1972 Season Recap

The pre-season looks bright but then opens with an upset loss to Bishop Egan, 18-7. The team follows up by getting back on track and ripping off nine straight before meeting a 10-0 Pennsbury in Fairless Hills in what is billed as “Super Bowl II” (along the way running back Sroba is featured in Sports Illustrated’s “Faces in The Crowd” when he scores 38 against Easton). And once again nothing else seems to matter as all eyes are on the game against the Falcons when the teams meet. In a see-saw battle, the ‘Skins are down 23-21 with under a minute to go in the fourth. Driving for the win, Neshaminy is inside the Falcon 20, and setting up for a chip shot field goal by future NFL All Pro, Matt Bahr, when quarterback Bob Grupp throws to Sroba across the middle. Drilled by Pennsbury’s Ron Dudala just as he grabs it, the ball comes loose and is fallen on by a Pennsbury player. The argument between the refs of whether it was an incomplete pass or fumble goes to Pennsbury and the team ends the year at 9-2.

Sroba goes on to star at the University of Virginia while Grupp does the same at Duke before he is drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs where he serves as their punter during the late 1970s. He also plays in the 1980 pro bowl. Bahr played 17 seasons in the NFL and appeared in multiple Super Bowls. Fullback Lenny Barker was a two sport star, playing baseball for Neshaminy in addition to football. He is drafted by the Texas Rangers and will play in the majors for 11 years. In 1981 he throws a perfect game for the Cleveland Indians becoming one of just 23 players to so do. With the win he joins another former Redskin, Bill McCahan, in an exclusive major league group of special pitchers. Admittedly, Barker’s club is somewhat smaller as McCahan’s 1947 no hitter has been matched by 237 other major leaguers. Swartz retires after the season with a 43-11-1 record in his five years as the head man (he is replaced by Allison). Swartz had been a coach at Neshaminy for 18 years.

1972team_001

1972 Neshaminy Redskins

Links

Your guide to everything 1972 Neshaminy Redskins!

Click on the links below to explore.

Coaches Roster
Team Seniors
Band Cheer

Schedule

Season Quick View

All game articles and video are at bottom of page - make sure to check them out!

Game programs available here

DateDayOpponent:H/ATimeN.H.S.Opp.Ties
Sep. 8FridayBishop EganHome7:30pm718
Sep. 15FridayPennridgeHome7:30pm2514
Sep.23SaturdayEastonAway7:30pm5514
Sep. 29FridayWilliam AllenHome7:30pm200
Oct. 6FridayLouis E. DieruffHome7:30pm286
Oct. 13FridayLibertyAway7:30pm340
Oct. 20FridayBensalemHome7:30pm530
Oct.28SaturdayWoodrow WilsonHome1:30pm349
Nov. 4SaturdayFreedomAway7:30pm206
Nov. 11SaturdayCouncil RockAway1:30pm348
Nov. 18SaturdayPennsburyAway1:30pm2123
Points33198
Pts Avg30.09 8.91
Record920
* Homecoming **Senior Night

Great Moments

2006 – Edition 1 – (1972) The Redskins beat Pennridge with a 3-TD’s in 4 minutes blitz.
2010 – Edition 2 – (1972) Joe Sroba scores 38 versus Easton!

Redskin Awards

Mr. Redskin − Joe Sroba
Mr. Back − Bob Grupp
Mr. Lineman − Mark Strawbridge
Mr. 3D − Bob Miller
Unsung Hero − Steve Gale
Mr. Offense − Ben Watson
Mr. Defense − Bart Smith

Big 7 All Star Selections

TeamO/DPosNameGr
1stOESteve Gale12
1stOTGerry Cognito12
1stOGHarry Cook12
1stOQBBob Grupp12
1stORBJoe Sroba12
1stDEJack Wills11
1stDTMark Strawbridge12
2ndOTBen Watson12
2ndORBMark Donahue12
2ndDLBEllia Conner12
2ndDLBBob Miller12
2ndDSSteve Gale12
2ndDSBart Smith12

Courier Times All Area

TeamO/DPosNameGr
1stOESteve Gale12
1stOTBen Watson12
1stOGHarry Cook12
1stOQBBob Grupp12
1stORBJoe Sroba12
1stDILMark Strawbridge12
1stDDBBart Smith12
2ndDEJack Wills12
2ndDLBBob Miller12

