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There are too many articles for one page so the
articles section is broken down into 4 separate
pages. |
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General
Articles |
District
One Playoffs |
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Cumberland Valley |
Woodland Hills |
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NeshaminyFootball.com would like to thank the following
Newspapers for the use of these articles: |
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The
Bucks County Courier Times
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The
Trentonian
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The
Patriot News
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The
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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The
Philadelphia Inquirer
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Woodland Hills Progress Star
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Post
Gazette (W.H.)
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The
Bucks County Intelligencer
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The
Sentinel (Carlisle, PA)
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'SKINTILLATING WIN: Neshaminy
holds off Cumberland Valley
in
Eastern Championship |
|
DENNY DYROFF, Staff Writer |
December 02, 2001 |
|
With Neshaminy ahead by six points
(25-19), an interception by
Cumberland Valley free safety Aaron
Swift at the 2:20 mark gave the
Eagles a first down at the midfield
stripe. On third-and-four with 1:34
left, CV quarterback Corey Biscof
completed a 17-yard pass to Adam
Cook, who was running from right to
left.
'Skins free safety Devon Swope
jumped on Cook's back and rode him
for a number of strides as the Eagle
receiver moved laterally across the
field at Hersheypark Stadium.
Swope wasn't just getting in the
Hersheypark spirit by going for a
ride. He was wrestling the ball
loose from Cook's grip. The ball
flew free before Cook hit the ground
and Neshaminy's Jamar Brittingham
alertly covered the loose ball.
Neshaminy then ran out the clock.
"I saw him (Cook) coming across the
middle on a drag," said Swope. "I
didn't want to go for the
interception and take the chance of
being called for pass interference.
When I tackled him, I had my hand on
the ball for a few seconds and then
just ripped it loose. I was just
happy one of our guys got it."
Brittingham said, "I jammed my guy
and then turned to look at the play.
I saw Swope's hand on the ball and
then saw the ball coming out. I ran
into my teammate -- Erik Pederson --
trying to get the ball."
Neshaminy's team was two different
teams yesterday--the team that
played the first seven minutes of
the game and the final 24 minutes
and the team that was on the field
for the final 17 minutes of the
first half.
The 'Skins kicked off and then
forced the Eagles to punt after no
first downs. Neshaminy's offense
then marched 65 yards only to have
the drive screech to a halt with a
CV interception at the goal line.
The Eagles owned the rest of the
first half. They started with a
17-play, 91-yard drive that took
6:25 and concluded with a one-yard
TD run by Dan Lawlor with 0:48 left
in the second quarter.
The 'Skins then turned the ball over
on downs after only five plays.
Cumberland Valley responded with an
18-play, 82-yard scoring drive that
consumed over seven minutes.
Once again, it was Lawlor with a
one-yard TD run. On both touchdowns,
the Eagles failed to convert
two-point attempts so the score at
halftime was 12-0.
After intermission, the 'Skins
played inspired football. On the
opening series, they started on
their own 36 and moved to a
fourth-and-10 at CV's 30. Neshaminy
wide receiver Keith Ennis flew down
the right side and quarterback Jason
Waiter found him with a perfect
pass.
The result--first-and-goal at the
one. On the next play, Geoff Donahue
put the 'Skins on the board with a
one-yard TD run and Kevin Kelly
kicked the PAT to make it 12-7 with
8:25 left in the third quarter. The
'Skins held the Eagles to
three-and-punt and then started a
drive at their own 15.
Fueled by a 17-yard run by Jay
Collins, an 18-yard scamper by
Brittingham and a 14-yard
Waiter-to-Brittingham connection,
Neshaminy quickly moved into scoring
position.
Brittingham broke a run wide to the
left and sped in for an apparent
22-yard TD -- but it was nullified
by a holding penalty. Brittingham
responded with a 27-yard gain on a
draw up the middle on the very next
play and a five-yard TD burst up the
middle on the play after that.
With 1:47 left in the third quarter,
the 'Skins had their first lead of
the game -- but a bobbled snap and a
low kick kept the score at 13-12.
The Eagles came roaring back --
determined to regain the lead and
the momentum.
Starting at their own 26, they
quickly moved the ball to midfield
but soon faced a fourth-and-four. CV
used a fake punt play to produce a
28-yard pass play from Swift to
Cook. But a penalty for an illegal
receiver downfield gave the District
Three champions at fourth and-nine
at their own 39 instead of a first
down at Neshaminy's 28.
It got worse for the Eagles. A delay
penalty made it fourth-and-14 at the
34 and eliminated any plans for
another fake. CV's Matt Pavelic
attempted to punt only to have it
blocked by Pederson. The ball flew
in the air and was quickly collected
by Mike Loveland who sprinted in
untouched for a 17-yard touchdown.
"I saw the ball in the air and just
dove for it," said Loveland. "I was
just thinking -- it's my ball. It
was a nice block. It's what we're
supposed to do. When I got the ball,
I didn't see anything or hear
anything. I just thought that the
ball was mine and I like that end
zone."
The 'Skins' kick attempt failed and
the score stayed at 19-12 with 10:53
left in the game. The Eagles kept
showing great resiliency and they
came right back with a seven-play,
73-yard scoring drive capped by a
41-yard scoring run by Casey
Milligan. Pavelic made his kick to
knot the score at 19-19 with 8:09
remaining.
"There were a lot of big plays--a
lot of turning points," said
Neshaminy coach Mark Schmidt, whose
14-0 team now faces a state-title
showdown next Saturday at the same
location against 14-0 Woodland
Hills. "If you've seen us play
before, that's us all season. We've
been a sideshow. We've definitely
had some wild rides so our guys are
used to it. It was a bigger facility
today but the same old story."
©The Trentonian 2001
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|

EASTERN
REGION
FINAL:
NESHAMINY
25,
CUMBERLAND
VALLEY 19
One more
win!
Never-say-die
Neshaminy
rallied from
a 12-0
halftime
deficit to
outslug
Cumberland
Valley and
advance to
next
Saturday's
PIAA AAAA
state
championship
game.
By
WILLIAM
KENNY
Courier
Times
HERSHEY - If
the
Neshaminy
Redskins
were ever to
doubt their
own talents,
question
their
intestinal
fortitude or
give up on
their
collective
dream to be
the best
high school
football
team in
Pennsylvania,
yesterday
was the day
for it.
Cumberland
Valley High
School
brought its
punishingly
abusive
power
running game
to
Hersheypark
Stadium and
pounded the
Redskins in
the first
half of the
PIAA Class
AAAA state
playoff
semifinal.
The
Eagles of
Mechanicsburg,
champions of
District
Three, owned
the football
for the
first two
quarters and
went into
intermission
with a
two-touchdown
lead,
courtesy of
a 16-play
scoring
drive,
followed
immediately
by a 17-play
march.
But
Neshaminy,
the District
One titlist,
a group
punched and
prodded down
the field
for the
better part
of 24
minutes, had
no quit in
it. Instead,
the Redskins
played
"Rocky"
again -
climbing off
of the deck
for the
umpteenth
time in
this, their
charmed
season.
The
Redskins
eventually
outslugged
and
outlasted
the Eagles,
25-19, to
win the
state's
Eastern
Region title
and earn a
berth in
next
Saturday's
state
championship
game here at
5 p.m.,
opposite
District
Seven's
Woodland
Hills of
Pittsburgh.
Woodland
Hills (14-0)
defeated
Altoona,
34-0,in the
Western
Region final
yesterday
afternoon.
Neshaminy
(14-0) will
become the
first area
football
team ever to
compete in a
state
championship
contest.
Pennsylvania
adopted a
playoff
format in
1988.
The
Redskins
overcame the
relentless
Cumberland
Valley
running
attack with
countless
big plays.
