Scott Huff recaps all of last weekend's SOL action.
By Scott Huff
Neshaminy trailed Council Rock South 41-3 in the second halfof its 41-17 loss to the Golden Hawks. Are you kidding? Neshaminy?
The excruciating loss was to be the third in four games for the proud Redskins. It would drop the Red and Blue to 1-3 in the Suburban One League National Conference as that setback was added to painful losses to Abington (35-21) and Council Rock North (17-14). The Neshaminy detractors – if there are any – were in their glory.
“Looking back, it was the best thing that could have happened to this team,” said Neshaminy head coach Mark Schmidt, who coached the Skins to an unbeaten 15-0 season and a state championship in 2001. “We did some second guessing, but we knew what we had to do to get it done. We moved some kids around, made some changes to the offense, and our seniors and coaching staff just refused to give up.”
Neshaminy crushed winless Truman 31-0 the week after the CR South beating and followed with a 39-15 victory over William Tennent. Nice wins – but not unexpected by any means. The wins gave the Skins an overall record of 6-3 – and an outside shot at a PIAA District One Playoff berth if Neshaminy could defeat rival Pennsbury in the season finale.
Pennsbury – which at the time was knotted with both Abington and Council Rock South at the top of the conference standings – had beaten Council Rock South 13-10 earlier in the year. It was the very same CR South team that dismantled Neshaminy 41-17.
“Pennsbury is extremely tough to beat anywhere, but especially at their place,” said Schmidt. “But we took charge early in the game, and we fed off that momentum. We were on the outside looking in for the playoffs, but we played a good football game and beat a good football team.”
Neshaminy hammered the Falcons 24-7 to gain its ticket to the district playoff dance, and the Redskins were not content with just the invitation to the playoffs. Not this 2011 edition of the successful Neshaminy football program.
The Skins got on the bus – traveled to Unionville – and shut out the Indians by an impressive 28-0 score. Unionville – the second place finisher in the Ches-Mont American Conference - entered the game with a flashy 9-1 mark and featured a quality running back in Richie Sampson.
“We have to travel over two hours on a bus on a Friday night, but we came off the bus and played one of our best football games,” said Schmidt. “Our defensive coaches did a great job of preparing the team, and right now we are playing our best football of the season.
“We have had some good success on the road the last two weeks,” added Schmidt as Neshaminy will now prepare for another enormous road game this Friday in the second round of the playoffs against North Penn. “This game is going to be another huge test for this team.”
A test that Neshaminy has taken and passed with flying Red and Blue colors in recent weeks.
PIAA District One Quad-A Playoff Football
Central Bucks South (8-3) looked spectacular in a 52-24 victory over Plymouth Whitemarsh (8-2) in the opening round of the district playoffs. Senior running back Dan Brown was impressive with four rushing touchdowns and rushed for 100 yards on 18 carries. Brown also returned a punt for a score. Senior quarterback Matt Johns was impressive with 219 yards passing and two touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Chris Veal snared seven passes for 87 yards and a score.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (8-2) struggled defensively as the Colonials were routed by Central Bucks South (8-3) – 52-24. PW entered the district playoffs with a gaudy 7.1 points per game average. Corey Kelly led the Colonials in rushing with 106 yards and a score, while Xavier Ellington added 70 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Russhon Phillips completed 10 passes for 143 yards and a 33-yard touchdown pass to Alton Custus.
Next: Central Bucks South Titans @ Garnet Valley Jaguars – Friday 7 pm – PIAA District One Playoff
Next: Plymouth Whitemarsh – Season Over.
Pennsbury (8-3) got some sweet revenge from an earlier season loss as the Falcons flew to a 35-24 victory over host Abington (9-2) in an opening round playoff game. Pennsbury had been beaten by the Ghosts 20-7 during the SOL regular season. The Falcons scored a defensive touchdown on an interception by Zach Gaine and a special teams touchdown on an 85-yard kickoff return by Shawn Pepper. DeQuan Mack – who led all rushers with 110 yards on 18 carries – scored on a 42-yard touchdown burst. Adam Lewis scored a pair of touchdowns – one on a 12-yard run – and the other on a 28-yard pass reception from Bruce Campbell.
Abington (9-2) failed to hold a 14-7 lead and was eliminated from the district playoffs with the 35-24 loss to Pennsbury (8-3). The Ghosts scored on a pair of touchdown aerials from quarterback Ken Cropper to wide receiver Josh Lee – one of 38 yards – and the other of 63 yards. Cropper completed nine passes for 184 yards – Lee caught five passes for 124 yards.
Next: Pennsbury Falcons @ Coatesville Raiders – Friday 7 pm – PIAA District One Playoff
Next: Abington Ghosts @ Cheltenham Panthers – Thanksgiving Day
Council Rock South (10-1) rushed for 496 yards as the Golden Hawks flew to a 34-7 victory over visiting Upper Dublin (7-3) in an opening round playoff game. Rock South scored 20 unanswered points in the second half to secure the win. Quarterback Brian Donnelly scored on runs of 32 and 80 yards, while Anthony Alimenti scored twice on runs of 30 and 29 yards. Donnelly, Alimenti and Ryan Whiteley all finished the game with over 100 yards on the ground.
