Souderton’s defense did not allow a point until late in Friday night’s 18-7 win over Neshaminy at Heartbreak Ridge. To read Tom Waring’s complete game story, please click on the following PhillyBurbs.com link:
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By Mary Jane Souder
LANGHORNE –The stands at Heartbreak Ridge were completely deserted as Jarrett Reinhard and several of his Souderton teammates left the stadium and began the trek to their waiting bus after Friday night’s battle against Neshaminy.
In his hand, Reinhard – better known as ‘Ratso’ to his teammates – clutched a small piece of the stadium’s turf, an appropriate souvenir of a magical night for the Indians.
Souderton did what few teams have done in recent years when the Indians defeated the Redskins 18-7, becoming just the third team in the last five years to leave Heartbreak Ridge a winner.
“We were ready for them,” said Connor Newlin, a senior captain who anchored both lines at tackle. “The coaches really fired us up. We knew what was coming, we knew what we had to get done.
“We had to show them that we were Souderton, and we play smash-mouth football. We take it to them.”
The Indians took it to the Redskins on both sides of the ball. Take away the Redskins’ opening possession and a late touchdown drive on their final possession, and the Indians’ defense limited the Redskins to just 122 yards of total offense.
“What a great team effort,” Souderton coach Ed Gallagher said. “I’m just thrilled that all these kids came together, and they all contributed.”
Coming into Friday night’s contest, Neshaminy had outscored its two opponents by a combined 66-0 score. It didn’t take long for the Indians to establish that things would be different this time around.
Just three plays after Redskin quarterback Hugh Hart burned the Indians’ defense for a 53-yard run, senior Tyler McKeon picked off a Hart pass, giving the Indians possession on their own 11-yard line.
“That was huge,” senior running back/defensive back Dan Knight said of the interception. “It was a momentum shifter, and that just got the whole team fired up. It gave us energy to drive for the score.”
“Defense wins championships,” added Reinhard, who had big plays at both outside linebacker and fullback. “I really like how we came out at the beginning of the game because the coaches thought we didn’t have the greatest week at practice.”
The Indians might not have had the greatest week of practice, but it certainly didn’t take them long to find their stride in Friday’s game. Senior running back Anthony Williams, who has been hampered by a sprained ankle, bolted through the line and raced for 79 yards and a first down on the Redskins’ 10-yard line. One play later, Williams took it in from nine yards out, and the Indians led 6-0.
“The coaches told us they might be thinking they were all great and everything because they were 2-0 and hadn’t given up a touchdown,” Knight said. “For us to come out on the first drive and score a touchdown – that’s what it’s all about.”
Williams finished the night with 163 yards and two touchdowns on just seven carries.
“I want to start with (Anthony’s) heart because he’s been banged up the whole season,” Reinhard said. “He just came out and sparked it for us, and I really appreciate Anthony.”
Later in the half, Williams scored on a 56-yard run to make it a 12-0 game.
“Watching him book it into the end zone gives me new life,” Newlin said.
The Indians opened up an 18-0 halftime lead after Reinhard ran it in from 21 yards out.
Justin Andrews hauled in a 23-yard scoring pass from Hart to make it an 18-7 game, but it was too little too late as the Indians left Heartbreak Ridge with the big win.
“It’s just great to come play on the field my dad played on when he was younger and to beat the team everybody talks about,” said Knight, whose mother and father are both Neshaminy grads. “Just the fact that it’s called Heartbreak Ridge – it’s great”
“It’s just a great facility,” Newlin added. “We feel a lot of energy when we come here – we used it, we took advantage of it, and we were ready to play today.”
As a result of the win, Souderton enters SOL play with a 2-1 record.
“It was crucial,” Newlin said. “I really think this is going to be the turning point of our season. This is the momentum we need, this was the big game we needed. We’re going to take this momentum and carry it into the rest of the season.”
“Going into our league 2-1 is a big difference than 1-2,” Knight added. “It gives us that much more confidence.”
“This was our last non-league game,” Reinhard said. “Going into our league games, this is a big, big help. To beat a great Neshaminy team – they’re always good, every year.”
The win avenged the Indians’ devastating loss to the Redskins in last year’s season opener that saw them open up a 13-6 halftime lead only to fall 20-13.
“Every time we played them was close,” Knight said. “Like coach said – we did everything but beat them.”
The Indians took care of that little matter on a picture perfect September night, earning their first win over the Redskins in four years.
*Stats for Friday night’s game were provided courtesy of www.PhillyBurbs.com.
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