Redskins throttle Cougars

With a strong hint of fall in the air, it’s clearly PIAA playoff time in Pennsylvania. And with the ‘Skins in the thick of it as usual, their number three seed in District One had them hosting the Cougars of Downingtown East and the Ches-Mont League. No strangers to each other, these two clubs last lined up in 2005 in a shoot out in Langhorne that saw the Pat Devlin lead D-Town East crew upset the Tribe, 45-38. Keeping that in mind, this one was certain to be no less exciting as Round One of the District One playoffs got underway. So with not much else to consider, let’s get right to the contest.

Winning the toss, the Blue and Red elected to receive. Then in what seemed like a nano-second it was Jay Colbert scoring for Langhorne from just a yard out after some heavy lifting by Quilan Arnold who busted a long one to set up the score. Seth Jeffries didn’t miss the PAT and it was then 7-0 for Neshaminy at just over a minute into the game. After the kickoff, the visitors started at their own 24. Moving it out to mid-field that D-Town East drive fell short and after a quick kick, the Ridgemen took over on their own 18-yard line. Mixing it up nicely with some runs and passes, the Cats finally stopped the ‘Skins after they reached the Cougars’ 40. After the punt, they then took over on their own 25.

Deciding to go right up top, the Cats were clearly in a passing mode. But it was to no avail as Dan Biundo picked one off almost immediately with a nice return to the 22-yard line for a Redskin 1st and ten. A couple of quick runs and it was another Neshaminy first and ten at East’s 11. Going to third down at just about where they started, the first quarter then closed out and the teams swapped ends. Failing to make the first, Jeffries came in for the 34-field goal try but sailed it wide as the Cougars escaped a bullet. But getting themselves in a jam on third down, only a questionable “late hit” call gave East a first down at their own 30. A couple of plays later, though, that gold and blue offensive effort fizzled and they were forced to punt with the ‘Skins starting on their 11-yard stripe.

A couple of runs by Dean then took it out to the 29 as he showed his abilities as he earned the first down. Then as if that wasn’t enough, Brian Titus aired one out to Dean who grabbed it at the Cougars’ 45-yard marker for a big first down. Going back to Colbert, he picked up 13 down to the 32 for another Moleskinner first down. Then just two plays later it was Dean who broke one loose for 30-yards and the touchdown. With Jeffries’ PAT good as gold, the ‘Skins went up 14-0 with 3:30 left in the 2nd quarter.

With the Indians then kicking off to the Cougars, the return put the ball at the 25-yard line where the Ches-Mont club set up shop. Moving it out from there to mid-field, the Tribe’s defense stiffened up at that point and forced another Big Cat punt. After the boot it was the Schmidtmen taking over at their own 15. Two quick runs had it out to the 31-yard line where a Titus pass attempt to Paul Carrezola fell short. Then with just seconds remaining, Arnold ripped off another long one down to the Cougars’ 35-yrad marker where Neshaminy called a timeout with 5-seconds still available. Going to the “trick play” book, a lateral-toss-pass just missed a wide open Dean at the goal line. And as the ball hit the ground the clock also hit zero and the combatants headed to the locker rooms for the break.

Returning from some well deserved R&R, it was the Cougars on the receiving end of the kick with a nice return giving them a first and ten at their own 25. Going to 3rd and ten, a nice pass grab by a Cougar receiver moved it out to the 45. But that D-Town East drive ended quickly as a bruising Redskins’ hit separated the Cougar quarterback from the ball with Nick Schaeffer falling on it on the Cougars’ 40-yard line. A big pass from Titus to Carrezola then moved the rock to the 27 with a couple of runs that followed taking it to third and one at the 18-yard line. No problem, though, as Arnold hoofed it to the 15 for another Tribe first down. Then it was Arnold again to the nine and then the 6 to set up third and a short one. Two plays later it was 2nd and three for a touchdown thanks to Arnold’s strong legs. Making it exciting, and going to third and three, it was Titus finding his big tight end, Carrezola, for 6 big points to finish it off. Jeffries didn’t miss the kick and with 4 minutes left in the third it was the ‘Skins out in front, 21-0.

As the Moleskinners booted it away yet again, the Cougars started it up at their own 22 after the return. And showing the assembled crowd they meant business, this time the Cats were not to be denied as they went the distance and scored on a short pass as the third period ended. With the extra point blocked, the score then stood at 21-6 as the final quarter started. With the Cougars’ kickoff then going out of bounds, the Redskins took over on their own 35-yard line with 12-minutes to play.

Starting it off from that spot, it didn’t take long before Dean had lugged it out to the 48 for a Blue and Red first. From there it was Dean again and then Colbert rambling down to the Cougars’ 39-yard line for yet another first. Arnold then got the next call and took it to the 30 for a 2nd and one. From there it was Colbert to the 26 and another Langhorne first at the nine-minute mark. With Schmidt liking that look, it was Colbert again down to the 15 and another movement of the chains; however, things got sticky in close as it went to 4th and 8 as the drive fell short. With Jeffries coming in for the 30-yard 3-point try, this one didn’t miss as the scoreboard rolled to 24-6 for Neshaminy.

With the clock showing just over six minutes remaining, it was Jeffries banging it into the end zone causing the Cougars to start on the 20. From there it was back up top for East as they needed to make up some yardage in a hurry. And looking pretty nice, the Cougars enjoyed some obvious success as they moved to the ‘Skins 34 with their aerial assault. But that drive ended just as quickly as it had started as on fourth and four, the Cougar quarterback was sacked by Schaeffer at the 42.

With the Redskins back in control, it was Dean quickly putting them in Cougar territory on a couple of runs that took it to East’s 40-yard line. And as Coach Schmidt didn’t want to mess with success, it was Dean doing the initial work on the next set of downs with Colbert finishing it up as the clock ran down to zero. Do you even have to ask what’s coming? Didn’t think so and here it is: Game to ‘Skins!

So with Round One of the playoffs in the bank as a “W”, Neshaminy will be moving on to another playoff match up. And while we salute the effort made by the visiting Downingtown East Cougars, this evening’s contest was clearly all Neshaminy as both the offense and defense excelled in this one. In fact, it’s hard to find much about the Tribe that needs fixing so how about we all just stand up and give the team and coaching staff a big hand and a big hoorah too! Plus in case you might have somehow forgotten, the quarter-final battle next weekend will be right here in Langhorne – so get your tickets early as it’s sure to be a good one.

See you at the game.

Photos courtesy of Jesse Garber