Neshaminy edged Council Rock South 27-25 in a thriller between the neighboring rivals. Check back to view game action photos.
By Scott Huff
Newtown – In a marvelous game that was decided by the slimmest of margins, it was the little things that mattered most as Neshaminy edged host Council Rock South 27-25 in a thriller at Walt Snyder Stadium.
Redskin senior linebacker Jack Springer made a huge defensive stop on a potential game-tying two-point conversion with just 24.5 seconds left in the fourth quarter to preserve the victory. Springler also blocked an attempt for an extra point and set up a Neshaminy scoring drive in the fourth period with an interception.
“All this game did was to confirm the fact that Council Rock South is a very tough football team,” said Neshaminy head coach Steve Wilmot. “I was worried about our non-conference games with Montclair (NJ), Downingtown West, and Council Rock South. All three are very good teams with a lot of excellent returning players.”
One of those returning excellent players was Golden Hawk senior Brendan Patterson. Patterson gouged the Redskin defense for an eye-catching 240 yards and two touchdowns. Patterson scored on runs of 56 and 63 yards – and also had a run of 75 yards that fell just a single yard shy of a touchdown.
“We know that we can play with anyone,” said a disappointed Patterson. “We just have to have a short memory and get ready for our next game.
“My offensive line played a great game,” added Patterson as CR South pounded the Skin defense for a staggering 290 yards rushing. “They made it easy for me to look good tonight.”
The Neshaminy counterpart to Patterson was electric junior Will Dogba. Dogba registered some very impressive numbers of his own with 163 yards rushing and three touchdowns on an astonishing 36 attempts.
“If the team needs me to run the ball that many times – I’ll run the ball that many times,” said Dogba. “We made some adjustments at halftime with our blocking – and the line did a great job. I have a lot of trust in my offensive line.”
“Will is a tough kid – and let’s say that he isn’t shy,” said Wilmot. “We did make some adjustments at halftime – and it seemed to help.”
Dogba was not the only weapon in the Neshaminy arsenal.
Redskin junior quarterback Mason Jones was very composed in the pocket and completed 13-of-21 passes for 145 yards. His favorite target was junior wide out Zach Tredway, who made some impressive catches in close quarters – and his final totals were nine catches for 96 yards.
The first half was played at an uneven pace with each team scoring a single touchdown.
Neshaminy scored a first period touchdown when freshman Olen Manzyk scooped up an errant South pitchout and scooted seven yards for a touchdown. Senior Dylan McDonald added the extra point.
“Olen is a true freshman who we moved up from our Redskin Youth Camp,” said Wilmot. “He played middle school football in the district – and we knew right away that we could move him up.”
Council Rock South scored its first half touchdown late in the period. Patterson took a pitchout from quarterback Shaun Stackhouse and jetted 56 yard to pay dirt. Brett Gold added the placement to send the game deadlocked 7-7 at the half.
Neshaminy came out in the second half and scored on its first possession to take a 14-7 lead. Dogba carried nine of the ten plays in the scoring drive – accounted for 71 yards in the march – and scored on a two-yard run. McDonald added the PAT.
CR South answered quickly as Patterson took a simple handoff and rambled 63 yards for a touchdown. Springler blocked the PAT – and the chase for that missed extra point would haunt Rock South the entire game.
The Golden Hawks – though – would take their only lead of the game after a defensive stop. Again it was an enormous play by Patterson – a 75-yard run to the one-yard line – that set up the go-ahead score. Michael Stock cashed in from the one-yard line – however, the attempt for the two-point conversion failed and Rock South settled for a 19-14 lead.
Neshaminy regained the lead for good on its next possession.
Jones found Dave Nuckler for a 29-yard gain – and then found Tredway for a 27-yard gain in the scoring drive. Dogba would culminate the scoring drive with a nifty seven-yard touchdown scamper. This time it was the Redskins who failed on a two-point conversion – but Neshaminy held a 20-19 lead.
It appeared the Skins put the game away with a scoring drive late in the fourth period. Dogba capped the drive with a one-yard scoring burst on fourth down – and McDonald’s PAT at the 3:29 mark gave the Skins a 27-19 lead.
CR South was relentless in its comeback effort – and with 24.5 seconds left in the game, Stackhouse completed his only pass of the game – an 11-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Hickey. And with the score 27-25 – and overtime looming – the game was to be finally decided on the failed two-point conversion effort.
In a game that featured a blistering 658 yards of total offense and 39 first downs for both teams – it was a tackle at the one-yard line by Springler that proved to be the game winner.
Neshaminy Redskins 7 0 7 13 – 27
Council Rock South Hawks 0 7 12 6 – 25
N: Olen Manzyk 7 fumble return (Dylan McDonald kick)
CRS: Brendan Patterson 56 run (Brett Gold kick)
N: Will Dogba 2 run (McDonald kick)
CRS: Patterson 63 run (kick blocked)
CRS: Michael Stock 1 run (run failed)
N: Dogba 7 run (pass failed)
N: Dogba 1 run (McDonald kick)
CRS: Kyle Hickey 11 pass from Shaun Stackhouse kick (run failed)
Neshaminy Council Rock South
24 First Downs 15
212 Yards Rushing 290
145 Yards Passing 11
357 Total Offense 301
3-30 Penalties/Yds 4-37
1-1 Punts/Average 2-49
Neshaminy:
Rushing: Will Dogba 36-163-3TD; Mason Jones 7-36; Denzel Hughes 2-16; Hayden Rooney 2-7. Totals 47-212-3TD.
Passing: Jones 13-21-0, 145 yards.
Receiving: Zach Tredway 7-96; Hughes 3-8; Dave Nuckler 1-29; Jack Springler 1-12; and Cory Joyce 1-0. Totals 13-145.
Interceptions: Springler.
Council Rock South:
Rushing: Brendan Patterson 11-240-2 TD; Shaun Stackhouse 16-20; Michael Stock 3-18 & TD; Kyle Hickey 5-17; Eilas Mayo 3-0; and Brandon Broe 1 (minus 5). Totals 39-290-3 TD.
Passing: Stackhouse 1-4-1, 11 yards.
Receiving: Hickey 1-11 & TD.
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