Running back
Jamar
Brittingham
was the guy
with the
most of
them. The
all-state
candidate
ran 27 times
for a
game-high
155 yards
and two
second-half
touchdowns.
|
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|
Jamar
Brittingham
outruns
Cumberland
Valley
defenders. |
At halftime,
with the
Redskins
trailing,
12-0, coach
Mark Schmidt
called upon
his star
ball carrier
to change
the momentum
of the game.
The senior
did exactly
that.
"I looked at
him and
said, 'Hey
Bud, we're
going to win
or lose this
thing with
you,' "
Schmidt told
reporters
after the
game. "He's
a special
young man.
He got it
cranked up a
bit."
Brittingham
actually
reached the
end zone
three times,
but a
holding
penalty
nullified
his first
would-be TD,
a nifty
23-yard run
late in the
third
quarter.
Undaunted,
Brittingham
went 27
yards to the
Eagles' 5 on
the very
next snap.
The
6-foot-1,
194-pounder
finished off
his inspired
gallop by
dropping a
damage-wreaking
shoulder pad
onto an
undersized
Eagles'
safety. The
thousands of
Redskin
supporters
in
attendance
roared with
approval.
"In the
first half,
he was
taking me
down (by)
the legs,"
Brittingham
said of the
defender.
"In the
second half,
I had it in
my mind to
go low and
run over
him."
Brittingham's
5-yard run
on the next
play put
Neshaminy on
top for the
first time,
13-12.
The two-way
standout
also
contributed
on defense,
recovering a
fumble
forced by
safety Devon
Swope with
1:25 left in
the game.
The strip
came at the
end of a
17-yard pass
completion
that would
have given
Cumberland
Valley a
first down
in Neshaminy
territory.
Brittingham
wasn't the
only Redskin
to make good
use of the
big play,
however.
All-purpose
back/receiver
Keith Ennis
did not
finish with
eye-popping
statistics
(28 yards
rushing and
44
receiving),
but every
time he
touched the
football, he
produced in
a key
situation.
His 28-yard
catch on
fourth-and-10
from the
Eagles' 29
saved
Neshaminy's
hopes early
in the third
quarter.
Fullback
Geoff
Donahue's
ensuing
one-yard
scoring run,
plus the
extra point,
made it
12-7.
"I was
calling for
(the ball).
I knew I
could beat
him," Ennis
said of the
Cumberland
Valley
cornerback
whom he
outleaped to
snare the
crucial
pass. "Jay
(Wiater)
threw a
great ball
to the
outside. I
just went up
and caught
it."
The senior
also
returned
kickoffs for
44 and 67
yards. The
longer one
occurred
with six
minutes to
go in the
game, just
after
Cumberland
Valley had
tied it,
19-19, on a
41-yard
touchdown
run by Casey
Milligan.
Thanks to
Ennis' big
runback,
however,
Neshaminy
took over at
the Eagles'
20. Four
plays later,
on
fourth-and-two,
Brittingham
broke free
for what
would become
the winning
score, a
12-yarder.
During their
sustained
second-half
rally, the
Redskins
also made
things
happen on
special
teams.
In the
second
minute of
the fourth
quarter,
junior Erik
Pederson, a
back-up
quarterback
and
linebacker,
blocked a
Cumberland
Valley punt.
Mike
Loveland, a
senior
receiver,
snared the
ball out of
mid-air at
the Eagles'
19 and raced
into the end
zone.
The score
was
Neshaminy's
third in
less than 14
minutes,
making it
19-12.
Still, the
game was far
from
decided.
But
Loveland,
one of a
long list of
veterans on
the team,
had a
feeling the
Redskins
would finish
off the
memorable
victory. He
felt the
same way at
intermission,
even with
Cumberland
Valley
holding a
two-score
lead and
outgaining
the Redskins
181-92 in
the first
half.
Neshaminy
went on to
even the
statistics
in the
second half
and surpass
the Eagles
in the most
important
category,
points.
"We knew
we would do
it somehow,"
Loveland
said.
"You've just
got to
concentrate,
stay in the
game and
calm down. A
lot of
times,
people get
all worried
and make
mistakes."
"Ah,
we've been
(behind)
before.
These guys
know what
that's
about,"
Schmidt
said, almost
shrugging
off the
clutch
comeback as
an everyday
occurrence.
"It was a
bigger
crowd, a
bigger
facility,
but it's the
same old
story.
"Everybody
just did
their job,
shook off
the bad and
tried to
keep working
the good."
 |
|
A trio of Neshaminy defenders crunch Cumberland Valley split end Brandon Stanford during yesterday's Eastern final championship game. |
NESHAMINY
25,
CUMBERLAND
VALLEY 19
Player
of the game:
Senior RB
Jamar
Brittingham,
27 carries
for 155
yards and
two TDs; two
catches for
17 yards;
fumble
recovery.
Play
of the game:
Senior WR
Keith Ennis'
28-yard
catch on
fourth-and-10
from the CV
29 in the
third
quarter,
with
Neshaminy
trailing,
12-0.
Stats
of the game:
CV ran 31
times for
153 yards in
the first
half, but
just 16
times for
100 yards in
the second
half (41 on
one play).
The Eagles
had just
four first
downs after
intermission.
Sunday,
December 2,
2001
 |
|

Neshaminy's
defense a well-kept secret
Much of the Redskins'
success this season has been credited to the
offense. Don't forget about the defense, which
has held seven of its opponents to two
touchdowns or less.
By ANTHONY
STITT
Courier Times
LANGHORNE - Think
Neshaminy. Think offense. Think the
explosiveness of running back Jamar Brittingham,
the power of fullback Jay Collins, the arm of
quarterback Jay Wiater and the speed of wide
receiver Keith Ennis.
Lovely stuff. Weaponry at its finest. The core
of the undefeated team, right?
Uh,
think again.
There, in the shadows of a wondrous offense,
belies a heart and pulse so strong, an
unheralded talent.
It's
the defense, much of it under wraps, as
opponents and media and fans have fixated upon
the flash of the offense.
The
defense is surely hoping for the same on
Saturday: to surprise Cumberland Valley (13-0),
the team separating Neshaminy (13-0) from the
PIAA Class AAAA title game.
For
the season, the defense has adored the
anonymity.
It
has exploited it, too.
"The
opposing teams think our offense is the better
part of us," said defensive tackle Miguel Lebron.
"When they do that, we take advantage of them.
They're not ready for our tough D."
Heed
Lebron. He nailed it.
His
words, like a mission statement from a defensive
guru, tells the sentiments of all those in
Neshaminy's defensive trenches.
|
 |
|
Neshaminy
linebacker Jeff Donahue (left) is tied
for the team lead with five sacks.
(Photo: Joe Dixon/Courier
Times) |
Linebacker Austin Jones sure
would say so.
"We
get overlooked," Jones said. "But that's our
strength. Our opponents underestimate us and we
bite them in a sense."
Bite
marks abound - as sacks and hurries and
turnovers have been key, and often timely, a big
reason why the Redskins are undefeated, coach
Mark Schmidt will tell you.
"The
offense has had two or three stellar games,"
Schmidt said, "but every game there's been
somebody who has made a huge defensive play,
maybe an interception or sack or fumble
recovery."
Case
in point: Friday's playoff game when the
Redskins beat Conestoga, 28-12 - an archetype
performance from Neshaminy's defense as it
snagged three turnovers, with safety Devon
Swope's interception putting "the game on ice,"
as Schmidt called it.
So
far this season, a bevy of defensive players
have contributed, Schmidt said. Swope has five
interceptions. Defensive End Chuck Koch has
recovered two fumbles and forced another and is
tied with linebacker Geoff Donahue for the team
lead in sacks with five.
"We
all know each other's assignments," Donohue
said.
It's
also been an assignment of simplicity each week:
Keep the opponent to 21 points or less - and let
the offense do its thing.
"We
have a very conservative game plan - hold the
opponent to 21 points," said defensive coach
John Chaump. "It's been a little bit of a joke,
but that's the way it's been."
