Neshaminy 21 - CR South 28

Golden Hawks take battle of unbeatens

With a cool and slightly windy night making its way to Langhorne, it couldn’t have been a more beautiful evening for Neshaminy’s Homecoming Night and the highly anticipated contest between the ‘Skins and the Council Rock South Golden Hawks. And with both teams undefeated and ranked in the top ten in various Keystone state scholastic grid polls, the packed house at Harry E. Franks Stadium couldn’t have been more charged with excitement as the 7:00 PM kickoff drew closer. So with that said, let’s get right down on the field for this one and see what the two SOL-National conference clubs had in store for the Lower Bucks’ high school football fans that had made the trek to the Ridge.

Winning the toss and receiving the kick, the Redskins started it off at their own 20 after the return. Looking smart too, a run by Corey Majors and pass from Charlie Marterella to Dwight Williams quickly had it out to the 45. With Anthony Woodroffe taking the next handle for another ten yards, the Tribe was then into Golden Hawk territory. A few more handoffs saw the ball at the 33 and a first and ten. Then going to a fourth down and 11, it was Majors ripping it off to the 20 for a first and ten. Then a few plays later, a Marterella pass went wild and was picked off by the visitors. After the return, it was South set up on the 25 with a first and ten. But not able to capitalize, the G-Hawks went three and out and punted the ball back to Neshaminy where they started at their own 22.

With the second quarter rolling around in a hurry, the ‘Skins began to use their multiple offensive weapons, including Sean Ulmer, to take it up to the 43. But hitting a wall, they then stalled out. After punting it away, South was then on offense at their 24. But once more it was no dice as South couldn’t find it its offensive footing. And with a good exchange it was the Tribe at their own 40-yard line with a first down. Not staying there long, Justin Andrews took a screen pass over the mid-field stripe for another first. A run by Ulmer and then a nice toss from Marterella to Williams had the ball at the 30. After another short run, it was Marterella back up top to Williams for a great gain to the five-yard line. Two plays later it was Materella pump faking a shot at Shane Quinn and then taking it in himself for his first rushing TD of the year. But with Sean Sheridan’s PAT blocked, the score stayed at 6-0 for Neshaminy with six-minutes remaining in the half.

After the kickoff it was then CR South with the ball at their 30. Going nowhere, though, the Golden Hawks had to punt and after the exchange it was Neshaminy starting it up at their 38 at the four-minute mark of the second-quarter. And showing why the South defense is so highly regarded, this time it was the ‘Skins throwing a three and out. After the punt, it was then the Golden Hawks at their 22 with two minutes still on the clock. Going to a fourth down again, the Hawks punted the ball away giving it back to Neshaminy at its 39 with six seconds remaining. Grabbing a knee, the teams broke for the half with the Blue & Red holding its slim six point lead.

With Council Rock receiving to start the second-half, they set up at their own 47 after a failed onsides kick. Then on one play they were at Neshaminy’s 40-yard line for their deepest penetration of the game. Not stopping there, the Hawks went the next 40 yards in a hurry and the score soon read 7-6 in South’s favor.

After the kick, it was Neshaminy getting a nice return by Ulmer to start it up at their 45. From there it was Ulmer, Woodroffe and Majors on the ground and Williams, Nate Lasalvia and Quinn up top that had the ball down to the one in a hurry. From there, Ulmer then popped it up and over with the two-point conversion run by Lasalvia good to make it 14-7 for the Creek Kids.

Going back on offense after the kick went out of bounds, it was the Hawks starting at their 35 with less than four minutes in the third. And looking lively, the Hawks had it out to the Neshaminy side in a few nice runs. A few more and it was pay dirt for the Hawks and with the PAT good it was all knotted up at 14-14.

With the ball back to Neshaminy after the kickoff it was Ulmer out to the 42 followed by a 58-yard TD strike from Marterella to Williams as the third-quarter ended. Sheridan’s PAT was true and as the fourth-quarter rolled around it was 21-14 for the Schmidtmen.

Kicking it back to the Hawks it was South back on offense to start the final quarter. And with their offense looking good it was soon 21 all as South moved it right down the field for another score.

Kicking it back to the ‘Skins, it was the Blue & Red starting it off at their 20 after the ball made the end zone. A run by Ulmer and quick strike to Justin Andrews and a run had it out to the 43 for a third and four before an offsides made it third and nine. Not converting, though, Neshaminy punted with four minutes in the game with CR South starting it up at their 39 after the return. Then off to the races, it was South getting the lead back, 28-21, with less than three minutes in the game.

Getting the ball back at the 35 after the ball scooted out of bounds, it was Neshaminy back on offense. But it was to no avail as the South squad sacked Marterella on a fourth down play. From there the Hawks lost the ball on downs and Neshaminy got one more chance as they took over on their 27 with 33 seconds on the clock. From there the ‘Skins took several shots down the field before the clock hit zero.

First, a “Tip o The Hat” to a fine Golden Hawk team that brought it all to Heartbreak Ridge. And that’s followed up by a shout-out to a Langhorne gang that hung it out against a tough Council Rock South club. No doubt, not a fan who had watched the game left thinking the ducat price wasn’t worth it. And with plenty of season left, the ‘Skins will be on the road next week as they visit the Harry Truman Tigers as league play continues.

See you at the game.