Heading over to Bensalem for the second game of conference play in the SOL, the ‘Skins met one of their oldest “rivals”, the Fighting Owls. With the initial game dating back to 1930, this match-up was number 75 in the long-running series. And with Bensalem having had its share of tough, hard-nosed teams over the years, whenever the Tribe faces the Owls it’s usually one for the books. So expecting nothing less this go-around, let’s get to the game on the field.

Receiving the kickoff to start the game, the Schmidtmen looked sharp as they engineered a well-managed drive that ate up both yardage and clock with Sean Ulmer doing the honors with a quick burst up the middle for six points. Sean Sheridan then nailed the PAT and halfway through the first quarter it was 7-0 for the Blue & Red. Then not much later it was Neshaminy back with the ball as the Owls offense couldn’t get it in gear and was forced to punt it away. Making short work of that second possession, it was Corey Majors who punched it in with Sheridan’s boot spinning the scoreboard to 14-0 with just over a minute remaining in the first-quarter.

Exchanging possessions again, Bensalem still had trouble mounting a drive and had to punt once more. And with the Indians running on all eight cylinders, it was just barely a moment before Charlie Marterella found Shane Quinn all alone in the end zone for a ten-yard aerial and another Neshaminy score. Sheridan was on the money yet again and with nine minutes remaining in the second period, Langhorne went up 21-0.

Kicking it off to the Owls, the home team still had trouble and punted it back again. What followed was a short drive by Neshaminy then ended on downs when the ‘Skins couldn’t convert on a fourth down pass. Going back to the Owls with just under five minutes left in the half, Bensalem showed it wasn’t going to mail this one in as they got into the red zone on a brilliant scamper by one of their talented running backs. But with the Neshaminy defense then going to work, the ‘Skins took over on downs at the 13 with very little time on the clock. Popping it out to the thirty, Langhorne stalled and had to punt it away with 36 seconds left in the half. Taking over at their 35, Bensalem took a knee and the teams broke for the half.

The Owls received the ball to start the 2nd half and after both teams exchanged possessions, the Owl's were finally able to ding the Redskins' endzone. Bensalem went deep into the razzle-dazzle section of their playbook, and completed a 35+ yard halfback option pass down to the Redskins 10-yard line. The Owls punched in the TD and they were on the scoreboard at 21-7 with 4:24 left in the 3rd quarter.

On the next possession, the Redskins wasted no time in getting those points back. In the time it takes to microwave a bag of popcorn, Neshaminy drove down the field and capped off a thrifty drive when Anthony Woodroffe powered home a 5-yard touchdown run to make the score 28-7 late in the 3rd quarter, and that's how the quarter ended.

As the penalties mounted and the sloppiness continued on both sides of the ball, it was Bensalem who was able to capitalize on mistakes and convert them into points. The Owls picked off an errant pass by Neshaminy and then quickly turned the "pick" into seven points on the scoreboard late in the 4th quarter. They would be the final points of the evening as the game ended 28-14.

So here it comes: Game to ‘Skins!

Now at 5-0, the Tribe has looked solid so far as the Redskins have reached the halfway mark of the regular season without a blemish. And returning home next Friday, it’s Council Rock North coming to town for the yearly meeting against the team that served as the ‘Skins first opponent ever in 1928. Always exciting, the Redskins against the Indians is a special contest year-in and year-out so this is one you don’t want to miss.

See you at the game.