Simple as it might seem, it's worked. In
Neshaminy's 13 games, only two teams, Father
Judge and Pennridge, have scored more than 21
points.
The
defense has kept seven of its opponents to two
touchdowns or less, and has not allowed a team
exceed the three-touchdown limit since Week 3.
It has surrendered an average of just 15.8
points per game.
"In
the beginning of the season, we were doing a lot
of jabbering," said Swope. "But we've come
together really nicely."
Schmidt would agree: Cohesiveness, he preaches.
Another key would be health.
Last
season the Redskins lost linebacker Pat Carroll
and defensive end Ryan van den Brand for most of
the season.
This
season, both are healthy, with Carroll leading
the team in tackles with 97 and van den Brand
chipping in four sacks.
"I
get twice as excited when I see a turnover than
when I see a touchdown," van den Brand said. "A
turnover is like gold."
And
all of the Redskins will be hoping to see lots
of gold on Saturday against Cumberland Valley,
an offensive juggernaut that is averaging 34
points a game.
"We
don't want to give up an easy TD," said Chaump.
"We have to let the offense score their four
touchdowns and let Jamar do his thing, and we'll
do our thing."
Wednesday, November 28, 2001
 |
|

No pep
rally for team, just a rally cry
One win away from a state
title match-up, Neshaminy High is keeping a lid
on the hoopla - for now.
By JO
CIAVAGLIA and ANTHONY STITT
Courier Times
Although Neshaminy school officials want their
undefeated football team to beat the stuffing
out of its next opponent, they've decided to
keep the hoopla in the hopper - and wait until
next week, if there is a next week.
Neshaminy High School officials have yet to
regale their undefeated football team - no pep
rally, no bonfire, no wild sendoff.
The
Redskins - who've won more games than any other
Lower Bucks football team ever, going 13-0 - are
one win away from a state title match-up.
They'll leave for Hershey today for the state
semifinals without any school-sponsored fanfare.
Feeling snubbed?
Players say no.
"It
doesn't bother us," quarterback Jay Wiater said.
"I wouldn't even notice it if we didn't have [a
pep rally]. We're just trying to keep our heads
in the game and prepare. That's all we're
worrying about."
School officials said they'd rather not disrupt
classes to throw a rah-rah party, even if it's
for one of the biggest high school football
games in Lower Bucks history.
"The
prime reason students are here is to learn, and
you can't take away from that," athletics
director Sheila Murphy said.
The
school will plan for a party next week - if the
Redskins beat undefeated Cumberland Valley
tomorrow at Hersheypark Stadium.
"We
want to keep to the program at this point and
look forward to a win this week," Neshaminy
spokeswoman Sandra Costanzo said.
"You
have to understand the important game is the
state final," Murphy said. "Before, when this
has happened [in other sports], we've always
planned something before or after the state
championship game."
It's
been a magical season.
During the PIAA Class AAAA regular season, the
Redskins knocked off titans such as CB West,
North Penn and Pennridge and have marched
through the first three rounds of the state
playoffs. No local team has gone this far into
the AAAA postseason.
Anywhere from 5,000 to 7,000 fans have packed
Harry E. Franks Stadium, their home turf, for
the Redskins' previous three playoff games. For
last week's District One title game against
Conestoga, 1,600 tickets were sold in advance.
A
grand sendoff is planned for next week if the
Redskins win tomorrow. The state title game is
slated for Dec. 8.
Even
the team's N Club - a boosters group that
orchestrates fund-raisers to team dinners -
doesn't object to the school keeping this week's
hoopla low key.
"I
don't think the players are worrying about who's
throwing a party," said Erik Pedersen, vice
president of the club and father of team players
Erik and Anthony. "They're more concerned about
becoming No. 1 in the state."
Friday, November 30, 2001
 |
|

Word to the
wise: Never count out Neshaminy
If you forget everything
you know about Neshaminy football from this
point forward, be sure to retain this: Nothing
is ever easy. Nothing.
HERSHEY - If you forget
everything you know about Neshaminy football
from this point forward, be sure to retain this:
Nothing is ever easy. Nothing.
And
so it followed that yesterday's Class AAAA state
playoff semifinal in Hershey had to be another
in a long line of arduous litmus tests for the
Redskins. The kind where the results don't come
in until the last possible moment - and even
when they do, no one is quite sure whom they'll
favor.
The
clock ticked under two minutes in the fourth
quarter in a game that, for two-plus hours, had
swayed like a sickly tree in a violent wind.
Neshaminy clung to a shaky six-point lead as
Cumberland Valley began to cross midfield.
Facing a third-and-3, the Eagles did something
they tried to avoid all season. They passed.
With
an obstreperous Redskins crowd filling the
afternoon air with a confident din, Eagles
quarterback Corey Biscof dropped back and threw
across the middle. Everything seemed to stand
still as the ball floated into the hands of
tight end Adam Cook for what should have been a
first down.
Then, just when it looked as if all was lost for
Neshaminy for the umpteenth time that day, the
Redskins were redeemed. Saved by their safety,
Devon Swope.
He
stripped the ball, you see. Forced it from the
hands of Cook and onto the mint-green grass,
where it was fortuitously secured by cornerback
Jamar Brittingham.
And
that was it. End of game.
Neshaminy 25, Cumberland Valley 19.
|
 |
|
Lliam Kelly
and Keith Ennis hug Jamar Brittingham
after he scored a touchdown in
yesterday's state semifinal game.
(Photo: Art Gentile/Courier
Times) |
"I
was thinking about going for the interception,"
said Swope, who has made so many big plays for
Neshaminy in these playoffs that there's not
enough space in this column to revisit them all.
"I didn't go for it because I didn't want a pass
interference call. But my hand was on the ball
side, so I tried for the strip."
It
has been that type of year for Neshaminy. The
'Skins have been in some tight games against
quality opponents - backed into situations where
wins were all but an impossibility and the only
recourse appeared to be tears and Kleenex.
Yesterday was no different.
At
the half, the Redskins trailed by two scores.
Neshaminy was a disheveled lot, disturbed by
Cumberland Valley's running game and the ease
with which the Eagles moved down the field.
The
brunt of the damage in the opening half was
caused by fullback Regis Perry - a large lad
who, at 5-10, 250 pounds, had little trouble
bowling over the 'Skins defenders. Perry
finished the game with 48 yards rushing, and, at
least initially, that figured to be enough.
So
the Redskins retreated to their locker room at
the midway point with nearly everyone thinking
they were about to witness the death knell. No
undefeated season. No state finals berth.
"I
didn't think that," countered head coach Mark
Schmidt. "I wasn't worried at all."
Either he was lying or he's as composed and
insightful as they come. Whichever, and more
importantly, he and the staff and the players
snapped to it. They woke up, as they had
countless times before, to drag themselves back
into a game that Cumberland Valley clearly
controlled.
A
lot of that, of course, had to do with
Brittingham, who was once again the best player
on the field. In addition to recovering that
final, fateful fumble, the senior also carried
the ball 27 times for 155 yards and two
touchdowns. Oh, and that includes the winning
score.
In
total it was an improbable, crazy,
heart-stopping victory. Though, in retrospect -
considering all they've accomplished this season
against long odds - the final score and the
means to that end really shouldn't come as a
surprise.
Regardless, they are now where they wanted to be
all along. Not that they discussed the
possibility. Well, that is they didn't talk
about it aloud or in the presence of company.
But make no mistake, this is what they were
driving toward from the onset - this chance for
a state championship.
"The
future," Schmidt said throatily while addressing
his players in the postgame gathering, "is just
seven days away."
He's
right. The future, their future, is nearly at
hand. That is the emboldening part.
And
this is the disquieting, ironic part: Despite
all their travails, the most taxing stretch is
yet to come.
John
Gonzalez covers high school sports for the
Courier Times.
