Neshaminy 20 - CR South 13

Tribe edges Golden Hawks

On another beautiful day in Langhorne, it couldn’t have been a more perfect afternoon for a high school football game and Homecoming Gala. With the weather providing a Norman Rockwell setting, the ‘Skins entertained the tough Council Rock South Goldenhawks in a key SOL – National conference game between the 5-1 Redskins and the 4-2 ‘Hawks. So with superlatives out of the way, let’s get to the game.

Council Rock won the toss and elected to receive the kick. After a short return to their 23, that’s where they set up shop that ended in a three and out fro the guests. After punting away, it was Bryan Dean who returned the rock to Neshaminy’s 45-yard marker. Moving quickly down the field with authority, that Blue and Red drive fizzled out at the opponent’s 40-yard stripe where the Goldenhawks took over on downs. Then showing the solid offensive group that they are, the Newtown team methodically moved almost 60 yards down the field in a very pretty 5-minute drive. Lined up inside the 5, a quarterback run at 3:00 minutes left in the 1st quarter saw the ‘Hawks inflict the first damage in the game. With the PAT good, it was the out-of-towners who jumped in front, 7-0.

After the Goldenhawk kickoff was returned by Quilan Arnold to Neshaminy’s 33, it was Dean who opened it up with a quick 17-yard jaunt to the mid-field stripe. Dean then followed up again to the 45. Another carry made it third and three at the 43 but the attempt for a first down missed. Mike Wynne then coffin-cornered the boot at the 17 where the Goldenhawks took over. In short order the quarter ended and after exchanging sides, the ‘Hawks then had the ball at their own 30-yard line. But the defense stepped it up as Nick Schaeffer grabbed a Goldenhawk fumble as the ‘Skins took over in great field position. On first down, a Brian Titus pass just missed Rick Brebner with Jay Colbert then following with a 4-yard gain. Then showing plenty of moxie, Titus rolled out left and hit Tyler Orr for an 18-yard gain that took the Tribe down to the ten. Dean then looked like he was shot out of a cannon on the next play as he took it to the one on a nice nine-yard explosion. Colbert then lugged it in the final three-feet for the score. With the Seth Jeffries PAT right down the middle of the uprights, it went to 7-7 on the scoreboard.

Jeffries then came in and popped a nice kickoff boot that left the Goldenhawks with a first and ten at their own 15 after the poorly handled return. But with the Moleskinner defense having nothing to do with the Goldenhawk’s favorite offensive play - something that is right out of the old Wishbone Option playbook - it was a three and out by the visiting eleven in a heartbeat; however, a roughing the kicker call allowed the ‘Hawks to maintain possession after the punt. After the Zebras where done their calculations, South took over on their own 35. A nice pass by the ‘Hawks QB took it to the 50 where South grabbed a first down. After a holding call moved it back it then went to 2nd and 12 at the Goldenhawk 47. Going back up top, a beautiful aerial got the visitors out of that jam as they earned another first down to the Moleskinner’s 39-yard stripe. Then on a 3rd down play, it was back to the forward pass as the ‘Hawks hit for a 24-yarder down to Neshaminy’s 14. Two plays were good for a few and it went to 3rd and 7 at the ten. A nice QB sneak then took it to 4th and a foot. Going for it, the ‘Hawks made it and were set up with a first and goal at the 3-yard marker. With less than half-a-minute to go in the half, the ‘Hawks took the first try to the one on a keeper by the signal caller. Then with 15 seconds left, the Goldenhawks punched it in up the middle. With the PAT wide, South took the lead, 13-7. Kicking it away with just a few seconds on the clock, Neshaminy had one shot from their own 32 but the running play attempt was for naught as the teams then broke for the half.

Returning to the field after the rest period, and with the Goldenhawks kicking off, Dean took the squibbed kick and looked like he might register a big gain. Unfortunately, he lost control of the ball and South recovered at the mid-field stripe to open the half with a huge break. Looking sharp, they moved the ball to the forty for a first down in a hurry; however, that’s where they stalled out and were forced to punt. The pooched kick rolled dead at the ‘Skins ten and that’s where the Creek Kids then took over.

Dean started it off with a nice nine-yard gain but C.R. South stuffed the next two attempts with Wynne coming in to punt it away. The short kick and return gave the ‘Hawks a first and ten at Neshaminy’s 45. Then looking like they finally felt like playing some football, big Paul Carrezola absolutely drilled the Goldenhawk quarterback who coughed up the pigskin after the punishing hit. Devon Reedel alertly picked up the loose ball on the fly and took it to the CR South 45 before he was brought down on a touchdown saving tackle. Three quick runs by Dean then advanced the ball to the twenty-two with a late hit on one of our favorite ‘Skins runners giving Neshaminy a first and ten at the 12-yard stripe. Going back to Dean again, he grabbed a yard followed by big Jay Colbert’s monumental burst up the middle for 11-stripes and the score. Unbelievably as it then seemed, the ‘Skins miscued the PAT twice on illegal procedure calls (ten men on the field and then movement or an illegal formation). After seeing the ball travel backwards ten yards on the two yellow flag calls, the attempt was then partially blocked as the score settled in at 13-13 with four minutes remaining in the third quarter.

