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Friday, November 22, 1957. The 1957 Redskins are 4 and 1 in the LBC. Still, they are in the race for the league flag as they entertain the streaking Panthers of William Tennent who are also 4 and 1 in conference play. In fact, it’s championship weekend when the two teams meet as Pennsbury and Morrisville are matched up in the other “big” game (with the winner of that game in line for a share of the title with the winner of the Neshaminy-Tennent contest).

With the pre-game hype in place, the Tennentmen didn’t disappoint as they mirrored the ‘Skins move for move throughout the game. In fact, with less than a minute on the clock, the Panthers have the lead and are protecting a one-point margin, 19 to 18. As for the ‘Skins, after taking over on downs in their own territory, three straight passes have fallen to the ground. Faced with fourth and ten with a long way to go to pay dirt, it was looking awfully bleak for the Moleskinners.

William Tennent loses 25-19 to
Neshaminy in last minute

The Daily Intelligencer
 

William Tennent and Neshaminy fought a seesaw battle last night at Langhorne before some 3,000 people and when the whistle blew the Redskins were up 25-19.

It meant perhaps co-ownership of the Lower Bucks County League championship for the Redskins of Neshaminy with the winner of today’s game between Pennsbury and Morrisville. For the Panthers of William Tennent it meant banishment from the flag race.

Harry Franks’ outfit, champions the last five years running in the conference, now boasts a 5-1 log and Jim Exum’s crew is 4-2.

Bob Johnson tallied all 19 of the losers’ point, while the winners’ were divided between Tom Stricker, Al Gaskill, Rich Simon and Jerry Mladjen.

The Tennentmen broke the ice in the second period, driving 64 yards and capping the drive with a four-yard run by Johnson, who plunged for the extra point to make it 7-0.

The Redskins replied by scoring twice, the only two consecutive TDs either team scored all evening. Stricker climaxed a 72-yard drive by running several yards and, with 1:13 left in the half, Gaskill dove one yard to wrap up a march of 61 yards.

So it was 12-7, Neshaminy, at the halfway mark.

Tennent forged ahead 13-12 in the third segment when George David completed a 70-yard pass to Johnson.

But in the fourth period the Redskins surged back, moving 85 yards for a score as Gaskill passed 39 yards to Simon to complete the advance.

Then Tennent went ahead 19-18 as David found Johnson again and hit him with a pass. The play covered 71 yards.

In the last minute of action the Redskins were in their own territory. Three passes fell incomplete. On fourth down Simon hung out on the sideline, a sleeper, and the Panthers failed to see him. Gaskill, passing from behind his 45, hit Simon streaking down the sidelines and Simon carried to the 13 before being hauled down.

Then Gaskill hit Stricker on the two. Two plays later with 28 seconds to go, Mladjen plunged over from the one and Simon booted the extra point to make it 25-19.

The Redskins led the Panthers 17-8 in first downs. William Tennent completed four passes during the course of the evening for 221 yards.

(Editor’s Note: The 1957 team weighed in at 7-3 at season’s end and shared the LBC title with Pennsbury. Showing tremendous grit and determination, they earned that co-championship even after a 7-6 loss to Pennsbury on a missed extra point. And as to that loss to the Falcons, it’s worth noting that it was the only defeat Neshaminy was handed by an LBC club during the Franks/Petercuskie years from 1952 through 1965 (14 full seasons). But still, though, the “flag” never left Langhorne during that timeframe as Neshaminy was either an outright champion or shared the trophy throughout. As to the ’57 club, and notwithstanding its three losses to Lehigh Valley Champion Allentown, Bux-Mont champion Pennridge and LBC co-champ Pennsbury, it was a strong group featuring four Redskin Hall of Fame members - Tom Stricker, Rich Simon, Jerry Mladjen and Al Gaskill - in the backfield. On the line, another Hall of Fame inductee, Bill Fisher, was a standout at end while fellow Hall of Fame selection Frank Conroy anchored the line at the center position. Others contributing to the Indian Nation’s 1957 edition included Jerry Levans, Jim Flanigan, Ed Fiorelli, Frank Sarr, Lou Gentner and company.)