Sunday, December 2, 2001
 |
|

Ennis' footwork helps save 'Skins
After Cumberland
Valley scored in the fourth quarter to
tie the game, Neshaminy's Keith Ennis
responded with a 67-yard kickoff return,
dancing down the sideline and setting up
a touchdown.
By
ANTHONY STITT
Courier
Times
HERSHEY - He wanted the ball.
 |
|
Neshaminy return man Keith Ennis
tiptoes down the sideline during
his 67-yard kickoff run that set
up the game-winning touchdown.
(Photo: Art Gentile/Courier
Times) |
Neshaminy return specialist Keith Ennis
stepped back, nabbing a kickoff on his
own 13-yard line. And he began running -
the dash of his life - zipping to the
right, trailing his blockers, with the
spirit of his team relying on his swift
feet.
Ennis
tiptoed the sideline. Hurdling himself
far into Cumberland Valley's bailiwick.
The crowd roared as he crashed to the
grass, just 20 yards away from the goal
line.
"I was
pumped," he said.
Ennis had
done it - a 67-yard kickoff run to set
up the game-winning score a few plays
later.
But Ennis
had done so much more: It was his
kickoff return that swung the momentum
back into the favor of the Redskins.
With 7:57
left in the game, Ennis answered
Cumberland Valley, which appeared to
have just seized the momentum after
tying the game, 19-19, on the previous
play.
It was
classic Ennis.
It was a
grand rebuttal, one of several for the
Redskins yesterday, but perhaps the most
crucial, as Neshaminy won, 25-19, to
advance to the AAAA finals on Saturday.
Ennis
knew he had a chance to strike.
"They
were kicking the ball to me all day," he
said. "And I knew it was time to show
them, to do something big. I followed my
blockers and hit the hole. Then a seam
opened and I hit it hard. I tiptoed the
sideline."
Afterwards, in the midst of intoxicating
triumph, Ennis couldn't stop grinning.
He knew he had helped save his team and
knew it was the appropriate moment to
glow.
"I had to
keep my composure [after the run]. I
didn't want to get too hyped. I knew I
could celebrate after we won," said
Ennis, who had a 44-yard kickoff return
earlier in the game and also caught two
passes for 44 yards.
Neshaminy
coach Mark Schmidt understood the
magnitude of Ennis' run, how it shifted
the momentum. "It was a big play for
us," Schmidt said. "We practice that.
[Ennis] did a good job."
Quarterback Jay Wiater said he watched
in disbelief as Ennis ran yard after
yard only inches away from the sideline.
"I kept
saying, 'Stay in, stay in, stay in.' He
has great balance," Wiater said. "He
boosted us up. We knew after that we
knew we had a good chance to win."
Sunday, December 2, 2001
 |
|
|

Redskins' fans revel in glory
A
couple thousand Neshaminy supporters
trekked the state turnpike to watch
their football team do the impossible.
By ANTHONY
STITT
Courier
Times
HERSHEY - Ecstasy.
"I'm
pumped, baby!" bellowed Neshaminy fan
Ron Smith. "These are our boys!"
In the
bleachers, decade-long loyalists joined
wide-eyed teenagers, all clad in
Redskins red, for a cathartic party of
hoots and hollers, jigs and jumping
yesterday.
Victory -
Neshaminy-style.
Pass the
Mylanta.
 |
|
A
Neshaminy fan reacts as the
score teetered during the game.
(Photo: Art Gentile/Courier
Times) |
"We're all going to have heart attacks!"
screamed Chuck Gearhart, a 1969
Neshaminy grad, just before Neshaminy
beat Cumberland Valley, 25-19.
It was
historic.
It was a
typical Redskin joyride from
apprehension (losing 6-0) to fear (12-0)
to hope (12-7) to tension (winning
13-12) to swagger (19-12) to fear again
(19-19) and to delirium (25-19).
"I love
it, man! I love it," said Pat Caucci,
whose two sons recently attended
Neshaminy.
The
Redskins became the first Lower Bucks
football team to advance to the state
Class AAAA finals to play Pittsburgh's
Woodland Hills next Saturday - in this
year's biggest football battle in the
state.
And the
fans love it.
At least
2,000 Redskin-adorers journeyed the
turnpike, a 21/2-hour drive from home.
For much
of the first half, though, the Redskins
crowd dwelled in quiet anxiety, rooting
for a touchdown. Or even a darn field
goal. Anything.
At the
half, the team scurried into the locker
room losing 12-0, leaving Lois Dean
wrapped in worry. "You can feel the
underlying tension. We're not used to
losing," said Dean, mother of Scott
Dean, a sophomore on the team. "Ah, but
don't forget we've come back before -
and won."
The
faithful kept miracle-wishing.
"This is
fantastic," said Dave Stough, whose son
Jamie plays on the team. "It's awesome
to see all this red in the stands."
As the
Redskins rallied, the din in the
Neshaminy stands grew and grew. Innocent
cheers became primal screams. Feet
stomped. Hands pounded.
"Powerhouse football," one guy kept
hollering.
A
40-something man known simply as Redskin
Jim - a super-fan who refused to give
his real name - worked the crowd with a
megaphone, leading cheers of
celebration.
Neshaminy
fan Ross McLendon harked to his halcyon
days as a Neshaminy student - uh, rather
loudly. "Where's your school spirit?!"
he hollered at no one in particular.
"Class of '71! CLASS OF '71!"
"There
are a lot of crazy fans," said Neshaminy
10th-grader Tina Nunn, who came here via
school bus packed with other crazed
Redskin disciples.
As star
running back Jamar Brittingham dashed
for a 12-yard touchdown with a few
minutes left in the game, the crowd
leaped to its feet - in frenzy. "Yeah,
baby! Yeah, baby!" hollered
Brittingham's father, Sherman, just
after his son scored the game-winner.
Soon, the
final seconds ticked to an end. The band
struck up "Another One Bites the Dust."
The crowd, dancing in the stands, oozed
euphoria.
The
players - the conquering heroes -
smacked high-fives with as many of their
faithful as possible.
The
Neshaminy fans strolled to their cars,
all in smiles, already rehashing the
game. But they failed to realize one
thing: They didn't need to drive back to
Bucks.
They
likely could've floated home.
Sunday, December 2, 2001
 |
|
|

Neshaminy 25, Cumberland Valley 19
Neshaminy comes back against CV
Sunday, December 02, 2001
By Rod
Frisco
Of The Patriot-News
Cumberland
Valley loved the first 50 percent of its PIAA
Class AAAA East Championship game yesterday with
Neshaminy.
But the
second half? The Eagles will forever rue the
last 24 minutes of that game.
Up by 12
at the break, Cumberland Valley lost its grip on
a state championship appearance when Neshaminy
spun completely around and stung the Eagles
25-19 at Hersheypark Stadium.
Neshaminy
(14-0) will move into Saturday's PIAA Class AAAA
Championship game against West champion Woodland
Hills (14-0), an easy 34-0 winner over Altoona.
Cumberland Valley (13-1) can only clutch itself
in pain after letting the Redskins get away, in
part because Neshaminy star Jamar Brittingham
(26 carries, 156 yards) broke out his all-state
alter ego and slippery receiver and return man
Keith Ennis played a similarly all-stateish
game.
The other
part? Well, the CV fans don't want to go to the
tape on this one. An ineligible receiver call
that wiped out a crucial first down on a fake
punt attempt, then eventually led to a blocked
punt and a fourth-quarter touchdown for
Neshaminy, will always lead the conversations
regarding this game.
All of it
was important stuff in an important game, but
the bottom line was proffered by Cumberland
Valley head coach Tim Rimpfel.
"[Neshaminy] made the plays when it had to, and
it made more than we did today," said Rimpfel.
Yep.
Early on,
it was Cumberland Valley making the plays that
mattered. On Neshaminy's first drive, the
Redskins moved rather effortlessly to the
Cumberland Valley 4, but sophomore linebacker
Josh Oswalt got in the way of Jason Wiater's
pass at the 1 and returned to his own 9.
