NEWTOWN, Pa. — In a thrilling Suburban One League (SOL) Continental Division opener, Council Rock South (3-1, 1-0 SOL Continental) overcame an early deficit to defeat Cheltenham (1-3, 0-1 SOL Continental) 28-20, sparked by a dominant second-half performance led by all-state linebacker Nate Szydlik.
The turning point came early in the fourth quarter on a critical third-and-10. Szydlik, back from an injury sustained in South’s season opener, wrapped up Cheltenham quarterback Kendall Jackson for an 11-yard loss, forcing a punt from the Panthers’ end zone. The Golden Hawks capitalized when the punt was returned to the Cheltenham 13-yard line. On the very next play, Szydlik powered through for a touchdown, giving South a 28-20 lead that would hold as the final score.
“That’s what all-state players do,” said head coach CJ Szydlik, whose son Nate earned Pennsylvania Football Writers All-State honors last fall. The senior linebacker was a force on both sides of the ball, racking up 133 yards on eight touches, scoring a touchdown, and recording two pivotal sacks.
Early Struggles, Second-Half Surge
Cheltenham jumped out to a 20-7 lead in the first half, driven by SOL Player of the Week James Smith. The dynamic junior scored on a 19-yard run on the game’s opening drive and added a pick-six shortly after. A punt return touchdown by Smith was nullified by a holding penalty, but the Panthers still controlled the tempo, amassing 191 yards in the first half. Melo Stehman’s 3-yard rushing touchdown extended Cheltenham’s lead to 20-7 by midway through the second quarter.
South, however, found its rhythm after halftime. “We started playing team football,” Szydlik said. “In the first half, we had guys trying to solo tackle. In the second half, the big thing in the locker room was everybody to the ball. Our defensive backs played great—they didn’t allow much separation, and our line got to their quarterback.”
The Golden Hawks’ defense clamped down, holding Cheltenham to just one first down and zero points in the second half. “The second half, we cranked everything up,” said senior Joey Madara, who contributed two tackles for loss. “We had plenty of three-and-outs.”
Offensive Firepower Ignites Comeback
South’s offense chipped away at the deficit. Quarterback Marley Emerson connected with Madara for a 15-yard touchdown in the second quarter to get South on the board. Later, Shane Myers punched in a 3-yard touchdown run, set up by a clutch fourth-and-15 conversion from Emerson to Szydlik. “No matter what, down it is, I’m thinking touchdown,” Szydlik said. “Especially on fourth down, when your team needs you to make a play, go make one.”
Madara’s 13-yard touchdown reception with 44 seconds left in the third quarter gave South its first lead at 21-20. “It was the same play for both touchdowns,” Madara noted. “Marley threw a heck of a ball both times—they were lasers.” Emerson finished 8-of-14 for 107 yards and two touchdowns.
With :44 left in the third quarter the @CRSFootball have taken the lead. After the PAT is good the score is.@CRSFootball 21@CheltenhamPant1 20 pic.twitter.com/uBSL1uPwZ3
— Suburban One Insider (@S1insider) September 13, 2025
A late first-half stand proved crucial. Cheltenham drove to South’s 10-yard line, but Szydlik’s sack pushed them out of field goal range, and a 29-yard attempt fell short. “Before every play, I’m thinking, ‘Go do it. Go make a play,’” Szydlik said. “Our D-line created the hole for me. All I had to do was go in and make the tackle.”
A Familiar Blueprint
Coach CJ Szydlik saw echoes of last year’s matchup. “It was an exact mirror image,” he said. “We turned the ball over on the opening kickoff last year, too. We told them we were going to do the same things—be aggressive, let the kids play, and get after the passer. That’s what we did in the second half, and it paid dividends.”
South’s defense has been a constant, holding all four opponents this season to 21 points or fewer. Offensively, the Golden Hawks found balance, with Szydlik, Emerson, and Madara earning CDS Wealth Player of the Game honors. “We started slow, with some misalignments and missed checks,” Szydlik said. “But at halftime, we said we’ve got to take it to them. We played great on offense, swarmed the ball on defense, and played eleven as one.”
Looking Ahead
Szydlik, who has drawn FCS scholarship offers, is optimistic about the season. “I’m ready to go and excited for the year,” he said. With their second-half dominance and a 22-point unanswered run to close the game, the Golden Hawks have set the tone for their SOL Continental campaign. South looks to keep rolling next week when they host Upper Dublin (1-3,1-0) back at Walt Snyder Stadium, and Cheltenham will try to get back on track when they host Bensalem (2-2,0-1).
CDS Wealth Player(s) of the Game
