On a road trip game to Perkasie, the Redskins took their 2007 club to Poppy Yoder Field for the annual renewal of the half-century long relationship with the Pennridge Rams. And before a good sized crowd of home-green and visitor-red fans, the 'Skins extended their season record to six and oh. But while it started off just the way it was expected, the Blue and Red managed to make it a lot harder than they would have liked.

Receiving the opening kickoff, a mix of passing and running by the Creek Kids set up Jason Ulmer's 39-yard bolt that has become almost automatic for this year's big man in the backfield. With the PAT no good, it was then 6-0 for the Redskins. But the Rams showed they were ready to play too as they drove 80 yards in 20 plays before scoring on a gutsy 4th and 2. Pennridge's kick was good and they lead 7-6. And with a three and out by the 'Skins, Pennridge was back in business in a hurry. Putting together another nice drive it went to 4th and 2 again before they stalled at Neshaminy's five. Advancing it out to the 25-yard line in a couple of plays, another Ulmer spectacular followed as he ripped off a 75-yarder that added 6 more to his total. Going for two, Justin Kinney's toss to big tight end Paul Carrezola was on target and it was 14-7 Neshaminy.

Not impressed at all, Pennridge put together another drive that ended in six more for them. The attempt at a two-point conversion was good as gold and it was 15-14 in their favor as they kicked off to Neshaminy with a few minutes left in the second quarter. An interception by Pennridge saw the favor returned by Kinney shortly thereafter to end the half.

With Coach Schmidt no doubt happy to have the break to make some adjustments, it was a different Redskins team that came out for the final 24. Quickly taking advantage of a Ram fumble on the kickoff, the 'Skins took over on the defenders thirty and in just the blink of an eye, Joe Stemme punched it in from the one. Opting for two, Kinney found Ian Capanna to make it 22-15. Following the kickoff, Neshaminy's defense caused the Rams to have to punt and after the kick, the offense took over on their own forty. A couple of plays later, and with a first down on the Rams 30, it was Ulmer again as he danced in for his third six-pointer of the night. Squibbing the PAT, it now stood at 28-15 Langhorne.

Now following a pattern in that third quarter, the Moleskinners continued to manufacture breaks as Greg Martell snagged an enemy missile. That steal resulted in the visitors setting up shop at their own 45. Moving across the turf rather effortlessly, Ian Capanna finished off that drive with a 22-yard sweep right out of the old Wing-T (or something like that). With Seth Jeffries kick good, the score adjusted to 35-15. Then on the next series the Rams went nowhere in a hurry and found themselves punting again. Stepping up to the plate on the return was Gary Renson who hauled the pigskin in on the 33 before taking off on a one way trip of 67 yards to pay dirt and another Langhorne touchdown. As the PAT was true, the score was tweaked to 42-15.

Now with their backs to the wall the Rams were having nothing but trouble as another of their passes went errant with Capanna claiming the pick. Sensing that the game was now becoming one-sided, Coach Schmidt began to sit his first team. With Brian Titus at the helm, and Quilan "The Mini-Bus" Arnold backing him up, the offense was no less potent as Arnold capped off a nice drive with some fancy footwork and determination as he notched another score for the out-of-towners. As Jeffries' leg was obviously warmed up, the PAT was good and the scoreboard read 49-15.

Looking awfully familiar, the Redskins kicked off again with the Rams getting off just a few before Matt Knorr stole yet another Pennridge aerial to squash that latest Rams series. And with Coach Schmidt giving just about everyone a taste of some action, the contest ended with the understudies inside the Rams 10 as they watched the clock expire.

Still, and notwithstanding the final score of 49-15, this game certainly had its share of tense moments for the Langhorne crew in the first 24 minutes of play. But at the end of the day, the second half was all Neshaminy as they poured 35 points into the loving cup to none for the home team. And with their record now at 6-0, you can't argue with the end result. So catching our breath for a moment, we'll look forward to seeing everyone next week as Neshaminy is on the road again as they take on a tough Central Bucks South team.

See you at the game.

Photos courtesy of Jesse Garber

Redskins rally for decisive win

By ED KRACZ
Bucks County Courier Times

There weren't any paint-peeling speeches or fire-and-brimstone oratories at halftime. Mark Schmidt simply stood before his Neshaminy Redskins and, as calmly as Schmidt is capable of being in the heat of battle, told them one thing: relax.

“We can be guilty of caring too much, but when we settle down and play we can be pretty good,” Schmidt said.

Pretty good became pretty excellent as the Redskins overcame a one-point halftime deficit against emotionally charged Pennridge to win going away, 49-15, in a Suburban One League National Conference game at Poppy Yoder Field on Friday night.

The come-from-behind blowout kept Neshaminy perfect on the season at 6-0 and kept the Rams from tasting victory for the first time this year as they thudded to 0-6.

The Rams could do no wrong in the first two quarters and didn't back down after the Redskins went ahead 6-0 on a 39-yard touchdown run by Joe Stemme with 8:07 to play in the first quarter.

Instead, Pennridge answered with a 19-play — yes, 19 plays — 80-yard drive, on which junior quarterback Brad Herrmann was 7-for-10 for 71 yards and the Rams converted all three fourth downs including a fourth-and-goal from the 3-yard line when Herrmann found 6-4 senior Jimmy Jefferson standing just across the goal line.

“Nervous?” asked Neshaminy senior lineman Adrian Kizewski. “Never.”

Not even after Pennridge again answered another Neshaminy score, this one a 74-yard bolt up the middle by Jason Ulmer (154 yards on 12 carries), as Herrmann tossed his second touchdown of the half, a 28-yard strike to senior tight end Brian Stephenson with 53 seconds left until halftime.

Instead of settling for a potential tying point after kick, Cuthbert called for a fake that led to Derek Kunkle finding Stephenson in the back of the end zone for a 15-14 Ram lead.

“We had to settle down,” Ulmer said. “We knew we were the better team; we just had to settle down.”

Oh, the Redskins did that all right. They recovered a fumble on the second-half kickoff and cashed that into points. They intercepted three Herrmann passes and turned those into 14 more points. And they got a 66-yard punt return for a TD from senior Gary Renson.

“Pennridge played marvelous,” Schmidt said. “They really came after us.”

Ed Kracz can be reached at ekracz@phillyBurbs.com.

October 6, 2007 7:36 AM