That, of
course, is perfect Cumberland Valley field
position, and the Eagles embarked on a 16-play,
15-rush, 91-yard mashfest that ended with Dan
Lawlor's 1-yard push into the end zone 72
seconds into the second quarter.
After
Ennis returned the kickoff 43 yards to the CV
43, the Eagles came up with a stop at their own
19 with 8:21 to play in the half. That rather
naturally led to an 81-yard march that ate up
all but the last 59 seconds of the half.
Lawlor
again got the call from the 1 on the drive's
17th play, shortly after Neshaminy had made a
critical mistake by trying to play 12-man
defense on fourth-and-two at the 9.
The game
was going exactly to CV's script: The Eagles had
just three first-half possessions, scored on two
of them for a 12-0 lead, and had limited the
effectiveness of Brittingham, the superb
Neshaminy tailback.
Brittingham had 63 yards on 11 carries in the
first half, not awful, but not enough to reach
the end zone. That changed in the second half.
The
Redskins pieced together two outstanding drives
to snatch the lead. Geoff Donahue's 1-yard
scoring run finished off a 63-yard drive with
8:25 left in the third. That score was possible
only because Ennis made an incredible 28-yard
catch at the 1 on a fourth-and-10 play.
Brittingham then punched in from the 5 nearly
seven minutes later to make it 13-12.
Cumberland Valley, its offense suddenly
withered, punched out a first down, but was
forced into punt formation early in the fourth
quarter.
But the
Eagles didn't punt. Instead, up back Aaron Swift
took the snap, found Adam Cook out of the left
slot, and the 32-yard play had the CV fans
shrieking.
Then the
screaming really started. The officiating crew
from District 11 said that Cook was ineligible,
that he was covered by the Eagles' split end.
Rimpfel,
who disagreed strongly at the time, was even
more distraught after reviewing the game film.
"It was a
totally legal formation," said Rimpfel. "Adam
was not covered; he was an eligible receiver."
The call
was deadly. Rattled, CV yielded a wholly
unnecessary delay penalty, then utterly failed
to block Neshaminy's Erik Pederson, who darted
up the middle to hand-block Matt Pavelic's punt.
The
Redskins' Mike Loveland picked up the ball at
the 17 and rushed in, extending Neshaminy's lead
to 19-12.
Still,
Cumberland Valley came up with an answer, a
78-yard drive that ended with Casey Milligan's
41-yard counter with 8:09 to play. Pavelic's
tender kick tied the game at 19-19.
But Ennis
rolled up the right sideline 68 yards with the
kickoff to the CV 20. Brittingham then banged
out four straight runs to cover all 20 yards,
including a 12-yard score with 5:58 to play.
The
Eagles followed with a horribly ineffective
series of three straight incompletions, but
Neshaminy gave CV one final chance when Swift
cut in front of Loveland for a pick at the CV 48
with 2:10 left.
"We
needed a first down. I didn't want to get in a
fourth-down situation, the wind was blowing hard
into us and we hadn't punted all day," said
Neshaminy head coach Mark Schmidt by way of
explaining his curious pass call on third-and-4
from his own 41. "It wasn't the time you want to
bring in your punter for his first kick."
On third
down from the Neshaminy 44, quarterback Corey
Bischof connected with tight end Adam Cook for
17 yards. But Neshaminy's Devon Swope stripped
the ball while making the tackle, and
Brittingham curled around it at the 27 with 1:25
to play.
 |

An exhilarating big-play bonanza
Sunday,
December 02, 2001
Four PIAA
championship football games are scheduled for
Hershey this week. Plenty of drama and emotion
will be capped by the presentation of title
trophies.
However,
the award for best single-game performance by
two casts in the 2001 playoffs already has been
locked up. It goes to the teams involved in
yesterday's Class-AAAA East Championship Game.
Take a
bow, Neshaminy Redskins.
Take a
bow, Cumberland Valley Eagles.
On a
remarkably mild Dec. 1, Neshaminy and CV put on
a show more amazing than the weather. A stunning
convergence of big stakes and big plays
entertained thousands at Hersheypark Stadium.
"Yeah, it
was a heck of a game," said CV head coach Tim
Rimpfel. "I'm proud to be part of our team here
and to be in this situation here.
"A lot of
big plays, yep. They made more big plays than we
did. That's what it comes down to."
A
first-quarter interception by CV's Josh Oswalt
and a fourth-quarter fumble recovery by
Neshaminy's Jamar Brittingham bookended the
Redskins' 25-19 victory.
In
between, there was an a la carte menu of pigskin
delight. So many huge moments and so many plot
twists.
Did Keith
Ennis really make that fourth-and-game grab on
Neshaminy's first possession of the third? Did
CV's successful fake punt early in the fourth
get called back due to an illegal touch? Did
Neshaminy really follow with a punt block
returned for a touchdown?
Did a
pass really carom off Dan Lawlor's head and into
the arms of tackle Chris Thomas for a completion
that gave CV a third-and-short instead of a
third-and-long when its margin for error was all
but gone? Did little scatback Casey Milligan
really go 41 yards for the game-tying touchdown
three plays later?
Did
Neshaminy ultra back Brittingham really answer
with a 12-yard blast on fourth down that would
stand as the game-winning touchdown?
It's
true. All true.
Really.
Neshaminy
(14-0), which trailed 12-0 at halftime, took a
challenging route to earn a return trip to
Hershey, where it will play Woodland Hills for
the AAAA grail.
"We've
had some wild rides," said Neshaminy head coach
Mark Schmidt, whose team has specialized in
comebacks this season.
"It's a
bigger crowd and it's a nicer facility. But
other than that, it's the same old story."
Ennis
said the Redskins were in "awe" of playing at
Hersheypark Stadium in the first half; in the
second half their fans were in awe.
If Ennis
doesn't make his leaping catch, which came on
fourth-and-10 at the CV 29, there's no Neshaminy
rally. Guarded by Eagles cornerback Brandon
Stanford, Ennis snared the ball at the right
goal line pylon.
First-and-goal inside the 1. Touchdown on the
next play to make it 12-7. Shocking momentum
swing.
"I knew I
had to make that catch," Ennis said, "because
that was going to be the whole ballgame."
After
Brittingham's second TD run gave Neshaminy a
six-point edge, fate would nod at CV one last
time. The Eagles miraculously got the ball back
with 2:10 remaining when Aaron Swift intercepted
a Redskins pass.
Everybody
in the building did a double take when, time
running, Neshaminy threw on third-and-5.
"We could
have ran Jamar, but I didn't want to get into a
fourth-and-1 situation," Schmidt explained. "The
wind was blowing pretty good. Our punter hadn't
punted all game. I'm sure he was a little tight.
"I was
trying to stay a step ahead. I made a bad call."
The error
was rendered moot thanks to Devon Swope's strip
and Brittingham's fumble recovery at the
Neshaminy 27 with 1:25 left. From there, the
Redskins ran out the clock.
Among the
congratulatory postgame handshakes Schmidt
enjoyed was from Gov. Mark Schweiker. The
governor assumed office under challenging
circumstances, but at least the global warming
thing seems to be working out in Pennsylvania's
favor.
Once the
disappointment wears off, 2001 will hold many
warm memories for the Eagles.
"It was a
great experience coming this far," said CV
running back Regis Perry. "I love playing with
these guys. We're a great team, a great group of
fellas, great coaches, great everything. It was
a great season."
Bravo.
Tim
Leone may be reached at
tleone@patriot-news.com.
 |

PIAA football Class
AAAA Eastern finals glance
PIAA Class
AAAA
Eastern final
Cumberland Valley Eagles (13-0, District 3
champions)
vs. Neshaminy Redskins (13-0, District 1
champions)
When:
Today, 1 p.m.