With Jeffries booming it away, the ‘Hawks took over on their own 22 after the return. On three rushes, the ‘Hawks had a first and ten at their 35 on some nice power running. A couple more of the same and the visitors had reached the 46 with another fullback carry then taking it to the 50. Sticking with the ground game, it was one more up the middle to the Neshaminy’s forty two-yard line. It was at that point that the third-quarter burned out and the teams once again changed sides. After the realignment was completed, and with 12-minutes remaining, the ‘Hawks had a second and ten to start the final quarter. After gaining a few, a penalty against the Goldenhawks took it to third and long. The pass attempt fell flat and South was forced to punt with the ball rolling dead at the Moleskinners’ 18-yard line where they sent in their offense to push for the win.

Starting it off right, it was Quilan Arnold who grabbed nine to take it out to the 27. That was followed by Colbert who made the 33-yard line for a first and ten for the home team. A delay of game made it 1st and 15 with Titus then nailing Brebner for a 14-yard gain. On the next play, Arnold exploded for 9 more yards to the 50 as holes the size of two-car garage doors began to open for the ‘Skins running backs. And since Arnold was the “Hot Man”, he got the handoff again as he gained 18 to the Goldenhawks 32. Colbert then grabbed 4 followed by Arnold down to the 22-yard line for the first down. Finally saying enough with the “nickel and dime” stuff, Arnold exploded to the outside as he raced 22-markers to the Garden of Eden. With Jeffries hitting the conversion, the Schmidtmen went up, 20-13. As Jeffries then boomed it down the field, the South return man could only get it to the 28 as the ‘Hawks set up their offense.

With the ‘Skins defense then on their game, the Goldenhawks quickly went to third and thirteen and were forced to punt. Letting the squibbed kick roll away, the Redskins sent their offense on the field to take over on the 23-yard line with five minutes left in the game. But returning the favor, the ‘Skins went three and out and after the fair catch of the punt, South took over on Neshaminy’s 45-yard line. Two quick runs took it down to the 31-yard line. At the two minute mark, two plays went nowhere and the Goldenhawks called a timeout with 1:37 left with a 3rd and 7 at the Blue and Red 28. A snappy pass up the middle gained a first and then a ‘Skins personal foul took it to the 10 for a first down. One more play took it to the 7 and then a Goldenhawk TD catch in the corner came back on a South penalty. It then went to 2nd and 12 with 52 ticks on the clock. One play gained 5 to the 7 and it was then 3rd and goal with 46 seconds remaining. On a rather “crazy” play that followed - one that did draw a flag - it went to 4th and 12 after the confusion ended. The Goldenhawks were called for an illegal forward pass after the trapped South running back underhanded the ball (from behind the line of scrimmage) to a South receiver down the field. It appeared the receiver caught the “forward pass” which he then fumbled with the ‘Skins recovering (but remember, folks, it was brought back). And anyway, that was all just grist for the mill as on the fourth down try by the ‘Hawks, it was Neshaminy’s defense that slammed the door shut as Matt Knorr picked off the Council Rock South pass at the goal line. Returning it to the 25, the ‘Skins took a knee on the last play of the game and burned the clock out to end the contest.

Folks, as the gun sounded and after falling to the ground and then picking myself back up, I’ve got just enough left to say: Game to ‘Skins!

So with the Ridgemen showing they can reach deep when they have to, this hard fought battle goes to Neshaminy. Looking around for “kudos” you’ve got to give a shout-out to the defense that kept their second-half “shut out” streak in place. From an offensive standpoint, Quilan “The Mini-Bus” Arnold and Bryan “James” Dean did their part as well while big Jay Colbert is starting to look like the reincarnation of some of the great Neshaminy fullbacks of days gone by. I also think the entire Neshaminy family would be remiss if we didn’t give a “Tip o’ the Hat” to a tough Goldenhawks club that never quit in this exciting SOL National slugfest.

Next week sees our Langhorne gang on the road as they travel to Newtown on Saturday to take on a very capable and seasoned Council Rock North football team.

Tonight's game captains were Paul Carrezola, Dan Shirey, Dan Wenclewicz, Jay Colbert, Eugene LaBorde, Ariel Hoffman, Stephen Stemme and Nick Schaeffer.

See you at the game.