Souderton Area High School (Credit: SASD)
In a matchup that lived up to its billing as one of the biggest Suburban One Continental Division games of the season, Council Rock South delivered a defensive masterclass Thursday night, defeating Souderton 14-7 to take command of the league title race.
Souderton entered the game averaging more than 34 points per contest, but South’s defensive front shut down the Indians’ trademark Wing-T attack from start to finish, according to a gameplay report from The Trentonian.
Linemen Andy Cimino, Chris Guinter, Mike Smith, and Gavin Sailer set the tone in the trenches, holding Souderton to minimal yardage and forcing quarterback Ben Walsh into rushed throws all evening, per the report.
The Hawks controlled possession early but squandered multiple red-zone chances in the first half, missing two short field goals. They finally broke through on a 3-yard touchdown run by Guinter, set up by a 29-yard pass from quarterback Marley Emerson to Jerry Rogers, according to The Trentonian.
Souderton tied the game late in the third quarter when Walsh hit Timmy Meehan on a shovel pass on fourth down, setting up a tense finish, per the report.
The decisive drive came in the final two minutes when South capitalized on field position after pinning the Indians deep, with an 8-yard touchdown pass with 1:15 left; the victory was sealed moments later by sacking Walsh on Souderton’s last-gasp drive.
For the Hawks, now 7-1 overall, the win represents a signature moment in the tenure of coach C.J. Szydlik.
South can clinch the division outright with wins over Quakertown and Council Rock North in the coming weeks.
