On yet another beautiful Saturday afternoon in Lower Bucks County, the Tribe traveled to Newtown to meet their oldest rival, the Council Rock North Indians. Tracing the series back to 1928, the Indians were celebrating their Homecoming and Neshaminy was more than pleased to join in the festivities with their old friend, “The Rock”. So with the teams and fans ready for this SOL – National Conference shootout, let’s get right to the game.

After winning the toss and electing to receive, the Indians started at their own 20 where they quickly went three and out. With the short punt, it looked like the ‘Skins would punch it right in after starting on the home team’s 45. But it was no dice as the Redmen drive ran dry at the 8 as North then took over. Moving the ball out of the red zone in a hurry, a “Rock” running back then fumbled and it was recovered by a ‘Skin on the Indian 30. With Bryan “James” Dean in at the quarterback slot, the Redskins showed some Schmidt magic as they then covered the short distance in just under a minute. With Dean’s 8-yarder for the score, and Seth Jeffries’ PAT good, it went to 7-0 for the Moleskinners. The Jeffries’ kickoff then went out of the end zone, and with the North three and out that followed, it was Blue and Red quickly in charge again at the opponent’s 45.

With Brian Titus back in at the signal caller slot on that series, the ‘Skins wasted no time at all in scoring as they moved the ball down to the 10 on some fine running by Dean - along with his great catch of a Titus aerial at that spot also helping. Jay Colbert then got the following handoff and powered it in from that spot. With the PAT good, the Creek Kids went up 14-0. Kicking it off again, the Northmen bobbled the return and started at their own 8; however, showing plenty of grit, they drove to Neshaminy’s 10 before they were stopped. Moving it out of that hole, a North interception of a Titus screen pass gave them the ball at the ‘Skins 45. After that Indian drive stalled at Langhorne’s 32, our boys took over.

What followed was another quick drive as Dean lugged it out to mid-field with Colbert then bursting through the middle and winning the 49-yard foot race to the end zone. With Jeffries on the mark, it was 21-0 for the Schmidtmen at that point. But then again, and showing they had come to play football, the Indians started at their own 20 and drove down the field 80 yards for the score with just seconds left in the half. The conversion was good and as the teams broke for the half, it was 21-7 in Neshaminy’s favor.

Returning for the second half, North kicked off to Neshaminy to start the last two sessions. The short kick was grabbed by Dean at the Blue and Red 40-yard line and showing while he is one of the state’s top return men, he then raced the 60-yards for the score. Jeffries didn’t miss and it went to 28-7. With the ‘Skins kickoff then going out of bounds, the Indians took over on their own 35. But that drive stalled on 3 plays and Council Rock punted away once more. The very pretty North punt that followed gave the ball to Neshaminy at their own 20-yard line. Going to third and 12 after a couple of miscues, the ‘Skins set up a play action, reverse screen to Colbert who was as alone as he could be in the flat. Big Jay then turned on the jets for the long-distance score (his third of the game). Jeffries nailed the PAT that followed and it went to 35-7 for the guests.

With the Jeffries’ kickoff keeping them pinned down, North then started deep on their side of mid-field. But once again showing determination, they moved it out to the 35 before they had to punt again. Another good boot put the ‘Skins offense on the field at their own 14. Weaving his magic again, Schmidt then rotated in his new look offense and Quilan “The Mini-Bus” Arnold immediately took it out to the 35 followed by Dean and then Arnold to the 44. Then at fourth and one, Corey Majors came in to rip off a 20-yarder to North’s 34. After a couple of squibbed plays and a penalty followed, and on 3rd and long at the 41, a beautiful Titus aerial found Dean down at the 18 for the 1st down. That was followed by a few more runs to get it down inside the 5 before a wild snap took it to 3rd and 15. Gaining back ten, and at 4th and goal at the 5, Jeffries added 3 on the short field goal to make it 38-7 late in the third quarter.

After the Jeffries kickoff, North started on its own 24. A few plays and ticks of the clock later and the teams exchanged sides as the third-quarter ended. After the flip-flop it was North still in control and with a 2nd and ten. But the home team didn’t hang on long as a quick Indian fumble was recovered by Neshaminy at the host’s 38. With Coach Schmidt then resting the starters, Charlie Marterella and company came out onto the field. Catching a break, a North player picked off a Marterella pass and returned it to the ‘Skins’ 18. But just a few plays later it was an Indian pass that was picked off by a Neshaminy player in the end zone who followed that with a gutsy return out to the 3. Then showing his stuff, Ricky Williams took just two handoffs to get the ball out to the 41 to provide his team with some breathing room. That drive then looked like it had gone stale as it soon went to 4th and one at just about mid-field. With Williams showing he was not going to be denied, he got the call and exploded for 51 yards and the score. As Jeffries was just not missing, the PAT was good and the score went to 45-7 for the Creekmen.

From there on out the tempo slowed down to a crawl and it wasn’t long before the clock expired. With the gun then sounding to end the game, you surely know what’s coming: Game to ‘Skins!

Looking at today’s contest, there’s no doubt our boys looked strong on both sides of the ball, especially on the line of scrimmage where the big men opened big holes for Langhorne’s white clad running backs. Plus the big guys on defense also clogged things up nicely when North had the ball. And now standing at 7-1, next Saturday sees Neshaminy travel to Cornwells Heights where they’ll meet a fast and tough Bensalem Owls club as SOL play continues.

See you at the game.