All-Lower Bucks Section One

TeamO/DPosNameGr
1stOESteve Gale12
1stOTBen Watson12
1stOGHarry Cook12
1stOQBBob Grupp12
1stDEJack Wills12
1stDILMark Strawbridge12
1stDLBBob Miller12
1stDDBBart Smith12
2ndORBMark Donahue12
2ndOKMatt Bahr11
2ndDILMike Hayes11
2ndDLBFrank Conger12
2ndDDBSteve Gale12
3rdOTJerry Coniglio12
3rdDEBob Fox12
3rdDLBEllis Connor12
HMOETim O'Brien12
HMOGPat Romett11
HMOCMark Stevenson12
HMORBLen Barker12
HMDDBDon Dripps12

Bulettin All Suburban Selections

TeamO/DPosNameGr
1stOHBJoe Sroba12
1stDTMark Strawbridge12
HMOTBen Watson12
HMOQBBob Grupp12
HMDBBart Smith12

Hurst Award

Hurst Award

Hurst Award

1972 Senior 83 Steve Gale

1972 Senior 83 Steve Gale

College Players

Bob Grupp

Class of 1973 Bob Grupp

Class of 1973 Bob Grupp

Bart Smith

Class of 1973 Bart Smith Yale University

Class of 1973 Bart Smith Yale University

Joe Sroba

Class of 1973 Joe Sroba University of Virgina

Class of 1973 Joe Sroba University of Virgina


Pro Players

Bob Grupp

Class of 1973 Bobby Grupp Duke Univeresity KC Chiefs

Class of 1973 Bobby Grupp Duke Univeresity KC Chiefs

Len Barker

Class of 1973 Len Barker Atlanta Braves

Class of 1973 Len Barker Atlanta Braves


All Star Game

2nd Annual Bucks County Cancer Crusade All-Star Football Game

The Bucks County All Star Game for 1972 players was held Friday June 15th, 1973 at the Neshaminy HS Stadium. Kick-off at 7:30 PM

If you have photos from this game please contact us

News Herald 1973_01_17 Bucks County All Star Game Coach Announced

News Herald 1973_05_30 All Star Game Article

News Herald 1973_06_20 All Star Game Article

Articles

1972 Scouting Reports

The Evening Sun 1972_09_02 Preseason Article

Courier Times 1972_09_08 Preseason article

1972_09_08 Neshaminy vs Bishop Egan

Courier Times 1972_09_09 Egan Game Article

The Philadelphia Inquirer 1972_09_09 Egan Game Article

Courier Times 1972_09_11 Council Rock Fame Article

Courier Times 1972_09_16 Pennridge Game Article

Morning Call 1972_09_16 Pennridge Game Article

News Herald 1972_09_16 Pennridge Game Article

Courier Times 1972_09_24 Easton Game Article

The Morning Call 1972_09_24 Easton Game Article

Courier Times 1972_09_27 Joe Sroba

Courier Times 1972_09_28 William Allen Pregame Article

The Morning Call 1972_09_29 William Allen Game Article

Courier Times 1972_10_07 Dieruff Game Article

The Morning Call 1972_10_07 Dieruff Game Article

Courier Times 1972_10_14 Liberty Game Article

The Philadelphia Inquirer 1972_10_14 Liberty Game Article

Courier Times 1972_10_21 Bensalem Game Article

The Philadelphia Inquirer 1972_10_21 Bensalem Game Article

Courier Times 1972_10_30 Wilson Game Article

The Morning Call 1972_11_05 Freedom Game Article

Courier Times 1972_11_06 Freedom Game Article

Courier Times 1972_11_12 Council Rock Game Article

Courier Times 1972_11_14 Pennsbury Pregame Article

Courier Times 1972_11_15 Pennsbury Pregame Article

Courier Times 1972_11_16 Pennsbury Pregame Article

Courier Times 1972_11_17 Pennsbury Pregame Article

Courier Times 1972_11_19 Article on Sroba and Pennsbury Game

The Trentonian 1972 _11_19 Pennsbury Game Article

The Bulletin 1972_11_19 Pennsbury Game Article 1

The Bulletin 1972_11_19 Pennsbury Game Article 2

Courier Times 1972_11_20 Pennsbury Game Article 1

Courier Times 1972_11_20 Pennsbury Game Article 2

Courier Times 1972_11_20 Jack Swartz Post Season

1972_11_30 Football Banquet Booklet

Warren Times Mirror and Observer 1972_12_01 API All State

Courier Times 1972_12_08 ALL LOWER BUCKS Section One

Courier Times 1972_12_08_Courier Times ALL AREA SELECTIONS

Courier Times 1972_12_12 BIG 7 Selections

Tyrone Daily Herald_ 1972_12_12 UPI ALL STATE

1972_12_16 Bulletin All Suburban Team

News Herald 1973_01_17 Bucks Cty All Star Game Coach Announced