FINAL: Knights advance as NP tops Neshaminy.

[PA2CAMoleskinner]

Underway with NP winning the toss but deferring. The Knights tried an onsides or short kick but 'Skins recovered in a good spot around mid-field. The 'Skins picked up a first and then stalled. Jack Spingler had a great punt putting NP inside their five. On the first try from there the ball came loose and Neshaminy fell on it.

From there it was four straight shots and the Redskins were stopped short as NP then took over at the one.

We don't like that.

NP picked up a first or two and stalled. Forced to punt 'Skins take over once again near mid-field. It's the third time they have the ball at a nice spot and they go three and out and have to punt again. Spingler nails it and it's downed at the Knights' one-yard line with under two minutes on the first-quarter clock. Then Boom Mr. West busts one to Neshaminy's thirty on a 70 plus yard jaunt. Another NP run puts them around the 20 yard line and the first-quarter ends.

 

[PA2CAMoleskinner]

With NP knocking on the door Neshaminy forces another fumble and the Knights see their drive end inside the red zone. But failing to capitalize for the fourth time they go three-and-out and Neshaminy is punting again. Spingler nails it but the NP runner takes a chance and returns it to the twenty -- deja vu.

The Knights get clever and take it to the 5 yard stripe in a hurry for a first. Two tries then have it at the one before NP takes it across and grabs a 7-0 lead with six minutes on the second-quarter clock.

After the kick Neshaminy had a good spot but their offense is sputtering. Spingler's punt puts Knights inside their red zone with under five minutes on the clock.

'Skins offense is going nowhere and Spingler's kicks have kept them out of trouble with two turnovers by Knights also saving Langhorne.

NP put together a little movement to get across mid-field but started getting sideways as they went to a 3rd-and-long before a nice pass saved them as the clock went under a minute. Still pitching the Knights completed a pressure pass inside the red zone with thirty seconds showing before a Knight run up the middle is good for a score to make it 14-0 NP just before the half.

Following the kickoff Neshaminy had a nice spot again and then got it down to NP's 20 yard line with six seconds on the clock. Dylan McDonald then came in for the field goal try but missed as the clock expired.

 

[Fletchster1]

Maybe they need to throw to the TE?

 

[shfoot]

Hey PA, how do you revise the title?

 

[PA2CAMoleskinner]

Sorry - my numbers aren't working -- it's stupid.

The third-quarter is underway. NP took the kick and after some penalties that hurt them they're looking at a second and long from their own red zone before a nice pass makes it third and short. Then an NP pass connects for the first down but a three-and-out follows with Denzel Hughes making a try on the punt return although he gets tripped up at Neshaminy's 35. The 'Skins need to get it going with just 7 minutes showing on the third-quarter clock and sensing that need they pushed it inside the red zone before they got bunched up as they lost 10 yards on the first two tries. A big pass to get it back made it 4th-and-two at the 7 yard line where they went for it as Mason Jones hit the tight end, Billy "The Beast" Ritchey, for the score. McDonald nailed the PAT and the scoreboard tightened to 14-7 with three minutes remaining in the third.

After the short Neshaminy kickoff NP then started at their thirty-five and in short order Mr. West took it home as the Knights opened it to 21-7.

Following the kickoff Neshaminy had a nice return and spot. Looking for points Jones immediately went deep to Denzel Hughes who grabbed it at the NP 30. Dogba added six on two efforts to bring up 3rd-and-short which saw Jones' pass to Tredway knocked away. On 4th down the 'Skins had to go but Jones was sacked to end that effort with the ball going back to the Knights at their thirty-five. NP then quickly moved it across mid-field as the clock hit zero and the teams changed sides for the fourth-quarter.

 

[PA2CAMoleskinner]

NP started the last session with a nice run that was then helped by a 'Skins personal foul that put the ball at Neshaminy's 10. One run later and it went to 28-7 on the NP TD.

After another nice kickoff return Jones found Tredway on back-to-back aerials to get it in close with some help from a NP personal foul. But stalling at the 20 a fourth down came up and the 'Skins had to go for it as Jones went up top; however, a Knight got a hand on the pass and the ball fell flat.

NP then took over at their twenty with under eight minutes to play. Two runs moved it near mid-field as West then soon had it to just inside Neshaminy's 10 yard line. At that point Eddie Parry drilled West in the backfield to show Langhorne hadn't quit with an NP pass to the endzone missing to bring up a third and a long ten as the Knights called a TO with under five minutes on the clock.

Ready to go NP through a pass was good to the 5 with a defensive holding call making it third-and-five. Looking set to go in it was Hughes making a pick in the endzone to kill that effort. Bringing it out to the twenty Neshaminy then had the ball with just under five minutes in the game.

Neshaminy couldn't convert, though, and Spingler punted to mid-field where it was fair caught. NP then went to fourth and short but couldn't convert so Neshaminy took over with two seconds showing. The 'Skins tossed it deep with a Knight picking it off to end the game.

There you have it. And good luck to North Penn -- show La Salle what the SOL is all about!

Then thank you to the Neshaminy players and the coaching staff too - especially first year head man Steve Wilmot - for working hard and playing tough all season. Can't wait until 2016.

 

[Fletchster1]

Great season, Skins!

 

[ChesmontLeague1]

Nice turnaround for Neshaminy from the slow start to the season. I read the Knights had 333 on the ground with West leading the way. Besides West being a beast on the ground I thought the offensive playbook is another key ingredient to the long playoff success. They always keeps the opposing defense guessing which has neutralized some of the best defenses. No disrespect to Upper Dublin but the Knights are gonna be hard to unseat.

 

[reluctant_to_comment]

Not sure UD has played the likes of NP this season. Might be interesting enough to make the trip out to Souderton.