 division games, so it would be huge for the Crusaders to begin PCL 3A play with a win. Week 6 gives LC that chance against a Bonner-Prendie side that handed coach Tom Kirk's crew two losses in 2012 - the second defeat coming in the division semifinals
Lansdale Catholic also plays four of the five PCL 2A teams (West Catholic the lone omit) starting with a clash with Conwell-Egan Week 1 in Ocean City. Last year, the Crusaders started 4-0 before a 1-point loss to Neumann-Goretti. LC again meets the Saints in Week 5.
Souderton
2012: 7-4, 4-3 SOL Continental
| Date | Opponent | 2012 Record | 2012 Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug. 30 | @ Pottsgrove | 11-2 | Did Not Play |
| Sept. 7 | @ Unionville | 8-3 | Unionville, 29-23 |
| Sept. 12 | Neshaminy | 9-4 | Souderton, 18-7 |
| Sept. 20 | @ CB West | 5-5 | Souderton, 28-17 |
| Sept. 27 | CB South | 10-2 | CB South, 44-28 |
| Oct. 4 | Pennridge | 12-2 | Pennridge, 45-35 |
| Oct. 12 | @ CB East | 4-6 | Souderton, 37-0 |
| Oct. 18 | Quakertown | 1-10 | Souderton, 33-7 |
| Oct. 25 | Hatboro-Horsham | 1-11 | Souderton, 37-7 |
| Nov. 1 | @ North Penn | 6-4 | North Penn, 11-10 |
Opponents' 2012 Combined Record: 67-48 (.583).
Breakdown: After North Penn, Big Red has the toughest slate in the area. Five of the Indians' first six games - including all three non-conference tilts - are against teams that made the District One postseason in 2012.
Souderton started last season with a 35-0 romp over Methacton. The Indians again play a PAC-10 side Week1, but this time facing conference power Pottsgrove on the road. North Penn waits in Week 10, with last year's contest between the rivals ending with a one-point Knight win.
Pennridge
2012: 12-2, 7-0 SOL Continental
| Date | Opponent | 2012 Record | 2012 Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug. 30 | Emmaus | 5-6 | Did Not Play |
| Sept. 6 | @ Bensalem | 3-7 | Bensalem, 24-21 (OT) |
| Sept. 12 | Council Rock South | 2-8 | Pennridge, 31-7 |
| Sept. 20 | @ Academy Park | 10-2 | Pennridge, 37-15 |
| Sept. 27 | CB West | 5-5 | Pennridge, 28-21 |
| Oct. 4 | @ Souderton | 7-4 | Pennridge, 45-35 |
| Oct. 11 | @ CB South | 10-2 | Pennridge, 21-10 |
| Oct. 18 | @ North Penn | 6-4 | Pennridge, 28-21 |
| Oct. 25 | CB East | 4-6 | Pennridge, 34-24 |
| Nov. 1 | @ Hatboro-Horsham | 1-11 | Pennridge, 54-14 |
| Nov. 28 | Quakertown | 1-10 | Pennridge, 28-13 |
Opponents' 2012 Combined Record: 54-65 (.454).
Breakdown: Is there a storyline of interest for the Rams' season opener? I guess if a coach coming back to face his old team a year after leading them to a conference title peaks you interest. That that's case for Pennridge, as Randy Cuthbert brings his Emmaus team into Poppy Yoder Aug. 30.
The defending SOL Continental champs, the Rams' title defense probably comes down to a three-week strentch in October when they hit the road for games against Souderton, CB South and North Penn. Pennridge went 3-0 during the same strech in 2012, but all of those wins were at home.
Central Bucks West
2012: 5-5, 3-4 SOL Continental
| Date | Opponent | 2012 Record | 2012 Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug. 30 | @ Upper Dublin | 6-4 | CB West, 31-0 |
| Sept. 6 | William Tennent | 4-6 | CB West, 28-20 |
| Sept. 12 | @ Wissahickon | 8-4 | Wiss., 38-35 (2OT) |
| Sept. 20 | Souderton | 7-4 | Souderton, 28-17 |
| Sept. 27 | @ Pennridge | 12-2 | Pennridge, 28-21 |
| Oct. 4 | CB East | 4-6 | CB West, 40-20 |
| Oct. 11 | Quakertown | 1-10 | CB West, 42-0 |
| Oct. 18 | @ Hatboro-Horsham | 1-11 | CB West, 31-14 |
| Oct. 25 | North Penn | 6-4 | North Penn, 48-28 |
| Nov. 1 | CB South | 10-2 | CB South, 34-14 |
Opponents' 2012 Combined Record: 59-53 (.527).
