Welcome to Great Neshaminy Moments.

Our opening article is from Dick Dougherty, Courier sports writer, written in September of 1965 after Neshaminy's come from behind victory over Easton, 33-27.

‘Explosive Football’ is Neshaminy’s Trademark

Neshaminy Never Quits

Explosive football is a trademark at Neshaminy High School.

 Neshaminy’s football machines, year in and year out the most powerful ever assembled in Lower Bucks County, are feared for their ability to score when it seems impossible and to win when the situation appears darker than midnight in a coal mine.

The Redskins developed a philosophy on winning many years ago. Harry Franks, now the school’s athletic director, started the ‘Skins on their way in 1952. During his eight year stay as coach, Franks rewrote the record books with eight straight Lower Bucks County Football League titles and a 69-10-2 mark.

During those days of yesteryear Franks devised “Neshaminy Lightning”. Franks defined it by saying. “On any one play a touchdown could be scored.” And he meant from any place on the field at any time!

The winning habit at Neshaminy has never changed since 1952. And neither has the fortune of rocking teams speechless and making coaches consider suicide with unbelievable Neshaminy comebacks when defeat was just seconds away.

Last Saturday night Neshaminy, coached by John Petercuskie, added another chapter to it’s book of fabled victories. The ‘Skins trailed a fired up Easton eleven, 27-19, with five minutes left. When the clock showed 2:34 remaining Neshaminy had forged ahead, 33-27, and had another victory locked in a box.

Remember Pleasantville?

Easton and Coach Bobby Rute were stunned. Rute was so amazed he just shook Petercuskie’s hand. He didn’t utter a word.

Rute isn’t the only coach to go numb after a Neshaminy game. Neshaminy’s list of astonishing conquests includes battles with Pleasantville, N.J. (1954), Bristol, (1956), and William Tennent (1957).

Neshaminy’s most memorable reprieve from death came on Nov. 19, 1954. The Redskins (8-0) were in South Jersey to play a tough Pleasantville eleven. The game was held in a fog so low that at times players on the field were not visible.

Pleasantville was leading, 6-0, in the fourth period and hadn’t shown any signs of cracking until “Neshaminy Lightning” struck. Don Cameron, a winged footed senior, was trapped while trying to pass. He reversed his field and eluded tackler after tackler, but still was in a bottle neck. Somehow, Cameron spotted Joe (Shorty) Moronese on the opposite side of the gridiron.

Cameron unloaded the ball to Moronese, who had two blockers. All three Redskins disappeared in the fog for a 40 yard touchdown. Neshaminy took a 7-6 lead on Cameron’s placement but the fun had only begun.

Ferguson Went Wild

Neshaminy got the ball right back when Frank Ferguson, a stumpy guard, blocked a punt. Moments later Cameron passed 29 yards to Ned Moyer for another score.

Any hope Pleasantville had of catching up was destroyed by Ferguson. He blocked his second punt on the 29-yard line and the ball rolled to the one-yard stripe. Moronese’s blast into the end zone made it 20-6.

The rollicking win left Pleasantville bewildered and gave Neshaminy it’s only undefeated and untied season (10-0-0).

Another near-execution was Oct. 22, 1958. Bristol gave the Redskins all they could handle for four periods and were locked in a 6-6 tie. Neshaminy gained possession on the Bristol 37 yard line with 1:35 remaining. Two runs and a pass moved the ‘Skins to the nine. Errol Faunce then pitched a nine-yard pass to Ned Moyer with 25 seconds left for a 12-6 win.

William Tennent was next to run a foot race with Neshaminy – only to lose it at the wire. This heart-thumper was produced on a bitter cold night on Nov. 21, 1957.

A Murderous Situation

Tennent’s Bobby Johnson ran wild and scored all 18 points as the Panthers tried to nail the coffin closed with a 19-18 lead with 1:35 on the clock. Tennent was forced to punt and Neshaminy took over on its own 37-yard line.

Neshaminy was faced with the murderous situation of covering 63 yards in 95 seconds. Franks, a mastermind who thrived on challenges, opened the flood gates and reached into his bag of tricks. Al Gaskill passed to Tom Stricker for eight yards and a run moved the ball to the 50-yard line as time was ticking away.

Gaskill threw a sideline pass to Rich Simon which advanced the rushing Redskins to the 13. Tennent tried frantically to halt the exploding ‘Skins. Gaskill fired another pass to Stricker who bolted to the two-yard stripe.

Jerry Mladjen, Neshaminy’s rough house fullback, slammed into the line but Tennent held on the two. Neshaminy scrambled back to its famous single-wing and Mladjen carried the ball again.

Mladjen’s package was C.O.D. He crashed into the cookie jar with 28 seconds left and Neshaminy had won another chiller (25-19). And Tennent trudged wearily back to Southampton – wondering like 50 other teams since 1952 – what must you do to beat Neshaminy?

Neshaminy has had other spine-tingler recently. Redskins rooters often talk about games like Bishop Egan (14-13) in 1963, Pennsbury (21-20) in 1963, and Pennsbury (14-13) in 1964. Granted, those outcomes carried more suspense than a murder mystery, but somehow they don’t rank in the same class of the Pleasantville, Bristol, and Tennent wing-dings.