'Skins top Jaguars; head to D-1 Final

With the cold, crisp air leaving no doubt it was scholastic football playoff time in Pennsylvania, the Tribe traveled to Delaware County and Glen Mills to take on Garnet Valley in a highly anticipated District One semifinal contest. And although the packed house at Moe DeFrank Stadium was bundled up against the chilly winter weather, both the ‘Skins and Jaguars players were more than warmed by the importance of this game. For at playoff time every match-up becomes “life or death” as the winner moves on to yet another test while the loser sees the curtain come down on its season. So with the stage set and lit for the show, let’s get right to this “Friday Night Lights” production for all the fans of high school football on this very special evening.

Winning the toss, Garnet Valley elected to receive the ball. And after a good return and a facemask call against a Moleskinner, the Jaguars were in business at the Blue and Red 31. Then showing they came to play, the hosts went for it on a fourth down on that initial series and made it to the 15-yard marker for a first. Not too much later it was a Jag back finding the end zone on a short run. As the extra point was good, the home team went out in front 7-0. With the ‘Skins setup for the kickoff, a good return was negated by a fumble which a G-Val player fell on at Neshaminy’s 39.

Starting in good position again, that Big Cat drive ran out of gas quickly and after the punt, it was the Indians offense taking over on their own 17-yard line. Getting only a few yards on that first possession, Langhorne was forced to punt and Garnet Valley then had it at their own 48. But with the cold wreaking havoc on the ball handlers, this time it was a Jaguar who coughed it up with the recovery by Neshaminy. Returning the favor, though, a ‘Skins back then promptly put the rock on the ground with the Jags picking that one up. After all that action, it ended up first and ten at mid-field for Garnet Valley.

Not wasting much time, a nice Jaguar run and another facemask call had Garnet Valley at Neshaminy’s 18. Relying on their “go wide” ground game, G-Val then pushed another one across in short order and with the PAT good, the score went to 14-0 for the home team.

With Bryan Dean then returning the ensuing kickoff smartly, it was the Redskins with some good field position at their 30. Sticking to the ground on first two attempts, it took a play action pass by Brian Titus to Jay Colbert to earn the first. A couple of nice runs by Dean saw the ball then at the G-Val 45 for another ‘Skins first. With the first-quarter burning out at that point, the teams swapped sides.

Although looking a bit jammed up after the exchange, Titus nailed Rick Brebner on a 3rd down pass for a key play that moved the ‘Skins to the hosts’ 30. Going to 4th and 5 at the 25, a flat pass to Brebner came up short as the ball then went back to Garnet Valley. Taking over on their own 23, a loose ball put the Jags back to their 13 setting up a 3rd and 20. Coming up short, the G-Val punt was fielded by Dean and returned to the 36 where the ‘Skins set up shop. From there a facemask call finished off a Dean run and helped move the ball to Jags 15-yard stripe. With Dean getting it in close, Jay Colbert powered it in from the one. The Seth Jeffries’ PAT was true and the scored tightened up to 14-7. After the kickoff, it was Garnet Valley then starting at their own 8.

Not having much luck on that possession, the Jags were forced to punt it away with the ‘Skins taking over at the mid-field stripe after it was downed by a G-Val defender. First to get the rock was Dean who lugged it to the 39 on a nice effort. Then after going to a critical 3rd and ten, Titus found Paul Carrezola for a first down at the Jags’ 23. Two plays later Titus drilled another one to Brebner for a first at the seven-yard line with 40 ticks left on the clock. Next up was Dean who took it to the one-yard line where the ‘Skins used their last timeout at the 30 second mark. Following the pow-wow, it was Colbert who got the call and punched it in from that spot. As Jeffries didn’t miss the PAT, the game was then deadlocked at 14 all.

The squib kickoff by Neshaminy that followed was taken by the Jaguars at their 36. A nice run by G-Val followed and moved the ball out to Neshaminy’s 43. A pass play then advanced it to the ‘Skins 32 with 6 seconds remaining as G-Val stopped the clock with a TO. Another play came up empty and the Jaguars then called their last timeout before trying a Hail Mary that ended the first two-quarters of play with the combatants then breaking for the half.

Back on the field after the retreat, this time it was Neshaminy receiving the kickoff. With Dean taking it at the 15, he almost broke it before being hauled down at the G-Val 48. From there it was Dean on three straight getting it down to the 32-yard line for a Langhorne first and ten. Two more had it down to the 24 for a third and two before Colbert earned another first as he took it to the 20-yard stripe. Three more carries by Dean and it was down to the 3-yard marker for a first and goal. Getting a bit tight from there, it was Titus showing his stuff as he went up top to find Carrezola for a touchdown. With Jeffries on the money, it was Neshaminy out in front, 21-14.

After the Jeffries kickoff and a holding call on the Jags, the G-Val team started at their own 19. From there a nice quarterback keeper took it out to the 32 for a quick first down. Then mixing it up, the Cats again showed some nerve as they went for it and made it on a fourth down play on their side of the mid-field stripe. Keeping themselves moving thereafter with some nice play calling, that drive saw the third-quarter conclude with the Jags at the Neshaminy 27 and a 2nd and ten. It then went to 4th and 2 at the ‘Skins 19 where the home team called a timeout to think about it. Going for it after the sideline chat, the Jag QB came up short and Neshaminy took over at that spot.

Looking to start eating the clock, it was time for Neshaminy to use the ground game. But with two runs getting nothing, Titus went to the pass as he spotted Tyler Orr for a big first down at the 30. Two more runs came up empty yet again before another Titus pass to Brebner picked up a first at the 42-yard stripe. That was followed by a Colbert run for 5 out to the 47 and then Dean to the 49 for a third and three situation. No problem, though as Dean picked up the first as he lugged it to the G-Val 47. A Jag penalty took it to the 33 with Colbert then taking it up the middle for 6-yards to the 27. Dean picked up two more as it went to 3rd and 4 again before a pass fell flat leaving the Ridgemen at 4th and four. A pass play then ended that Langhorne drive and G-Val took over on the 33.

With 3:30 to go in the game, the Jags picked up a first at their 45 on two quick running plays. That was followed by a nice pass to Neshaminy’s 40 and another Jag first down. Staying with the aerial game, a Cat pass put it at the Blue and Red 27 as the Central League club looked like they were unstoppable. From there, though, the drive went as cold as the weather as Neshaminy’s defense stiffened and the Jaguars were stopped on downs at the 1:40 mark.

With the Moleskinners back in control, the first ground effort netted nothing and G-Val burned the second of their three timeouts. With the next run picking up just a few as well, the Jags were forced to use their remaining timeout. At third and 8, Dean got the nod and displayed plenty of second effort as he made just enough yardage for the first at the 35-yard stripe. With only 1:28 left on the clock at that juncture, Titus took a knee on the first, second and third snaps as the clock expired and the final gun sounded.

Now here it comes: Game to ‘Skins!

And folks – what a game, what a game. With Neshaminy falling behind 14-0 in the first quarter, the Schmidtmen then scored 21 unanswered points over the next three quarters while shutting the G-Val offense down. Plus whether it was tough, tough defensive plays or terrific offensive efforts, this is a group of young men that should make all Redskins fans proud! So with not enough superlatives, accolades and kudos to go around, how about we end with this: Congratulations, Neshaminy, congratulations.

One more thing – next week will see our boys in action again as tonight they earned the right to battle for the District One title in the championship contest.

See you at the game.

 

Photos courtesy of Jesse Garber