Back home in Langhorne, the ‘Skins played host to old friend and longtime Lower Bucks County League member, the William Tennent Panthers. And with the weather cooperating fully by providing a cool, crisp and dry night, it couldn’t have been a more perfect evening for SOL National Conference football action. Also making it special was having the Panthers back on the schedule after an 8-year hiatus. But with all that in the past, let’s get right down to the action on the field.

As the Moleskinners won the toss, they elected to receive and a terrific return saw Quilan “The Mini-Bus” Arnold advance the ball from his own 5 out to the 45 to provide the home team great field position. And feeling feisty, it was Arnold again as he took it down to the Panthers 35 on a 20-yard burst followed by “The Mini-Bus” again as he took it to the 9-yard line. And with Schmidt not wanting to mess with success, it was Arnold who earned the last 9 as he not only scored the TD but he also tallied all 95 of the ‘Skins return and rushing yards on that opening drive (and the PAT was good too to make it 7-0). With Seth Jeffries then booting it away, the Panthers started on their own 17 after the short runback. But almost immediately Tennent fumbled with the recovery by Jay Colbert on the 15. Two plays later it was Brian Titus finding Tyler Orr all alone in the back ten for a quick 8-yard air strike and another score. The extra point was blocked, though, and the score stood at 13-0 for the Creek Kids as Jeffries lined up for another kickoff. After the short return it was business as usual as the Panthers went three and out and were forced to punt away.

With Bryan Dean handling the kick, the Indians had a nice field spot with a first and ten at the visitors 45. Stopped on one ground effort, a Titus to Rick Brebner pass that followed was good for 22 down to the 23-yard marker on a nice come back catch by the big receiver. Next up was Dean who ran it to the 18 and then snagged a few more on another effort. A Redskin pass then fell flat and at 4th and 5, the Redskins went for it once again but that pass was also incomplete as the ball went back to William Tennent at their own 18. With a couple of nice plays, the Panthers picked up a first as they took it to the 33 on three attempts; however, a tipped pass attempt was snagged out of the air by Corey Majors and it went back to the ‘Skins at the Panther 39. And although the first play to Brebner almost went the distance, a holding call brought it back to the 45. Dean shook that right off, though, as he took the next handoff down to the 15. Getting the ball next was Majors who grabbed ten and a first and goal at the 5 yard line. Two plays later it was Colbert who took it in from the three for another 6 points. Going for two, it was Dean who tallied the conversion to make it 21-0 for the Schmidtmen.

Another Jeffries kickoff also found the end zone and William Tennent started their next effort on their own 20-yard line as the clock expired on the first-quarter (with the teams then changing direction). Posting another three and out, the Panthers punted away with the ‘Skins taking over on their own 42 after the ball rolled dead. Two handoffs to Arnold saw him advance the ball to the Tennent 19 for a Moleskinner first and ten. Two plays later it was Titus finding his big tight end, Paul Carrezola, with a nice missile for the score. Keelan Adams drilled the PAT and the scoreboard was adjusted to read 28-0 for the Langhorne gang. With Jeffries then punching a line drive kickoff, the visitors started at their own 35 after the return. Losing 5 on their three efforts, the Panthers punted the ball from their own 30. With Dean doing his thing on the return, the Redmen set up shop on the Tennent 40. And thinking he looked just fine on the punt return, Schmidt decided to give it to Dean right off the bat with the result being a 40-yard touchdown run. With Adams’ conversion kick on the money, the score widened to 35-0 in Neshaminy’s favor.

After the Moleskinner kickoff that followed was unreturnable, it was first and ten for Tennent on their own 20. Gaining just a few yards, the Panthers kicked away again and Dean took it back to the Panthers 45 on the return. A few runs and a pass took the ball to the 31 for another ‘Skins first down. Two more touches and it was down to the 15 where the Warriors looked to be in business once again. Stalling out, it went to 4th and 5 at the nine-yard line where a 25-yard field goal attempt by Adams missed the mark. With that miscue, the Panthers took over with just under two minutes remaining in the half. Pressing the issue, though, it was Justin Donnarumma who picked off a tipped Tennent pass that was downed at the Panther 24-yard line. With Dean delivering the goods, it was very quickly 1st and goal inside the Tennent 5-yard line. But even with some time on the clock, the ‘Skins decided to let the time expire to end the first two quarters of play.

Returning from the break, it was the Tennentmen receiving the kickoff as the Jeffries kick was returned to the 18 where the Southampton gridmen set up shop. And of course, with the “Mercy Rule” activated, the clock was in run mode as the Panthers put up another three and out. Punting from almost their own end zone, it was Dean who snagged it at the ‘Skins 38. Throwing a few nice moves, he then quickly turned on the jets and sixty-two yards later it was another 6 for the Moleskinner’s top return man. With the PAT blocked, the score stood at 41-0 for the Creek Kids.

Lining up to kick yet again, Jeffries put it down at the goal line with the Panther return man taking it back to the 21 where Tennent set up on offense. But three attempts netted just a few yards and the Big Cats had no choice but to punt; however, the kick was mishandled by an understudy Redskin deep man and William Tennent recovered the fumbled catch at the ‘Skins 32. With some penalties and miscues by both teams following, it went to 4th and 10 before the Panthers came up short on their last try with the ‘Skins then taking over at their own 30. With Charlie Marterella and his cast of newcomers now in the game, it was Ricky Williams who immediately showed his stuff as he ripped off a long run that took the ball down into Panther territory for a ‘Skins 1st and ten at the 30-yard stripe. But that Neshaminy series quickly went nowhere and the 4th quarter started with the Panthers taking over on downs.

With the Panthers once again having to go up top as they were forced to play catch up ball, it was Jared Dickson who picked off yet another Tennent aerial attempt. Starting on the William Tennent 48 after the interception, it was a few carries by Williams followed by a Marterella pass to Dwight Williams that took it to the 25-yard line. Dickson next carried it to the 19 followed by Williams again to the 17 where it was 3rd and a few. Anthony Woodroffe then gained the first but fumbled (with the recovery by an alert ‘Skins player). Unfortunately, Woodroffe put the ball on the ground again on the next play too but this time a Tennentmen was the player who gained control of the loose pigskin. After taking over near their own end line, a William Tennent runner also lost the ball which then rolled out of the end zone for a touchback. The referees then gave the Panthers possession on their own 20 after some confusing moments of Zebra decision making that followed. Thankfully too, it wasn’t long at all before the clock quickly burned out to end the game. And as we so love to say: Game to ‘Skins!

So with the rekindled series opener with William Tennent now in the books, Neshaminy has improved to 5-1 overall and 3-0 in SOL conference play. Plus with their 4th shut out in a row, the ‘Skins defense has matched a team record that has stood since 1938. And as the offense has scored over 40 points in 3 of the last 4 games, it surely looks as if the Redskins are running strong and true.

Tonight's game captains were Paul Carrezola, Matt Knorr, Jay Colbert and Dan Shirey.

Next week sees a tough Council Rock South Goldenhawks team come visiting at the Ridge as SOL conference play continues.

See you at the game.