In addition to the SOL Featured Game pitting Upper Dublin against Cheltenham, SuburbanOneSports.com also will be covering Friday night’s Abington/Neshaminy game. The game will be broadcast live at 7 p.m. on the web site www.WBCB1490.com.
NESHAMINY at ABINGTON
Friday, Sept. 23, 7 p.m., Schwartzman Stadium
Broadcast live on www.WBCB1490.com
2011 record: Abington 3-0, Neshaminy 3-0
2010 record: Abington 6-1 SOL National Conference tri-champs (10-3 overall), Neshaminy 6-1 SOL National Conference tri-champs (11-2 overall)
Last week: Abington 38, Souderton 17; Neshaminy 35, Central Bucks East 12
Last year: Neshaminy 35, Abington 21 on Nov. 19, 2010, in a second round district playoff game; Neshaminy 28, Abington 10 in the SOL opener for both teams on Sept. 24, 2010
ABINGTON
Coach Tim Sorber’s keys to the game: “The key to beating Neshaminy is that you don’t beat yourself – you can’t beat yourself with penalties and turnovers because they are too good of a team, too disciplined a team to make the kind of mistakes we have been making with penalties and turnovers.
“I don’t think we have played to our potential yet. We’re getting big plays from kids like (Ray) Schreiner, (Ken) Croper and (Josh) Lee), and to be honest, that’s to be expected. What we’re going to need when we get into Suburban One National play is somebody else on the offensive side of the ball to take the pressure off those three kids I mentioned. You know Neshaminy is going to be keying on Schreiner, Lee and our QB, and we’re going to need somebody else to step up and carry the load a little bit in order for us to be successful. ”
Players to watch:
Ray Schreiner – “We expect big things from him. The thing I’m impressed with him so far, especially in the PW game – we needed a big play from him, and he made a great catch on a long ball that kind of sealed the victory. Against Souderton, he obviously came up with some good plays. He’s a good football player, and he does a lot of things well.”
Myles Grasty – “Myles played extremely well (against Souderton at linebacker) and made plays sideline to sideline. The one thing he does very well also besides making tackles and plays is he gets our defensive line in the correct positions, which is very key and important. We expect that kind of continued effort from him the rest of the season.”
James Heiler - “He’s a kid who’s playing well but is kind of overlooked. He’s a junior, but he’s a first-year starter at outside linebacker, and he’s getting better every week.”
Chris Ruhl – “He’s been playing very well for us at tight end. Chris really is getting better every week, but what’s impressed the coaches and me is his leadership. He’s really turned into a great leader the kids respect tremendously. He wants to win. He’s not satisfied without the effort from himself and from the other players.”
Brian Osei – “Osei is playing well on the defensive side of the ball. He’s extremely disruptive and does a lot of things. He’s starting to get a little bit better on the offensive side of the ball, and if we’re going to be successful as a team, we’re going to need him to be a little bit more consistent on the offensive side of the ball, which I think he will because he works hard. Defensively, he’s a kid you have to account for and game plan. “
Rob Phillips – “He’s playing well at defensive end. We moved him from outside linebacker to defensive end. He has a fumble return for a touchdown, and he has three sacks. He’s one of those kids that is undersized for a defensive end, but he makes up for it because he has such a high motor. You talk about kids that love playing the game. You can see it at practice during the mundane drills – he really loves to play the game of football, and he has a very infectious attitude. He’s a very positive, upbeat guy that is trying to get the kids hyped and focused. Not only is he a leader through the words, he’s definitely backing it up on the field.”
Chris Duffy – “Chris is really a multi-purpose kid. There are a lot of positions we can put him out there, and he makes plays and does a lot of good things. Chris is a very good football player. He’s been playing the game for a long time, and he understands the game very well. We’re fortunate to have that type of versatile kid.”
Coach Tim Sorber says: “Obviously, we know Neshaminy very well. In the last two years, we have played them four times – two in the regular season and two in the playoffs, and unfortunately, we have lost three of the four times. You could say maybe they have our number. In the last four or five years, we have won only one or two times, and I think that kind of wears on our kids’ minds – this is a team if we’re really going to be classified a good team, we have to overcome this obstacle and beat Neshaminy because in the 1950’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and the 21st century, they have been one of the top programs in this area, if not the state. Obviously, Mark Schmidt having a state championship ring – he and his staff coach their kids well.
“The games we have had with Neshaminy have been really physical football games, and to be honest with you – I think Mark would say the same thing, they’ve been hard fought, but they’ve been clean football games. It’s two programs that really respect one another, and I think it shows on the field. Again, we’re going to expect another great football game. I think the fact that both teams are 3-0 and it’s early in the conference adds a little bit more to the mix, and it’s our first game in the National Conference. I’m going to be excited. I know the kids are going to be excited, but again, we have to play better in all three aspects. We can’t make the mistakes we made in our last three games. We’ve been very fortunate to win those games and not let those mistakes lead to losses.
“I really think we haven’t played our best football. In the past, we get better as the season gets on, and we hope history repeats itself in that way. Defensively, we have had some very consistent efforts the last three weeks.”
NESHAMINY
Coach Mark Schmidt’s keys to the game: “We have to try and limit the big plays. They run their offense full throttle with their foot on the gas pedal. They have a couple of guys that really can create some very big plays. Their quarterback (Ken Cropper) is very efficient, and obviously, (Ryan) Schreiner and number eight (Josh Lee) – you focus on them, and their tight end (Chris Ruhl) is a big target. We really just have to try and keep them from hitting the home run. Their line is doing a good job of blocking. We can’t let them play on our half of the field. We want to do the best we can with the field situation with our special teams and kicking. It’s one of the games that we’re emphasizing to everyone that it will take a team effort.”
Players to watch:
Bobby Marterella – “He’s done a great job on both sides of the ball at wide receiver and cornerback. He’s playing well.”
Ronny Smith – “He’s doing a really nice job on special teams.”
Sean Ulmer – “He is starting to run the ball a little better.”
Justin Andrews – “Justin is a guy who’s very dangerous. He’s a little bit of a decoy sometimes.”
Kiser Terry – “He has been playing very well on defense.”
Cole Creighton – “Cole is a sophomore free safety who’s playing super.”
Joe Bianchino – “Joe is starting to step up at quarterback and hopefully taking strides in the right direction.”
Coach Mark Schmidt says: “When you get to week four, you can’t be young any more. Everyone has to be a veteran. Quite frankly, we really just have inexperienced guys, and against Souderton in our first game, we were able to survive the first half and come back and settle down a little bit. Against Hatboro with its option offense, we had numerous chances during the game to break things open. We didn’t, but we didn’t panic. Last week, we got off offensively okay, but they had that long pass against us, and they were doing a nice job of moving the ball around. We got opportunities – we blocked a punt and scored a defensive touchdown. We had a touchdown called back again, but we kept our composure, which is commendable.
“When you play a team like Abington, they can take it to the house on any play, so we just have to take advantage of opportunities, and that’s the one thing we’re not doing. Our defense is bending but not breaking. Offensively, we have to get better. We’re going to have to get better in all aspects. We have to protect better, we have to connect on those short passes and hopefully stay solid on special teams. When you play against a good team like this one, you just can’t let them break one. You can’t give them a short field. That’s not going to work. Tim Sorber and his staff have done a great job of getting their guys ready. They’re playing with a lot of energy. That quarterback is just the guy they needed to get that offense squared away. They feel like when the ball is snapped they’ve got a shot every time.”
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