Upper Dublin (7-3) was competitive in the first half as the Flying Cardinals dropped a 34-7 contest to host Council Rock South (10-1) in an opening round playoff game. Upper Dublin trailed the top-seeded Hawks by just 14-7 at intermission. Andrew Derr completed a terrific career with a 195-yard passing effort. Chris Naughton led all Cardinal receivers with five catches.
Next: Downingtown East @ Council Rock South – Friday 7 pm
Next: Upper Dublin – Season Over.
North Penn (9-2) rallied from an early deficit to destroy host West Chester Rustin (9-2) – 48-21 – in an opening round district playoff game. Wide receiver Dan Gevirtz was forced into a running back role and was fabulous with 205 rushing yards and a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns. Ralphie Reeves scored three short yardage touchdowns for the Knights. Kyle Mayfield rushed for 125 yards and a score before leaving the game early in the third period with a leg injury. Corey Ernst completed seven passes for 124 yards and a touchdown to Eddie Posavec.
Next: Neshaminy Redskins @ North Penn Knights – Friday 7 pm – PIAA District One Playoff
Neshaminy (8-3) jumped out to a 21-0 halftime lead and went on to defeat Unionville (9-2) in the first round of the district playoffs – 28-0. Sean Ulmer led the Skins with 152 yards rushing on 21 carries and scored on touchdown runs of seven and one yards. Denny Lord scored for the Redskins on a one-yard run. The lone touchdown of the second half came on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Justin Andrews to Bobby Marterella.
Next: Neshaminy Redskins @ North Penn Knights – Friday 7 pm – PIAA District One Playoff
Playing Out The Schedule
Pennridge (6-5) scheduled a non-conference contest against visiting Norristown (5-5) and gouged the Eagles – 35-7. Sophomore sensation Mike Class was – well – sensational as he rushed for a game-high 146 yards and a pair of touchdowns. MacKensie Crawford scored on a seven-yard run and caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from Alex Krivda. Cody Reimel tallied on a 15-yard burst for the Rams.
Norristown (5-5) finished its season at .500 in the 35-7 loss to Pennridge (6-5). The Eagles took a 7-0 lead in the game on a four-yard touchdown run by Eric Handy Jr. Brandon Shippen finished a fine high school career with 94 yards on 17 carries for the Birds.
Next: Quakertown Panthers @ Pennridge Rams – Thanksgiving Morning – 10:15 am.
Next: Norristown – Season Over.
Quakertown (5-6) scheduled a non-conference contest against Saucon Valley and clawed SV – 31-7. The Panthers had a magnificent game turned in by Justin Wieder, who rushed for a game-high 86 yards and scored three touchdowns. Wieder scored on runs of one, five, and 50 yards. The win snapped a six game losing streak for the Panthers.
Next: Quakertown Panthers @ Pennridge Rams – Thanksgiving Morning – 10:15 am
Hatboro-Horsham (4-7) scheduled a non-conference contest against visiting Cheltenham (5-6) and caged the Panthers – 25-0. The Hatters had four rushing touchdowns – one each for Travis Young (four yards), Chris Ejimonyeugwo (seven yards), Luke Spahits (one yard), and Casey Saverio (30 yards). The win snapped a six-game losing streak for Hatboro-Horsham.
Cheltenham (5-6) totaled just 133 yards of total offense in its 25-0 loss to Hatboro-Horsham (4-7). The lone bright spot for the Panthers was the running of Aquil Reed who rushed for a game-high 106 yards on 18 carries. It was the second straight loss for the Black Cats.
Next: Upper Moreland Golden Bears @ Hatboro-Horsham – Thanksgiving Day
Next: Abington Ghosts @ Cheltenham Panthers – Thanksgiving Day
Upper Moreland (2-9) scheduled a non-conference contest against Owen J Roberts (1-10) and rallied to defeat the Indians – 19-14. Robert Knox had a brilliant performance for the Bears with a three-touchdown night. Knox scored on runs of two and 22 yards and also scored on a 56-yard pass from Charlie Hooker. Knox rushed for a game-high 143 yards, while Hooker completed 12 passes for 215 yards.
Next: Upper Moreland @ Hatboro-Horsham – Thanksgiving Day
Central Bucks West (5-6) scheduled a non-conference contest against Archbishop Ryan (4-6) and lost to the Raiders – 31-14. The game was tied at the half – 14-14. The Bucks scored on a 26-yard touchdown pass from John Fitz to Seth Ehlo and on a one-yard run by Fitz.
Next: Central Bucks West – Season Over
William Tennent (4-7) scheduled a non-conference game against Pottstown (3-8) and defeated the Trojans – 28-13. Cameron Jenkins had a superb performance as he rushed for 191 yards on 30 carries and scored four touchdowns. Jenkins scored on runs of 10, 14, 7, and 33 yards.
Next: William Tennent – Season Over.
Souderton (6-5) scheduled a non-conference game against Red Lion Christian (Delaware) and suffered a 47-7 loss. The Big Red led 7-6 early in the game on a three-yard touchdown burst by senior Javon White. Red Lion Christian features quarterback David Sills – a freshman who has already committed to the USC next season.
Next: Souderton – Season Over.
Suburban One Sports.com *** Great Eight ***
1. North Penn Knights (9-2)
2. Council Rock South Golden Hawks (10-1)
3. Central Bucks South Titans (8-3)
4. (tie) Abington Ghosts (9-2)
Neshaminy Redskins (8-3)
Pennsbury Falcons (8-3)
7. Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (8-2)
8. Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals (7-3)
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