During Neshaminy’s first pre-season scrimmage of just two weeks ago, when the chatter was all about the offensive performance, one of the ‘Skins coaches noted oh-so-clearly: “We have a defense too, you know.” Last night in Coatesville, that defensive eleven didn’t need a “cheerleader” in the least as they spoke up for themselves and put us all on notice - the 2007 Redskins have a defense!

All game long, the defenders from Langhorne put up a wall and stopped the Red Raiders when it was needed most. A case in point was early in the third when Coatesville was getting a huge offensive performance out of their very talented sophomore quarterback, Charles Green. With the ‘Skins down 7-6, and the Raiders lined up on the Tribe’s 5-yard line with a first and goal, the defensive squad stopped them on three straight and Coatesville had to settle for just a field goal and a 10-6 edge.

With the defense working as hard as they did on that touchdown thwarting stand, it was only natural that the offense had to return the favor. And that’s what they did in a hurry as in just a mere four plays the Moleskinners had rumbled 83 yards. Three carries by Jason Ulmer and one by Joe Stemme almost covered the distance before Stemme powered his way the last one yard into the promised land. Taking the lead, 12-10, the rampaging Redskins never again were behind. In fact, going into the fourth, Neshaminy stretched its advantage to 19-10 on the strength of Justin Kinney’s picture perfect air lanes strike to Kevin Steinberg. Even so, the game was hardly over.

But once again, when things got dicey, it was the defense that stepped up to the plate as they held the tenacious Red Raiders to a field goal that ended one Coatesville drive with 6 minutes to go in the contest. Up 19-13, Neshaminy could do nothing on its own possession and, after the exchange, the home team went to work with a vengeance. Driving down to Neshaminy’s 15-yard line, and with the clock showing only 1:29 remaining, the Raiders had the momentum. Sensing the kill, Coatesville went up top for the score but the pass was picked-off at the goal line by a defender, Ian Capanna. Three plays later and the final gun sounded with Neshaminy banking its first win of season number eighty.

And although the defense made itself known to us tonight, Ulmer started the year off on a torrid pace as he rushed for 208 big, big yards. His longest run was a 90-yarder that resulted in the first Playwickian score of the night and which will surely make the 2007 'Skins highlight reel. It featured numerous twists and turns that left several air-tackles in Ulmer’s wake while his use of blockers should keep the coaches sleeping very soundly.

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photos courtesy of Jesse Garber