COATESVILLE: On the road for game three of the District One Playoffs against Coatesville in a semifinal square-off, Neshaminy headed to the southwest for another Friday Night Lights scholastic grid spectacular. And with the opponent in tonight's contest a red-hot Red Raiders group, this one has been tagged as having all the makings of a classic twelve-rounder. At 10-2 the Raiders have been tough all year with a high-scoring offense complimented by a stingy defense. Of course, the Tribe's defense has been a force of late while the offense has displayed flashes of brilliance as the Moleskinners have posted a 9-3 record to date. So with the weather just perfect, the stands full of fans, and the squads on the turf ready to toe up the football, let's get this one going.

Winning the toss, Coatesville elected to receive. With Nick Tucci doing the honors, the short return had the hosts starting at their 14. One run went nowhere while the next saw a Coatesville back explode through a hole and then turn it on as he went the distance for six. The PAT was good and it was 7-0 for the Raiders with just a minute off the clock.

D'Andre Pollard took the ensuing kickoff and brought it back to the 29 where the Creek Kids set up on O. Hugh Hart came out and gave it to Nate Hall on two in a row as he picked up a first at the 39. Luke Carrezola then snagged a third-down Hart pass to earn another first to the 45. Going to another third and long this time the 'Skins were short. With the rush on the Raiders nicked Zack Miller and were called for a roughing the kicker and Neshaminy picked up a first at the Raiders 40. Hall then busted one loose down to the 20. Three plays later saw a fourth and two at the 12 with Hall moving the chains as he took it to the eight-yard stripe. Going back to Hall he lugged it in for the score with Tucci then tying it up, 7-7 with a minute to play in the first.

After another short return Coatesville was in business at their 14. And in less than a minute a Coatesville pass was on the mark to one of their speedy wide-outs who took it the distance. With the PAT not missing it was 14-7 for the Red Raiders with the first-period almost gone.

Cole Creighton grabbed the following kickoff and took it out to the 30 as the second-period rolled around. Three straight tries went nowhere and Miller then came in to punt. With Coatesville showing their speed, another deep back caught the ball and turned it on as he went the distance. The PAT didn't miss and it was 21-7 with ten minutes still on the second-session clock.

Denny Lord took the next kick and had it out to the 38 as the 'Skins went back on offense. Two handoffs to Hall had it at the 47 while Blake 'Big Bull' Sullivan then earned the first with two more out to the 49. A couple of no-gainers and two penalties put up a third and fifteen. A sack followed and it was Miller back in to punt again. A bad snap and short kick then gave the ChesMont club a first at their 41. And not waiting for a moment the Raiders went up top for a 59-yard TD pass. The kick was good and with five minutes on the clock the scoreboard read 28-7 for Coatesville.

After the return and an illegal block the Redskins started at their 18. And deciding he had seen enough, Hall ripped off an 82-yarder for six points. Tucci didn't miss on the PAT and Langhorne had tightened it up, 28-14. Tucci then boomed it with Trokon Buesmaill stopping the return man at the 19.

Bringing their offense back, this time the 'Skins defense put up a wall and forced a three-and-out. After the punt Neshaminy had a first at their 47 with a few minutes on the clock. From there it was Hall getting close to a first on two with Hart getting close to set up a fourth and one at the Raiders 44. Sullivan was bottled up and the ball went back to Coatesville at that spot.

From there the Raiders went to work with two plays gaining a first as the clock went under a minute. And working their magic, Coatesville got it across with just seconds remaining to take a 35-14 lead. A kickoff was necessary and after the return the 'Skins had a first at their 47 with six seconds on the clock. Hall had the final carry as the gun sounded the break.

Receiving the kick to start the second-half, Pollard took it out to the 40 to give Neshaminy a nice spot. Hall got the initial call and picked up six. And perhaps thinking that slow pace was not the way to go, Hall blasted through a crease and bolted 54 yards for a score. Tucci was down the middle on the extra point and the scoreboard rolled to 35-21.

Tucci came out with an onsides kick attempt and although recovered by Neshaminy, it was touched early and Coatesville had a nice spot at mid-field. But catching a break, Carrezola pulled the ball loose and made the recovery as Neshaminy took over at their 44.

Back on offense, two Hall carries had it across the fifty for a third and three. Creighton then took the handoff and grabbed the first at the Coatesville 46. Hall added five on two and it was third and five. Hart then lugged it around the end and down to the four-yard line for a first and goal. From there it was Hall taking it in for his fourth score of the night. Tucci hit the PAT and it was suddenly just a seven-point game at 35-28.

After a nice kickoff, