Defense steps up as Neshaminy holds off Pennridge for win
LANGHORNE, PA. >> No matter how many times it was thrust into a precarious situation, the defense just kept stepping up.
That was arguably the most positive development for the Neshaminy football team as it held off Pennridge, 21-7, Friday night in its home opener at Harry E. Franks Stadium.
The visiting Rams had the ball in Redskins territory five times — twice from a turnover — and scored on just one of those possessions.
Their only points came late in the third quarter when Neshaminy’s only defensive breakdown led to a 71-yard pass from Bobby Croyle to Elias Dantzler, and three plays later Jack Ferguson rushed for a 1-yard touchdown.
Neshaminy still maintained a 21-7 lead, but Pennridge had a legitimate shot to rally after it then recovered a fumble on a strip sack at Neshaminy’s 31-yard line. The Redskins, though, had other ideas as they forced a turnover on downs.
Ultimately with 6:09 remaining in the fourth quarter, defensive back Gavin O’Connor sealed the deal with an interception at the 15line yard. The sophomore quickly changed directly to make the play over the middle of the field.
Neshaminy’s pass rush was relentless all night, highlighted in the second quarter when defensive linemen Zack Magdelinskas and Tedo Sakhokia chased down Croyle outside the pocket and forced a fumble that was recovered by Dawson Obringer.
It was an important step for Neshaminy’s rebuilt defense coming off last week’s season opener at North Penn where it yielded 55 points.
Meanwhile, the offense produced in the first half despite committing a bevy of penalties in the second half.
Quarterback Brody McAndrew finished 12-of-20 for 163 passing yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Wide receiver Ian Sheehan hauled in nine receptions for 112 yards with a touchdown, and running back Chris James dominated the first two quarters with eight carries for 103 yards and a touchdown.
Neshaminy set the tone early as it drove 72 yards on eight plays after the opening kickoff. McAndrew bounced back from a 5-yard loss on a scramble by coming back the very next play with a 31-yard touchdown throw to Obringer on third-and-13.
McAndrew showed his senior instincts by extending plays throughout the night and showing strong command of the Redskins’ spread offense with good decision-making on bubble screens.
Pennridge, which topped Delaware Valley in its season opener, 13-0, did itself no favors by committing holding penalties at the start of its first two possessions. The Rams gained 30 yards on 23 plays in the first half, which doesn’t include all the negative yards from penalties.
Neshaminy’s defense contained several Pennridge ball carriers and forced Croyle into ill-advised deep throws.
Croyle’s fumble at Neshaminy’s 25-yard line with 1:27 left in the first half went unpunished, however, as the Redskins had poor clock management. With the ball on the 10-yard line, McAndrew took a sack and the clock expired.
That mattered little in the grand scheme as Neshaminy generated all 21 of its points in the first 21 minutes.
James electrified the crowd with a 70-yard touchdown run on the first play of Neshaminy’s drive with 5:31 left in the first. And then after Northridge’s first drive into Neshaminy territory resulted in a turnover on downs when Sakhokia batted down a pass at the line of scrimmage, the Redskins had their longest drive (10 plays, 86 yards) capped off by McAndrew finding Sheehan in the corner of the end zone.
Neshaminy will host Downington West next Friday night.