HS FOOTBALL: Taking a look at area teams' 2013 schedules

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.

This Week in Instagram: Saluting another Pennridge win

The Pennridge football team raises its helmets after the Rams' 35-14 win over Abington in the District One Class AAAA first round on Friday, Nov. 9. 

2012 High School Football Standings

Week 16
SUBURBAN ONE LEAGUE
CONTINENTAL CONFERENCE

Team	Conference	Overall	PF	PA
Pennridge	7-0	12-2	455	267
Central Bucks South	6-1	10-2	442	188
North Penn	5-2	6-4	261	177
Souderton	4-3	7-4	333	194
Central Bucks West	3-4	5-5	287	230
Central Bucks East	2-5	4-6	212	291
Hatboro-Horsham	1-6	1-11	138	465
Quakertown	0-7	1-10	140	330

This Week
No games scheduled

AMERICAN CONFERENCE

Team	Conference	Overall	PF	PA
Plymouth Whitemarsh	7-0	9-2	329	189
Wissahickon	5-2	8-4	402	285
Cheltenham	5-2	8-4	316	214
Upper Dublin	4-3	6-4	235	230
Upper Moreland	4-3	7-5	248	228
Norristown	1-6	1-10	104	312
Springfield (Montco)	1-6	5-6	226	222
Upper Merion	1-6	2-9	277	397

This Week
No games scheduled

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Team	Conference	Overall	PF	PA
Pennsbury	7-0	9-3	356	186
Abington	5-2	8-4	271	226
Neshaminy	5-2	9-4	347	236
Council Rock North	4-3	5-5	239	202
William Tennent	3-4	4-6	178	268
Bensalem	2-5	3-7	197	330
Council Rock South	2-5	2-8	149	254
Truman	0-7	3-8	176	368

This Week
No games scheduled

PHILADELPHIA CATHOLIC LEAGUE
CLASS AAA

Team	Division	Overall	PF	PA
Archbishop Wood	3-0	12-3	529	245
Bonner-Prendergast	1-2	4-6	257	228
Lansdale Catholic	1-2	5-5	222	207
Cardinal O'Hara	1-2	5-5	258	255

This Week
Friday
PIAA Class AAA Championship
(10-1) Erie Cathedral Prep 24, (12-1) Archbishop Wood 14 STORY (Bucks Local News)
Last Week
Friday
PIAA Class AAA Semifinals
(12-1) Archbishop Wood 36, (11-1) Allentown Central Cahtolic 6 STORY (Bucks Local News)

CLASS AA

Team	Division	Overall	PF	PA
West Catholic	4-0	7-4	361	212
Archbishop Carroll	3-1	4-6	213	300
Conwell-Egan	2-2	6-5	258	287
Neumann-Goretti	1-3	6-5	237	262
Bishop McDevitt	0-4	1-8	132	317

This Week
No games scheduled

CLASS AAAA

Team	Division	Overall	PF	PA
St. Joseph's Prep	4-0	10-1	315	107
La Salle	3-1	12-2	441	219
Roman Catholic	2-2	6-4	253	241
Archbishop Ryan	1-3	6-5	225	196
Father Judge	0-4	3-6	187	228

This Week
No games scheduled
Last Week
Friday
PIAA Class AAAA Semifinal
(1-1) Coatesville 42, (12-1) La Salle 35 STORY (Daily Local)


PAC-10

Team	Conference	Overall	PF	PA
Pottsgrove	9-0	11-1	493	148
Perkiomen Valley	7-2	8-3	400	227
Spring-Ford	7-2	12-3	505	336
Phoenixville	6-3	7-5	346	245
Methacton	5-4	6-5	252	275
Pottstown	4-5	6-6	361	468
Boyertown	3-6	3-8	257	395
Owen J. Roberts	3-6	3-9	242	418
Pope John Paul II	1-8	1-9	207	381
Upper Perkiomen	0-9	0-10	154	444

This Week
No games scheduled

This Week in Instagram: Quality over Quantity

The Souderton and Central Bucks East boy soccer teams looking at the mid-air ball during their  District One Class AAA semifinal on Thursday, Nov. 1. CB East won 1-0.

This Week in Instagram: Another happy night at Poppy Yoder Field

Pennridge football players and students celebrate at Poppy Yoder Field
after the Rams' 28-21 victory over North Penn on Friday, Oct. 19.

This Week in Instagram: All Hail Micahtron

The Pennridge football team and its fans on the field after the Rams'
21-10 win over Central Bucks South on Friday, Oct. 12.

This Week in Instagram: A Whole Lot of Souderton

Souderton boys soccer hosted Central Bucks South last Saturday. The game
ended 0-0, keeping both team in first place in the SOL Continental.

This Week in Instagram: Another night at Crawford Stadium

North Penn football takes the field for its game with
 St. Joesph's Prep on Sept. 14. Prep won 31-3.

This Week in Instagram: North Penn battles the elements

North Penn students withstand the rain prior to the Knights' football
game with Archbishop Wood on Sept. 8.

H.S. FOOTBALL: Ten games to watch in 2012

Dan Gavertz of North Penn runs for a large gain in first quarter of game against Souiderton on Friday, Oct. 21, 2011.  Photo by Mark C. Psoras

By MIKE CABREY

mcabrey@thereporteronline.com

The wait is finally over as the high school football season gets under way this weekend. The 2012 is full of interesting storylines, from Tom Kirk taking over as head coach of Lansdale Catholic to any team in the Suburban One League Continental Conference finding a way to knock off North Penn.

So, just as a handy guide, here are 10 games that I think are the most interesting, from early-season clashes of state heavyweights to contest that determine league titles.

WEEK 1

Friday, Aug. 31

La Salle at North Penn, 7:30 p.m.

Last time the two teams were on the field together the Knights punched their first ticket to Hershey since 2003 as they bested the Explorers 21-14 in the last year’s PIAA 4A semifinals. This will be the third straight season the two teams have met in Week 1, with La Salle winning both of those early matchups.

Saturday, Sept. 1

Lansdale Catholic vs. Prep Charter, 3:15 p.m., at Ocean City HS (N.J.)

This is less about the teams playing than the historical significance regarding Lansdale Catholic. This will be the first time in 40-plus years that Jim Algeo is not coaching the Crusaders. Game One for new coach Tom Kirk is down the shore with LC facing the Huskies of the Philadelphia Public League.

WEEK 2

Saturday, Sept. 8

North Penn at Archbishop Wood, 7 p.m., at William Tennent

The second stage of its Philadelphia Catholic League tour has North Penn heading on the road against face Wood, which was absolutely dominant in claiming the 2011 Class AAA state crown. The Vikings averaged 48.7 points per game is they won their last 13 games, including a 52-0 victory over Bishop McDevitt of Harrisburg in the state championship.

The team' last meeting came in Week 1 of 2006 at Crawford Stadium with Wood coming away with a 25-18 win.

WEEK 3

Friday, Sept. 14

Souderton at Neshaminy, 7 p.m.

This is the fifth straight season the Indians and Redskins have met, with the previous for coming in Week 1. The Redskins have won the three in a row against the Indians, including a 20-13 victory last year at Heartbreak Ridge. 

A win by Souderton here would be a big boost for Big Red going into the SOL Continental schedule.

Pennridge at Council Rock South, 7 p.m., at Council Rock North

The Rams come into 2012 with some expectations, so a win on the road against the District One Class AAA finalist Golden Hawks will send the message Pennridge should be taken seriously.

A safety off a block punt provided CR South its only points as it survived Pennridge at Poppy Yoder a season ago. The Golden Hawks went on to make the District One 4A final, while the Rams won seven of their next nine.

Wissahickon at Central Bucks West, 7 p.m.

Wissahickon used a 17-play, 95-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter to knock off CB West 21-14 in last year’s Week 3 SOL non-conference contest. The Bucks moved to a spread offense in trying to better their 5-6 record in 2011, while the Trojans went 7-3.

WEEK 6

Friday, Oct. 5

Souderton at Pennridge, 7 p.m.

That start of the second half is a good time for two teams looking to be at the top of the SOL Continental – and also somewhere in the district playoff picture – to meet at Poppy Yoder Field. Mike Class ran for 141 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-7 Pennridge victory last season. Two years ago, the Indians own 10-7 on four-down TD in the final seconds.

Saturday, Oct. 6

Pottsgrove at Methacton, 1 p.m.

After three straight years losing to Pottsgrove by an average of 41 points, Methacton was a missed-two point conversion from taking the Falcons to overtime last season before ultimately falling 21-19.

Pottsgrove is also one of the three PAC-10 teams Methacton has not beaten since joining the conference in 2008 (Phoenixville and Perkiomen Valley are the other two).

WEEK 8

Friday, Oct. 19

North Penn at Pennridge, 7 p.m.

