Neshaminy stunned by William Tennent
There was no contoversial call by the referees, no postgame discussion by the RIfiFLDOs DQG WhH rHIs GLGQ’W have to bring the teams EDFN RuW RQ WhH fiHOG WR NLFN the extra point.
William Tennent senior quarterback Joe Lutz made sure of it, connecting with receiver Jimmy Lewicki on an 18-yard touchdown pass with 1.6 seconds left on the clock. Lutz hit Lewicki DW WhH fivH DQG WhH 3DQWhHr wideout would not be denied, dragging a Redskin defender into the end zone.
The Neshaminy faithful who made the trek to Claude Lodge cield to see the game in Warminster wDs sWuQQHG. 7hH 3DQWhHrs hDGQ’W EHDWHQ WhH ‘6NLQs LQ 21 years and Neshaminy enWHrHG WhH 6HpW. 21 GuHO wLWh a 37-7 record in the series.
2Q WhH BOuH & 5HG’s schedule since 1945, the 3DQWhHrs DrH wHOO NQRwQ in Langhorne. Always tough and competitive, the 6FhmLGWmHQ NQRw QRW WR take anything for granted whHQ LW’s WLOOLDm 7HQQHQW huddled across the line. With every game counting toward the National League championship, this one stung.
After winning the toss, Neshaminy elected to keep it on the ground. nuarterback Hugh Hart directed his WrRRps GRwQ WhH fiHOG wLWh Nate Hall chewing up some big yardage. Running into a snag in close, that open- ing effort ended in a Nick 7uFFL fiHOG JRDO Ds hH GrLOOHG one from the 22-yard stripe Ds WhH 6NLQs WRRN D 3-pRLQW lead.
WLWh WhH 3DQWhHrs’ IROORwing drive ending on a Cole Creighton interception of a Tennent aerial, Neshaminy was back in business inside WhH HQHmy’s 50. BDQJLQJ around a bit, it was Hart ripping off on a nice run to highlight a quick drive that ended with Blake “The BLJ BuOO” 6uOOLvDQ WDNLQJ LW across the goal line from the two. With Tucci hitting the 3A7, WhH 6NLQs wHrH RQ WRp, 10-0.
WLWh DQRWhHr 3DQWhHr drive coming up short, Neshaminy had the ball back after a short punt. Then heading right down the fiHOG, LW wDs RQOy D IumEOH Ey D 5HGsNLQs’ EDFN WhDW stopped the drive just short of another score for the 6NLQs.
Holding the hosts to a three-and-out, the ball was back to Neshaminy in a hHDrWEHDW. 6WDrWLQJ DW mLGfiHOG, WhH 6NLQs GrRvH GRwQ WR WhH 20 EHIRrH WurQLQJ WhH ball over on downs.
With less than two minuWHs rHmDLQLQJ LQ WhH firsWhDOI, WhH 3DQWhHrs wHrH not done, though, as they FREEOHG WRJHWhHr DQ 80-yDrG drive to score just before the hDOI. 7hH 3A7 EORFNHG Ey DRQ 3DORmErD DQG 7rRNRQ Buesmaill, the teams went into the locker room with WhH sFRrH, 10-6, IDvRr: 1Hshaminy.
Back out to start the second half, it was William Tennent receiving the
kickoff. With the ‘Skins’ defense stiffening, the Panthers soon punted and it was Neshaminy with the ball. Returning the favor, Tennent refused to allow the Skins much offense and that set the tone for the third-quarter as the two teams traded punches with no decisive blows landed.
Once again coming alive on a late drive, it was the Panthers that showed some life as the quarter ended.
:LWh WhH finDO SHrLRd underway, Tennent opened wLWh D firsW-Dnd-gRDO DW WhH one-yard line after a clutch fourth-down catch to keep its effort working. A pass play took it across as Tennent went up 13-10 following the PAT.
Beginning an important drive, Hart had his troops PRYLng dRwnfiHOd wLWh Devon Brown making a nice run that had the ball at the Panthers’ 18 yard line. But Neshaminy came away without any points as the drive stalled and a Tucci fiHOd gRDO DWWHPSW PLssHd from that spot.
Seeing time winding down, the ‘Skins defense held Tennent to a threeand-out and after the punt, the offense took over at its 43 with 2:43 remaining. Nate Hall started it up with a six-yard jaunt followed by Hart’s pass to Denny Lord, who picked up 25 big yards to the Panthers 29.
0LssLng Rn WhH firsW WwR, on third down, it was Hart findLng HDOO whR WRRN LW WR WhH 11 IRr D firsW dRwn. crom there, it was Hart findLng LRrd, whR sSun out of one tackle and then dragged another defender into the end zone. Tucci hit the PAT and it was Neshaminy back on top, 17- 13.
Booting the ball to Tennent, the Panthers’ offense came out swinging and found some serious ground before going to a fourthand-10 at the Neshaminy 32 with 20 seconds on the clock. Almost sacked, Lutz HsFDSHd WR WhH 18 IRr D firsW down. And with less than fiYH WLFNs OHIW, hH IRund LHwicki on a slant to the left. The PAT was good and the score went to 20-17 for the Warminster squad.
With the win, the Panthers move to 2-2, 1-0 in the SONL. The Skins, fall to 2-2, 0-1 in the SONL.
crom here, Neshaminy visits Truman where they’ll take on the Tigers who are coming off a loss to Pennsbury.