At 11-0-0, the Swartz coached team posts the best record ever by a Redskin team. In the pre-statewide playoff days, the UPI votes Neshaminy number one in the state while Kiski Area outside Pittsburgh gets the nod from the AP while the Saylor Ratings have the Cavaliers at .544 and Neshaminy at .537 which are the two highest in PA that year. Three Redskins are named first team all state (Pete Cordelli, Dale Forchetti and Chuck Lodge) with three 1st team all state selections from one team not only a first for Neshaminy but also a first for any Pennsylvania club. A fourth player, Bruce McHale, earns honorable mention, with the total of four “all-staters” the most ‘Skins in a single season to that year. McHale was also honored as a center in 1970 and then as an “end” in the 1971. He is the first Redskin to be selected all state at two different positions. Cordelli throws an LBC record 24 touchdown passes and Forchetti wins the scoring title as a receiver, a first in Lower Bucks. Forchetti is also the third Redskin to earn scholastic all American recognition.

The team takes the LBC championship, number 18 for the ‘Skins, while also claiming the Big 7 league title and which then consists of Allentown Allen, Allentown Dieruff, Bethlehem Liberty, Bethlehem Freedom, Easton, Pennsbury and Neshaminy. Particularly satisfying during the season was a 33-6 win over Bethlehem which had ruined the previous year with its 22-6 win in Bethlehem. In the season-ender, against a bruising 9-1 Pennsbury team that had dropped a 6-0 game against Bethlehem in the rain, 15,000 fans jammed into Neshaminy’s stadium setting a record for the most fans at a sporting event in Bucks County. The crowd was left breathless as the ‘Skins rallied from a slow start and 10-0 deficit to take the game, 21-17.

Following the ’71 season eleven of its starters, three juniors and eight seniors, will eventually be offered University Division (now D1) scholarships, while six of them will earn all state honors (juniors Joe Sroba, younger brother of Steve, and Mark Strawbridge garner the nod in 1972 when they are seniors). Cordelli goes on to a long coaching career including serving as an assistant coach on Notre Dame’s 1988 national championship team while Lodge plays at NC State and then Villanova. He sees action in several major Bowl games with the Tarheels while later earning all-East honors as a Wildcat. McHale is a member of Penn State’s 1974 Orange Bowl team. Other schools that see Redskins from its ’71 team include Southern Miss, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Yale, Cincinnati and Army.

Mr. Redskin − Bruce McHale
Mr. Back − Pete Cordelli, Jr.
Mr. Lineman − Chuck Lodge
Mr. 3D − Bruce Traney
Unsung Hero − Dave Pyle
Mr. Offense – Dale Forchetti
Mr. Defense – Dan Meier
The Hurst Award – Joe Chamberlain

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Pictured below is Neshaminy's Bruce Traney, MVP of the game (South) who had 151 rushing yards for the night, a record still unbroken.

1972_allstar_game_mvp