Where:
Hersheypark Stadium
At stake: A
spot in the PIAA Class AAAA finals, Dec. 8
Coaches: CV,
Tim Rimpfel; Neshaminy, Mark Schmidt
Key players:
CV – RB Dan
Lawlor, so., 265 carr., 1,321 yds., 22TD; QB
Corey Bischof, so., 60 comp., 124 att., 1,095
yds., 16TD, 4INT; WR Brandon Stanford, sr., 25
rec., 361 yds., 2TD; FB Regis Perry, sr.. 76
carr., 490 yds., 6TD
NESHAMINY –
RB Jamar Brittingham, sr., 316 carr., 2,263 yds.,
26TD; QB Jason Wiater, sr., 92 comp., 161 att.,
1,273 yds., 7TD, 3INT; WR Keith Ennis, sr., 45
rec., 682 yds., 5TD.
Probable starting lineups:
(No., player, pos.)
CV
– Defense,
No. 43 Mike Cesarano, T, sr., 5-10, 210; No. 78
Chris Sanchez, T, sr., 5-11, 215; No. 88 Adam
Cook, DE, sr., 6-3, 190; No. 16 Matt Andrechik,
DE, sr., 6-3, 185; No. 3 John Sharbaugh, OLB,
sr., 5-9, 155; No. 30 Matt Pavelic, OLB, sr.,
6-2, 202; No. 51 Nick Deyo, ILB, sr., 5-11, 195;
No. 55 Ryan Hoffman, ILB, sr., 5-10, 210; No. 5
Brandon Stanford, CB, sr., 5-10, 155; No. 39
Brian Noble, CB, sr., 5-9, 150; No. 14 Aaron
Swift, S, sr., 5-7, 155;
Offense
– No. 15 Corey Bischof, QB, so., 5-11, 175; No.
23 Alex Langan, HB, sr., 5-8, 155; No. 33 Dan
Lawlor, FB, so., 6-2, 205; No. 22 Casey
Milligan, WB, sr., 5-8, 150; No. 5 Brandon
Stanford, WR, sr., 5-10, 155; No. 88 Adam Cook,
TE, sr., 6-3, 190; No. 71 Chris Thomas, T, sr.,
6-4, 292; No. 66 Seth Washburn, G, jr., 6-3,
246; No. 53 Dan Eberly, C, jr., 6-0, 205; , No.
55 Ryan Hoffman, G, sr., 5-10, 210; No. 77 Bob
Grant, T, sr., 6-3, 275.
NESHAMINY
– Offense,
No. 8 Jason Wiater, QB, sr., 6-1, 180; No. 2
Jamar Brittingham, RB, sr., 6-1, 195; No. 27
Geoff Donahue, FB, jr., 6-2, 225; No. 1 Keith
Ennis, WR, sr., 5-8, 174; No. 26 Mike Loveland,
WR, sr., 5-11, 170; No. 84 Scott Mullin, TE,
sr., 6-4, 220; No. 77 Steve Brett, T, sr., 6-4,
284; No. 67 Nick Feszco, G, sr., 6-1, 265; No.
52 Lliam Kelly, C, sr., 5-10, 235; No. 58 Ryan
Contento, G, sr., 6-3, 240; No. 76 Brad Gower,
T, jr., 6-1, 230;
Defense,
No. 5 Ryan van den Brand, DE, sr., 6-1, 230; No.
74 Miguel Lebron, T, sr., 6-0, 280; No. 77 Steve
Brett, T, sr., 6-4, 284; No. 66 Bill Little, T,
sr., 6-0, 230; No. 27 Geoff Donahue, DE, jr.,
6-2, 225; No. 22 Erik Pederson, OLB, jr., 6-2,
200; No. 42 Austin Jones, OLB, sr., 5-11, 175;
No. 33 Jay Collins, LB, sr., 5-11, 225; No. 6
Pat Carroll, LB, sr., 6-1, 225; No. 2 Jamar
Brittingham, CB, sr., 6-1, 195; No. 15 Justin
Edwards, CB, sr., 5-10, 175; No. 13 Devon Swope,
S, jr., 6-0, 180.
How they got
here:
Cumberland Valley
Regular season
Sept. 1 - CV 24,
Mechanicsburg 0
Sept. 7 - CV 20,
Warwick 0
Sept. 14 - CV 55,
Waynesboro 0
Sept. 21 - CV 34,
McDevitt 6
Sept. 28 - CV 28,
Central Dauphin 21
Oct. 5 - CV 28, Red
Land 7
Oct. 12 - CV 14,
Cedar Cliff 6
Oct. 19 - CV 35,
Harrisburg 7
Oct. 26 - CV 47,
Chambersburg 14
Nov. 2 - CV 42,
Gettysburg 6
District 3 Class
AAAA semifinal
Nov. 9 - CV 42,
Muhlenberg 13
District 3 Class
AAAA final
Nov. 17 - CV 28,
McCaskey 18
PIAA Class AAAA
Eastern semifinal
Nov. 24 - CV 41,
Beca 31
Neshaminy
Regular season
Aug. 31 - Neshaminy
28, Father Judge 27
Sept. 7 - Neshaminy
1, Bensalem 0 (forfeit)
Sept. 14 - Neshaminy
28, Pennridge 22
Sept. 21 - Neshaminy
23, North Penn 14
Sept. 28 - Neshaminy
21, Central Bucks West 19
Oct. 6 - Neshaminy
15, Central Bucks East 14
Oct. 13 - Neshaminy
33, Harry S. Truman 6
Oct. 20 - Neshaminy
42, Abington 21
Oct. 26 - Neshaminy
35, Council Rock 0
Nov. 2 - Neshaminy
28, Pennsburt 21
District 1 Class
AAAA semifinal
Nov. 9 - Neshaminy
24, Central Bucks East 14
District 1 Class
AAAA final
Nov. 16 - Neshaminy
37, Downington 20
District 1-2-4
Class AAAA championship
Nov. 23 - Neshaminy
28, Conestoga 12
| Team
statistics |
Cumberland Valley |
Neshaminy |
| Record |
13-0 |
13-0 |
| Points |
443 |
342 |
| avg. per
game |
34.1 |
28.5 |
|
Opponents |
140 |
190 |
| avg. per
game |
10.8 |
15.8 |
|
Rushes-yards |
616 - 3,333 |
458 - 2,845 |
| avg. per
game |
47 - 256.4 |
38 - 237.1 |
| avg. per
rush |
5.41 |
6.21 |
| Opp.
rush |
367 - 1,244 |
396 - 1,719 |
| avg. per
game |
28 - 95.7 |
33 - 143.3 |
| avg. per
rush |
3.40 |
4.34 |
| Passing |
65 - 137 - 6 |
95 - 167 - 4 |
| Passing
yards |
1,180 |
1,351 |
| avg. per
game |
90.8 |
112.6 |
| Opp.
passing |
1,544 |
1,398 |
| avg. per
game |
118.8 |
116.5 |
| Turnover
+/- |
+20 |
+3 |
Breakdown:
It’s unlikely there will be 72 points on the
board when this game ends. Two power running
teams with big lines don’t often reach the
50-point mark. Neither team passes a great deal.
CV runs 82 percent of the time; Neshaminy 73
percent. But why throw when you have running
backs like Perry, Lawlor and Brittingham? ... If
passing becomes necessary, the Redskins have
perhaps the best weapon on the field. Ennis has
almost half the team’s catches (45-of-95). But
his game is not a deep game like Beca’s. Ennis
only averages 15.2 yards per catch. After last
week’s first-half track meet with the Golden
Hawks, this week will be like jogging in place
for the Eagle secondary. ... The injury bug has
healed at just the right time for CV. Mike
Cesarano and Tim Cook could be back this week,
and Nick Deyo looked good in his first game back
last week. The Eagles will need a healthy
Cesarano to bring some quickness back to a
defensive line that put almost no pressure on
Beca quarterback Adam Bednarik. The Neshaminy
line is considerably bigger than Beca’s, so
Cesarano’s quickness could be a
difference-maker. ... Don’t look for turnovers
to decide this game. Neshaminy has only 13 on
the season, and the Eagles have a remarkable +20
number so far. Rather than mistakes, it’s likely
to be who controls the line of scrimmage that
determines the outcome of this game. ... A look
inside the numbers shows Neshaminy gives up 143
yard rushing per game, almost 50 more than the
Eagles do. And six of Neshaminy’s 12 opponents
(Bensalem was a forfeit) have scored at least
three touchdowns. The defense has registered
only one shutout all season. But, when it needed
to stop teams, it did. CB East went ahead 14-0
when the teams first met Oct. 6. The Redskins
held East scoreless the rest of the way for a
15-14 victory. Keeping the Eagles off the board
wonąt be easy.