This is the end of a three-game home stretch that will probably determine how Pennridge finishes this seasson. Following visits from Souderton and CB South – both of which tied the Rams for second in the Continental last year – in comes the Knights, who blanked Pennridge 27-0 in the teams’ previous contest.

WEEK 10

Friday, Nov. 2

North Penn at Souderton, 7 p.m.

North Penn has dominated the rivalry since both have been in the SOL Continental, but this contest should have implications for both the conference race and the District One playoffs.

The Knights rolled 37-14 in 2011 at Crawford Stadium, yet there’s always a little more energy when NP and Big Red play in any sport.

OTHER GAMES TO WATCH: St. Joseph's Prep at North Penn (Friday, Sept. 14); Central Bucks West at Souderton (Friday, Sept. 21); Wissahickon at Upper Dublin (Friday, Sept. 21); Lansdale Catholic at Bonner-Prendergast (Saturday, Oct. 6); Central Bucks West at Central Bucks South (Friday, Nov. 2).

Take Five: North Penn vs. Central Dauphin PIAA 4A Final

North Penn takes the field for their playoff contest against LaSalle. Photo by Mark C. Psoras

The North Penn football team looks for its second PIAA Class AAAA title in its history when it faces Central Dauphin in the state final 6 p.m. Saturday at Hersheypark Stadium. And if you're looking for a little info on both the Knights and Rams, you're in luck. Here's five facts on each team before their clash for the championship.

North Penn
1) North Penn is 13-2 and has won its last 12 games. The Knights have scored 32.6 points per game and have allowed 14.0 points per game. In its five postseason games, North Penn has scored 30.2 points per game and allowed 11.8 points per game.

2) This is Dick Beck’s 10th season as head coach of North Penn. He is 119-20 overall and 32-8 in the postseason.  The Knights have won six District One 4A titles under Beck – 2002, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2010 and 2011 – and one PIAA title (2003).

North Penn has reached double-digits in win totals in nine of Beck’s seasons. This is the fourth consecutive year the Knights have won at least 13 games.

3) The Knights are the first District One 4A team to reach the state final since Neshaminy lost to Pittsburgh Central Catholic 49-14 in 2004.

North Penn defeating Central Catholic 37-10 in the ’03 final was the last time a District One 4A school won states. The last time any district team won states was when Lansdale Catholic defeated Grove City 40-17 in the 2004 Class 2A final.

Garnet Valley is the last District One team to reach Hershey, the Jaguars fell to Thomas Jefferson 28-3 in the 2007 3A championship.

4) North Penn senior Ralph Reeves is scoring a touchdown on 37-percent of his runs this postseason, as the senior has found the end zone 10 times on 27 carries in the five playoffs games. The Knights’ defense, meanwhile, has allowed a total of eight touchdowns in the postseason.

5) North Penn is the third 4A team since 2005 to enter the state championship with two losses. In 2005, McKeesport entered the final 13-2 and defeated Bethlehem Liberty 49-10. State College went into the 2009 championship 12-2 and fell to La Salle 24-7.

Central Dauphin
1) Central Dauphin is 14-1 and has won its last 13 games. The Rams have scored 31.3 points per game and have allowed 14.4 points per game. In its five postseason games, Central Dauphin has scored 28.0 points per game and allowed 18.8 points per game.

2) The Rams’ only loss was to Bishop McDevitt of Harrisburg Week Two. McDevitt is playing Archbishop Wood in the state 3A final Friday.

3) This is Glen McNamee’s sixth season as coach of Central Dauphin. He is 57-18 overall and 10-5 in the postseason. The Rams’ District Three title this season was the first under McNamee and the first for the Rams since 2002.

Central Dauphin has improved on its win total in each of the last four seasons. The Rams went 7-4 in 2008, 9-3 in 2009, 10-3 last year and currently sits at 14-1 going into Saturday’s 4A final.

4) The Rams are the first District Three Class 4A team to make the state final since Lower Dauphin lost to Penn Hills 35-14 in 1995. The last 4A team from the district to win a state title was Cumberland Valley, who defeated Upper St. Clair in 28-12 in 1992.

5) Central Dauphin has won three of its past four games by three points. In the District Three quarters, the Rams beat Cedar Cliff 35-32, then topped Wilson-West Lawn in the district final 24-21. CD made it to Hershey by knocking off defending 4A champ North Allegheny 23-20 in the state semifinals.