A special season ended for the Neshaminy football team on Saturday when the ‘Skins fell to St. Joe’s Prep 37-21 in a state semifinal game. To view photos of all the action, please visit the Photo Gallery.
By Scott Huff
Philadelphia - It’s All Over.
The Neshaminy football season came to a heartbreaking halt as the District One champion Redskins (13-2) were defeated by District 12 champion St. Joseph’s Prep 37-21 in the PIAA Quad-A Eastern Regional final. The game was played before a sizeable crowd on a bone-chilling day at Charles Martin Stadium in Northeast Philadelphia.
It will be the Hawk fans that will make plans to visit Hershey next week, as SJP will face Pittsburgh Central Catholic for the state title at Hersheypark Stadium. Pittsburgh Central Catholic pummeled Lower Dauphin 45-0 in its Western Regional Final.
“This is without question the best group of young men that I have ever coached,” said Neshaminy head coach Mark Schmidt who completed his 19th season as head coach of the Redskins. “It might not be the most talented team that I have coached, but the best group of young men. There was never any drama on this team, and even though we lost today, we showed who we are.”
There was no better example of the grit that was to become the hallmark of this 2013 Neshaminy football team than a turning point play that would have crushed most teams.
St. Joe Prep had built a 19-14 halftime lead and Neshaminy received the second half kickoff. The Skins put together an impressive 10-play drive that covered 74 yards and gave NHS a first and goal from the 4-yard line. Neshaminy was just a set of downs and four yards away from taking the lead when punishing senior fullback Denny Lord gave a tremendous second effort but was separated from the football.
SJP sophomore Shawn Harris scooped up the football and jetted 95 yards for a touchdown that transformed a possible 21-19 Neshaminy lead into a 25-14 Prep advantage.
“The team really could have been deflated after that, but we don’t play like that,” said Schmidt. “I was so proud of the way that we came back from that play, and so proud of the way that Denny Lord came back from that play.”
On the first play of the fourth period, Neshaminy was faced with a fourth-and-two on the Prep 45-yard line. Lord took the handoff – broke numerous tackles – and rambled those 45 yards for a touchdown. Dylan McDonald’s point after touchdown closed the score to 25-21.
“I knew that after I fumbled the ball, I had to keep myself ready to make a play later in the game,” said Lord. “That’s the type of team that we have been all year.”
Neshaminy would get no closer – mainly because of the talented right arm of Prep senior quarterback Chris Martin. Martin would finish the night with 244 yards passing on 12 completions with 2 touchdowns.
“You are going to see that kid playing (college) football on television Saturday afternoons next year,” said Schmidt. “He threw one touchdown pass right down the chimney. He has a great arm.”
Martin threw a touchdown pass on the very first play of the game when he connected with Jawan McAllister for a 67-yard scoring strike.
Neshaminy answered with a touchdown drive. Junior running back D’Andre Pollard –who rushed for a game-high 142 yards – capped off a scoring drive with a 16-yard burst. Pollard set up the drive with his longest run of the day – a 30-yard dash.
SJ Prep took the lead for good with a scoring drive in the first period. Olimade Zaccheaus – who rushed for a team-high 68 yards – scored on a 32-yard scamper.
Neshaminy would close to within 19-14 by the close of the first half when Lord – who rushed for 107 yards - scored his first touchdown on a 9-yard blast. The drive culminated a 10-play, 73-yard scoring drive.
“The seniors on this team showed great leadership, whether they were on the scout team or playing both ways,” said Schmidt. “Alex Nicholas has a heart bigger than he is.”
If that is true, Nicholas’ heart must be in the neighborhood of 5-foot, 6-inches and 180 pounds.
“Losing is a big disappointment, we really had the dream of going to Hershey to play for a state championship,” said Nicholas who excelled on the defensive end of the ball all season. “We knew going into the season that we had a good team, and we almost did what we set out to do. We worked really hard to be the best we could be.”
And that would be to be one of the final four Quad-A teams playing in the state of Pennsylvania.
But now, It’s All Over.
Neshaminy Redskins 7 7 0 7 - 21
St. Joe Prep Hawks 13 6 6 12 - 37
SJP: Jawan McAllister 67 pass from Chris Martin (kick failed)
N: D’Andre Pollard 16 run (Dylan McDonald kick)
SJP: Olimade Zaccheaus 32 run (Pat Walsh kick)
SJP: Vince Moffett 2 run (pass failed)
N: Denny Lord 9 run (McDonald kick)
SJP: Shawn Harris 95 fumble recovery (kick failed)
N: Lord 45 run (McDonald kick)
SJP: Martin 7 run (pass failed)
SJP: Justin Montague 18 pass from Martin (kick failed)
Neshaminy Redskins St. Joe Prep Hawks
12 First Downs 17
248 Yards Rushing 139
9 Yards Passing 244
257 Total Offense 383
3-25 Penalties / Yards 7-45
4-41 Punts / Average 3-31
Neshaminy:
Rushing: D’Andre Pollard 26-142-TD; Denny Lord 9-107-2 TD; Blake Sullivan 3-12; Team 1-(minus 13). Totals 39 248-3 TD.
Passing: Tyler Wombough 3-9-0; 9 yards; Denny Lord 0-2-1; 0 yards. Totals 3-11-1, 9 yards.
Receiving: Hamiid Pack 2-7; Luke Carrezola 1-2. Totals 3-9.
Interceptions: Bonafice Stevens.
St. Joe Prep:
Rushing: Olimade Zaccheaus 8-68-TD; Vince Moffett 7-30-TD; D’Andre Swift 8-23; John Reid 1-13; Chris Martin 7-5-TD.
Totals 31-139-3 TD.
Passing: Chris Martin 12-20-1; 244 yards – 2 TD.
Receiving: D’Andre Swift 4-26; Jawan McAllister 2-78-TD; John Reid 2-65; Olimade Zaccheaus 2-54; Justin Montague 1-18 TD; Vince Moffett 1-3. Totals 12-244-2 TD.
Interceptions: John Reid.
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