Neshaminy’s defense turned in its second shutout in as many games as the Redskins crushed Downingtown West 39-0. Check back for action photos of the game in the Photo Gallery.
By Scott Huff
The Neshaminy players huddled respectfully around head coach Mark Schmidt moments after the Redskins destroyed visiting Downingtown West 39-0 on Friday night at Heartbreak Ridge.
“This was a statement game for us,” said a fired-up Schmidt to his unbeaten team. “And the next two weeks better be personal for you. It should be personal for all of us.”
The bold statement Neshaminy made on this cool night was that the Redskins might not be one of the best teams in the Suburban One National Conference or the entire Suburban One League or in Southeastern Pennsylvania for that matter. Neshaminy may have left its calling card as one of the elite teams in the entire state of Pennsylvania as the Redskins dismantled a Downingtown West team that was being touted as one of the blue-chip teams in the area – and one of the very best teams that the Ches-Mont League has to offer that isn’t named Coatesville.
In fact, the Whippets came into the game on the heels of a 56-14 rout over Cheltenham. And the high-powered no-huddle offense along with the highly regarded defense returned 14 of 22 starters from a season ago. This game with Neshaminy was expected to be a marquee game for the fans of high school football.
This was no marquee game.
Neshaminy punished Downingtown West in all facets of the game – especially on defense as the Redskins flew to the football all evening and flexed its collective muscle to record the shutout. The up-tempo Whippet offense went nowhere fast.
“We were very well prepared by our coaches, and all we had to do was to read their keys and get to the football,” said Neshaminy senior captain Luke Carrezola who wreaked havoc on the West offense all night. “The up-tempo offense really helped us set a tone for the game.”
“We have a defense that wants to make plays,” said Neshaminy senior Denny Lord. “We were able to make some big plays in the second half, and we were able to execute on defense and that helped us make some big plays on offense.”
The Neshaminy offense pounded out 256 rushing yards and added another 88 in the air for 344 yards of total offense as a team. Junior running back D’Andre Pollard was the individual statistical leader with a nifty 138 yards and three rushing touchdowns. Pollard ran behind a punishing offensive line that featured senior Mike Palmer, senior Dan Johnson, senior John Koch, sophomore Hunter Kelly, and senior Matt Wynne.
Neshaminy scored on its second drive of the game to gain a lead it would never relinquish. The Skins moved 80 yards on nine plays and capped the drive with a five-yard scoring pass from senior quarterback Tyler Wombough to sophomore tight end Billy Ritchey. Freshman Dylan McDonald added the placement, and Neshaminy would hold a 7-0 lead at the close of the quarter.
Neshaminy expanded the lead to 14-0 by the close of the first half. The Redskins pieced together a nine-play – 63 yard scoring drive that was capped by a one-yard burst by Lord. Lord set up his own touchdown run with a 30-yard ramble on the previous play – and McDonald added the point after with 1:08 left in the second period.
The game broke open in the third period when the Redskins forced a pair of Whippet fumbles – one recovered by Carrezola and the other by Mason Jones. Pollard took both turnovers to the end zone, one on an 11-yard TD run and the other on a 14-yard TD bolt. Pollard would score his third touchdown of the game – and the third period – with a seven-yard sprint with 0:25 left in the third period.
Neshaminy played its reserves the entire fourth quarter – and the Skins still managed to outscore West 6-0. Freshman Will Dogba was the weapon of choice for the Skins as he ran for 52 yards in the fourth period and scored on a 13-yard run.
Oh yeah – the quote about the next two weeks being personal for both the players and Coach Schmidt.
Last year Souderton defeated the Skins 18-7 in a non-league game, and the following week William Tennent shocked the Skins 20-17 in the SOL National Conference opener. Neshaminy’s next two opponents are Souderton on Thursday and William Tennent the following week. Good luck Indian head coach Ed Gallagher and Panther head coach Bob Rosenberger playing these 2013 Neshaminy Redskins.
“Sure these games are going to be personal – I hate to lose,” smiled Lord. “And we remember what it felt like last year.”
“I really don’t have to say too much to get them ready to play the next two games,” said Schmidt. “We made a statement here tonight, but we have to keep our feet on the ground and stay focused.”
The ultimate prize is in the distance and may be weeks and months away for Neshaminy – but the Skins proved on this night to be a superior team that deserves to be in championship conversations.
Downingtown West Whippets 0 0 0 0 * 0
Neshaminy Redskins 7 7 19 6 * 39
N: Billy Ritchey 5 pass from Tyler Wombough (Dylan McDonald kick)
N: Denny Lord 1 run (McDonald kick)
N: D’Andre Pollard 11 run (McDonald kick)
N: Pollard 14 run (McDonald kick)
N: Pollard 7 run (kick failed)
N: Will Dogba 13 run (no attempt)
Downingtown West Neshaminy
12 First Downs 18
112 Rushing Yards 256
18 Passing Yards 88
130 Total Offense 344
3-32 Punts / Avg 3-36
0-0 Penalties/Yards 12-108
Downingtown West:
Rushing: Nick Pagel 10-57; Mitch Meleski 7-21; Jake Barr 3-20; Jimmy DiSantis 4-17; Mike Riddick 1-6; Colin Domblesky 1-6; Tyler McNulty 1 (minus 2); Thomas Mattioni 1- (minus 5); and Derrick Boyer 1- (minus 8). Totals 29-112.
Passing: McNulty 2-7-1 - 20 yards; Pagel 1-7-0 – (minus 2); Mattioni 0-1-0 – 0 yards. Totals 3-15-1; 18 yards.
Receiving: Domblesky 1-14; DiSantis 1-6; and Meleski 1 (minus 2). Totals 3-18
Interceptions: None.
Neshaminy:
Rushing: D’Andre Pollard 21-138- 3 TD; Will Dogba 7-52 & TD; Denny Lord 5-44 & TD; Blake Sullivan 4-18; Dan Dogba 1-4; Cale Kitchenman 1-3; Hamid Pack 1-(minus 3).
Passing: Tyler Wombough 7-9-0; 80 yards and TD; Mason Jones 1-1-0; 8 yards. Totals 8-10-0, 88 yards and TD.
Receiving: Cole Creighton 4-70; Jack Springier 1-8; Billy Ritchey 1-5 & TD; Denzel Hughes 1-3; and Boniface Stevens 1-2. Totals 8-88 & TD.
Interceptions: Hughes.
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