Prediction: CV 24, Neshaminy 21
 |

Neshaminy,
C. Valley have much in common
Running backs will be in
the spotlight tomorrow in the PIAA Class AAAA
semifinal at Hershey.
By JOHN
GONZALEZ
Courier Times
It's
been a long season, really, and they've seen a
lot. Enough to know that, at this stage, nobody
is going to simply lie down or go screaming into
the night because they're playing Neshaminy.
To
that end, the Redskins know exactly what they're
getting themselves into tomorrow at 1 p.m. in
Hershey where they'll face Cumberland Valley in
the PIAA Class AAAA football semifinals.
The
Eagles, you see, are a lot like the Redskins in
offensive philosophy. Not so much in
application, but in principal. That is,
Cumberland Valley likes to pound the ball. It
likes to do what it does best, which is use a
hefty line to get a good push for similarly
beefy running backs. When the Eagles pass, which
is infrequent, it is set up by a sound ground
game.
If any of this sounds familiar,
it should.
|
 |
|
Senior
running back Jamar Brittingham is
expected to carry the load again for
Neshaminy.
(Photo: Joe Dixon/Courier
Times) |
What
that all means, of course, is that this game
probably won't be suited for the faint of heart.
It will be decided on the line of scrimmage by
large teen-agers with unpleasant dispositions
and irrepressible desire. It will be a battle of
offensive and defensive lines, of who can doll
out the biggest smacks and take the brutal
return shots.
Yes,
it will be a challenge for Neshaminy because, at
least up front, the 'Skins will be facing their
mirror image. Not that their linemen are overly
concerned, mind you. Again, this has been a long
season and not without a plethora of formidable
tasks. They are used to all the commotion by
now, and even look forward to it.
"We're challenged every week," said senior
offensive and defensive lineman Steve Brett.
"That's nothing new for us. Coach challenges us
every week to take another step forward."
Indeed he does. Neshaminy coach Mark Schmidt
constantly implores his troops to fight the good
fight, to turn in that something extra when
they're probably thinking they've exhausted all
they have to give. Tomorrow, then, will be a
study in motivation
as
much as it will be in ability.
Unbeaten Cumberland Valley (13-0) enters the
game with the same record as Neshaminy (13-0).
The
Eagles, who play in the Mid-Penn Commonwealth
League, are relatively vanilla on the offense.
They run. And run. And run some more. They come
straight at you, almost daring opponents to stop
them - which rarely happens.
Last
week, Cumberland Valley was the underdog against
Bethlehem Catholic. Perception mattered little,
however. The Eagles went out and did what they'd
done all season - they utilized the wing-T and
handed the ball off. As a result, their two
fullbacks - Regis Perry and Dan Lawler, a pair
of 200-pound plus runners - each had outstanding
days in the 41-31 victory. Perry, a 5-foot-10,
250-pound senior, punished Bethlehem Catholic
for 174 yards on 26 carriers. He also scored
four touchdowns.
"In
the playoffs, you just have to have your best
guys step up and give all they have," said
Cumberland Valley coach Tim Rimpfel, who guided
the Eagles to a Class AAAA state championship in
1992. "It's usually the teams who have the D-I
caliber talent who make it to this stage. I know
when we made it this far in '94 we faced
Downingtown and they wrecked us with Aaron
Harris. They played to the strengths of their
best guy, and it worked. For us, we've been
successful running our fullbacks. Obviously,
Lawler and Perry have done well.
"The
flip side of that is, everyone knows Neshaminy
can do the same thing. Everyone knows about
(Jamar) Brittingham."
True. How could you not? Last week, against
Conestoga, he ran for 178 yards on 29 carries.
The week before, against Downingtown, he
surpassed the 2,000-yard mark for his career
with a 216-yard outing.
So
it follows that there will be more of the same
tomorrow. For both schools.
Lots
of running. Lots of grunting. Not many
surprises.
"We've got to get after that line of scrimmage,"
said Schmidt. "We've got to have a great effort
up front. We've faced a lot of teams who pride
themselves on being big and physical. It's
nothing new. It's just how we respond again."
If you go
WHAT: PIAA Class AAAA football semifinals
WHO: Neshaminy (13-0) vs. Cumberland Valley
(13-0)
WHEN: Tomorrow, 1 p.m.
WHERE: Hersheypark Stadium
RADIO: WBCB 1490-AM
TV: CN8 (taped, Tuesday, 2:30 p.m.)
TICKETS: Available in advance for $6
(adults) and $3 (students) at the Neshaminy High
School co-curricular office. Available at the
gate for $6 (adults and students). Student bus
transportation/ ticket package available for $15
at the Neshaminy principal’s office.
DIRECTIONS: Go west on Pennsylvania Turnpike
to Exit 20 (Lebanon-Lancaster); stay in left
lane and turn left on Route 72; follow Route 72
for about 3 miles to Route 322 (Hershey);
proceed about 15 miles and follow signs to
Hersheypark Drive.
Friday, November 30, 2001
 |

Neshaminy started roll early
Friday,
November 30, 2001
By Rod
Frisco
Of The Patriot-News
Every championship
football team has it: That coalescent moment
when teammates come together, achieve and can
properly say, "You know, we are good."
Neshaminy's moment came soon enough in the 2001
season.
The
Redskins had won their season-opening game
against a solid Father Judge team by just a
point, 28-27, then saw their second game against
Bensalem wiped out by the latter's teachers'
strike.
Rusty
after the layoff and still feeling their way,
the Redskins fell behind a quality Pennridge
team 15-0 in the first quarter in Week 3.
Then the
magic kicked in.
"We
fought back and worked hard to tie the game,"
Neshaminy head coach Mark Schmidt said. "But we
still had to drive the length of the field in
the final six minutes to win the game.
"When we
did that, I said, 'Hey, if we can stick together
and pull this off, we might have something
special on our hands,'" Schmidt said.
They did.
And they are.
Neshaminy
followed its last-minute victory over Pennridge
with a last-play victory over Central Bucks West
the following week, and the jets have been on
full burn ever since.
Now 13-0,
Neshaminy finds itself in the state playoffs for
the first time since its ill-fated appearance in
1988, the inaugural year for state
championships, and one victory away from playing
for a state title.
All the
Redskins have to do is beat 13-0 Cumberland
Valley in tomorrow's PIAA Class AAAA East
Championship game at Hersheypark Stadium. First
kick is 1 p.m.
While
Cumberland Valley, clearly peaking after last
week's impressive 41-31 come-from-behind triumph
over Bethlehem Catholic, is playing quality
ball, Neshaminy has stared down some similarly
scary barrels this year.
"When we
saw that opening schedule, we knew we had to
take it slow," Schmidt said. "We had to
concentrate completely on each game as it came
before we could be concerned about the next
one."
The
second half of the season was substantially
easier for the Redskins, who used the lessened
resistance to build momentum for the CB
West-less playoffs, resulting in strong triumphs
over CB East (24-14), a good Downingtown team
(37-20) and Conestoga (28-12).
Through
it all, the Redskins leaned heavily on senior
tailback Jamar Brittingham (6-1, 194), who has
gained 2,263 yards on 316 carries for 26
touchdowns. The lefty has also thrown for
multiple touchdowns.