Breakdown: Wissahickon is West's lone non-conference opponent to make the postseason in 2012, reaching the district 4A quarters after upsetting top seed Downingtown East. Last year, the Trojans topped West in double OT to earn wins over the Bucks in back-to-back seasons.
West needs to find a win or two against the four teams that beat the Bucks in SOL Continental play last season. They get that chance early, opening conference action at home against Souderton before visiting defending champ Pennridge the next week. Getting North Penn and CB South to end the regular season is no easy task.
Methacton
2012: 6-5, 5-4 PAC-10
| Date | Opponent | 2012 Record | 2012 Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug. 31 | West Cheter Rustin | 8-3 | Did Not Play |
| Sept. 6 | @ Perkiomen Valley | 8-3 | Perk Valley, 35-6 |
| Sept. 14 | Boyertown | 3-8 | Methacton, 24-20 |
| Sept. 20 | @ Pottsgrove | 11-1 | Pottsgrove, 27-14 |
| Sept. 28 | Upper Perkiomen | 0-10 | Methacton, 35-6 |
| Oct. 5 | @ Pope John Paul II | 1-9 | Methacton, 35-13 |
| Oct. 12 | @ Spring-Ford | 12-3 | Spring-Ford, 31-7 |
| Oct. 19 | Owen J. Roberts | 3-9 | Methacton, 45-28 |
| Oct. 25 | @ Pottstown | 6-6 | Methacton, 45-27 |
| Nov. 2 | Phoenixville | 7-5 | Phoenixville, 37-10 |
| Nov. 9 | Norristown | 1-10 | Methacton, 31-16 |
Opponents' 2012 Combined Record: 60-67 (.472).
Breakdown: The Warriors' lone non-conference games has them hosting Ches-Mont side Rustin, which lost to Pennsbury in the first round of the District One 4A playoffs.
Methacton has gone 5-4 in PAC-10 play the past two seasons, losing to Perkiomen Valley, Phoenixville, Pottsgrove and Spring-Ford both years. Paul Lepre's teams gets an early chance to end that trend in starting its conference slate at Perk Valley Week 2.
Wissahickon
2012: 8-4, 5-2 SOL American
| Date | Opponent | 2012 Record | 2012 Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug. 30 | @ William Tennent | 4-6 | Wissahickon, 43-7 |
| Sept. 6 | Archbishop Ryan | 6-5 | Ryan, 29-21 |
| Sept. 12 | CB West | 5-5 | Wiss., 38-35 (2OT) |
| Sept. 20 | Upper Dublin | 6-4 | Wissahickon, 41-21 |
| Sept. 27 | @ Springfield (M) | 5-6 | Wissahickon, 27-13 |
| Oct. 4 | @ Plymouth Whitemarsh | 9-2 | PW, 35-21 |
| Oct. 11 | Cheltenham | 8-4 | Cheltenham, 20-6 |
| Oct. 18 | Upper Merion | 2-9 | Wissahickon, 49-22 |
| Oct. 26 | @ Norristown | 1-10 | Wissahickon, 42-13 |
| Nov. 1 | Upper Moreland | 7-5 | Wissahickon, 55-13 |
Opponents' 2012 Combined Record: 53-56 (.486).
Breakdown: Wissahickon has posted two straight winning seasons, last year making the District One playoffs for the first time since 2007 and becoming the third No. 16 seed to reach the 4A quarterfinals.
The Trojans have faced William Tennent, Ryan and CB West in non-conference play in that order the past three seasons, going 2-1 vs. Tennent at West (beating bother the last two years) and 0-3 against Ryan.
Plymouth Whitemarsh has also had Wissahickon's number the past three seasons, with the teams' SOL American clash coming on the Colonials' home turf Week 6.
