High School Top 10: Pennsbury Is This Year's District 1 Monster
CBS Philly's Area Top 10 Power Ratings For Sept. 19, 2014
1. St. Joseph's Prep (Record: 1-2)
2. Archbishop Wood (Record: 3-0)
3. La Salle (Record: 2-1)
4. St. Joseph's (Hammonton, NJ) (Record: 1-0)
5. Pennsbury (Record: 3-0)
6. Shawnee (Record: 1-0)
7. Imhotep Charter (Record: 2-1)
8. Timber Creek (Record: 1-0)
9. Cherokee (Record: 1-0)
10. Downingtown West (Record: 3-0)
Southeastern PA Top 10 Power Ratings For Sept. 19, 2014
1. St. Joseph's Prep (Record: 1-2)
2. Archbishop Wood (Record: 3-0)
3. La Salle (Record: 2-1)
4. Pennsbury (Record: 3-0)
5. Imhotep Charter (Record: 2-1)
6. Downingtown West (Record: 3-0)
7. West Chester Rustin (Record: 3-0)
8. Coatesville (Record: 3-0)
9. Malvern Prep (Record: 2-1)
10. Haverford School (Record: 2-1)
PHILADELPHIA, PA (CBS) — In the past, there was always one team that everyone in District 1 had to aim for. It could be Neshaminy, or North Penn, Downingtown East, or Coatesville, Garnet Valley, or Ridley.
Entering this year, there wasn't any clear-cut choice, though Pennsbury, which had most of last year's junior nucleus returning, seemed to be that early heads-above-everyone favorite. Then two-year starting quarterback Breon Clark moved to Baltimore, Maryland, and decided to transfer to St. Frances Academy fostering some doubt as to just how good the Falcons could be.
They could be better.
Entering the season's fourth week, a monster has emerged in District 1 Class AAAA and it's the undefeated 3-0 Falcons, who have outscored their first three opponents 141-28. They've done it using coach Galen Snyder's dangerous Wing-T attack, and they've forged ahead behind a new leader, Mike Alley, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound junior transfer quarterback from Conwell-Egan.
The rangy left-hander makes the Falcons a very viable threat to take District 1 and play deep into December, making Snyder's offense near impossible to stop. His Wing-T already creates problems, and adding a strong-armed, accurate throwing quarterback is a nightmare. Then toss in immensely talented Rutgers-bound senior Charles Snorweah and you have the makings of a monster.
Here's a few dates to watch to validate that: Sept. 27, Pennsbury at Abington and Oct. 17 Pennsbury at North Penn. The Falcons are loaded enough to run the board in the deeply rich realigned Suburban One League National Conference (North Penn, Neshaminy, Souderton, Pennridge, Central Bucks South, Abington, Bensalem).
A rankings explanation is warranted
Yes, it appears strange to have a team that's 1-2 sitting atop the area's power rankings list. But it does state on both rankings: "Area" and "Southeastern PA," and until a team from the area or Southeastern Pennsylvania beats St. Joseph's Prep, the Hawks will maintain the No. 1 spot.
No team in the area, both sides of the river, plays the ambitious and national schedule the Hawks have. If "The Prep" was pummeled by Ohio powerhouse St. Ignatius, dropping the Hawks would have been warranted. But the Hawks stayed in that game until the fourth quarter.
For the time being, however, no local team has beaten the Hawks. Archbishop Wood certainly has an argument as the No. 1 team, but the Vikings have not played three teams the level Prep has. The Hawks shouldn't be penalized for stepping outside the area and seeing how good they are against national competition.
It has a way of paying dividends in December.
Game of the Week
La Salle (2-1) at Malvern Prep (2-1) - Saturday at 2 PM
This a great matchup of two great offenses, and two great quarterbacks, La Salle's Vanderbilt-bound Kyle Shurmur, and Malvern Prep's Pittsburgh-bound Alex Hornibrook.
La Salle averages 34.7 points a game and Malvern Prep averages 27.7. Shurmur has completed 68 of 100 passes for 931 yards and 12 touchdowns, according to Ted Silary.com. The left-handed Hornibrook has completed 42 of 79 for 629, and 9 TDs, according to Ted Silary.com.
Expect to see a lot of offense, a rare stop here and there, and two of the best young quarterbacks in the state. It should be a lot of fun.
Prediction: La Salle 45, Malvern Prep 35
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