Brittingham, like most I-backs, dominates
Neshaminy's offensive landscape. But quarterback
Jason Wiater (92-161-3, 1,273 yards, seven TDs)
has been effective, often out of play action.
Wide
receiver Keith Ennis (5-8, 174) catches nearly
one-half of Wiater's passes with 45 receptions
for 682 yards and five scores. He's a serious
reverse, counter and return threat as well (hmm,
Brandon Stanford, anyone?).
"Wiater
runs our offense very well; he's very smart as
far as understanding our game goes," Schmidt
said. "Keith Ennis has just had a super year.
"We have
a lot of kids who pay attention to what we're
teaching and who have worked well together,"
Schmidt said.
Defensively, the Redskins started a little
slower against that outstanding schedule but
recently found a groove. Against Conestoga, a
team that featured a 1,700-yard rusher and a
2,000-yard passer, the Redskins completely
pinched the Pioneers until junk time.
Senior
linebacker Jay Collins (5-11, 225) is generally
recognized as Neshaminy's top defensive player,
but ends Chuck Koch (6-3, 220) and Geoff Donahue
(6-2, 225), and linebacker Pat Carroll (6-1,
225) are quality performers, too.
"It will
be very interesting on that line of scrimmage,"
said Cumberland Valley head coach Tim Rimpfel,
who has plenty of reason to be pleased with both
of his. "We won't have to use a lot of defensive
backs like we did last week, but that will put
extra pressure on our linebackers. Brittingham
has great vision and loves to cut back."
Rod
Frisco may be reached at
rfrisco@patriot-news.com.
 |

Neshaminy ends Eagles' run
 |
|
Cumberland Valley's Adam
Cook (88) dives over Neshaminy's Keith
Ennis on a fake punt during the second
half of Saturday's game at Hersheypark
Stadium. (Wally
Shank / The Sentinel) |
HERSHEY -- You know the old saying about
lightning never striking the same place twice?
Well, take the piece of paper it was written on
and toss it out, because it just ain't true.
Adam
Cook, Cumberland Valley's senior tight end, was
in the middle of the most controversial call of
the season last year when his fumble recovery
was ruled a dead ball vs. Beca in the PIAA Class
AAAA playoffs. Now fast forward to Saturday at
Hersheypark Stadium.
With
CV trailing District 1 champion Neshaminy 13-12
early in the fourth quarter of the PIAA Class
AAAA Eastern final, Cook lined up in a punt
formation on a fourth-and-5 at CV's 44-yard
line. The snap went to upback Aaron Swift, who
lofted a perfect pass to Cook for a 32-yard gain
and an apparent CV first down.
But
hold everything. The officials ruled Cook was an
ineligible receiver. Instead of a 32-yard gain,
CV lost 5 yards, then 5 more on a delay of game
penalty on the next play. On fourth-and-15,
Neshaminy's Erik Pederson blocked Matt Pavelic's
punt, and Mike Loveland ran it in from 17 yards
out to push the lead to 19-12.
Eleven minutes later, Neshaminy was celebrating
a 25-19 win in a thrilling Eastern final that
sends the Redskins on to play West champion
Woodland Hills in next Saturday's Class AAAA
title game.
For
Cook, it was a sickening case of deja vu.
"I
was 2 yards off the line of scrimmage," said an
anguished Cook. "They say I was covered, but I
was eligible."
CV
head coach Tim Rimpfel took a wait-and-see
attitude after a prolonged exchange with the
officiating crew following the controversial
play.
"This is one of those plays where we have to
watch the film and see where Adam was lined up,"
Rimpfel said. "Adam says he was eligible, and I
trust Adam Cook. We've run that formation all
season."
And
all season CV (13-1) counted on being able to
outrun its opponents. Until Saturday, when
Neshaminy's Jamar Brittingham and Keith Ennis
didn't allow a 12-0 halftime deficit to stop
their run for a state championship.
Neshaminy head coach Mark Schmidt began using a
one-back set instead of his I-formation, giving
the ball to Ennis on two end-around handoffs for
27 yards. And Brittingham rushed for 100 of his
162 yards in the second half. The change in the
Neshaminy offense threw off an Eagle defense
that had shut out the Redskins in the first
half, only the second time all season they had
been held scoreless for 24 minutes.
"They did some things differently in the second
half, and we never got comfortable with it,"
said Eagle cornerback Brandon Stanford.
"Defensively we lost our balance, and we never
recovered."
The
Eagles led 12-0 at the half on the strength of
two quintessential Eagle drives. One was a
16-play, 91-yard series that ate 6:25 off the
clock and was capped by a Dan Lawlor 1-yard
plunge. The second was a 17-play, 81-yard drive
that lasted 7:22 and ended with another Lawlor
score from a yard out.
But
in the third quarter Brittingham went to work.
The senior tailback, who came into the game with
2,263 yards on the ground this season, had a
24-yard run on Neshaminy's opening drive of the
half. Fullback Geoff Donahue scored from 1 yard
out to make it 12-7.
After Neshaminy forced a three-and -out from CV,
the Redskins drove right back down the field. A
12-yard pass to Brittingham on third-and-10 kept
the drive alive, but his 23-yard touchdown run
was called back for holding.
On
the next play, Brittingham went 27 yards to the
Eagle 5, then scored on the next play to give
the Redskins a 13-12 lead.
"He's a major college back," said Rimpfel. "He
made some nice runs and made some big plays, and
they outplayed us on the line of scrimmage in
the second half. They just got off the ball
better than we did."
After Neshaminy blocked the punt for the 19-12
lead, CV looked like CV again. The running game
clicked, and the Eagles drove the ball out to
midfield. On first-and-10, wingback Casey
Milligan went 9 yards to the Redskin 41. On
second-and-1, Milligan took an inside handoff
from Alex Langan and took the criss-cross 41
yards for the tying score.
But
Ennis struck back on the ensuing kickoff, racing
68 yards to the Eagle 20-yard line. Four plays
later, Brittingham went in from 12 yards out on
fourth-and-2, making the score 25-19.
"He's a tremendous back," Stanford said of
Brittingham. "He does everything well --- run,
cut, hit. He runs hard, and we never stopped him
in the second half."
The
Eagles stopped themselves on the following
drive, throwing three incompletions on
successive plays. But Aaron Swift intercepted a
pass from Neshaminy's Jason Wiater with 2:10
remaining, giving the Eagles one last gasp from
their own 48.
Langan lost a yard on first down, and Eagle
quarterback Corey Bishof gained 9 back on
second. On third-and-2, Bischof found Cook at
the 22 for a first down. But as Cook struggled
for extra yardage the ball got knocked loose.
Neshaminy recovered with 1:25 on the clock.
A
17-yard run by Brittingham on second-and-10 was
all Neshaminy needed to end CV's season.
After the game, Cook shook off the loss as best
he could.
"It's over," he said. "You take it and you move
on."
For
Rimpfel, it was a difficult end to an improbable
journey.
"Today was a game of big plays, and (Neshaminy)
made more big plays than we did, but no one had
us 13-0 and playing for a shot at the state
title," he said. "I'm proud of what this team
was able to accomplish."
Stanford echoed Rimpfel's sentiments.
"I
would never want to play for any other team than
this one," he said. "All we said at the
beginning of the season is let's see how hard we
can work and see how far that takes us. We got
within a game of the state finals.
"I'm
proud of every one of my teammates. No one
worked harder than we did. We just fell a little
short, but I love this team." |
back to top |
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Redskin Records |
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2001
Suburban One
Champions |
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| |
2001
District One
Champions |
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| |
2001
Eastern
Champions |
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2001
AAAA
State
Champions |
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| |
2002
Suburban One
Co-Champions |
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| |
2004
Suburban One
Co-Champions |
|
| |
2004
District One
Champions |
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| |
2004
Eastern
Champions |
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| |
2005
Suburban One
Champions |
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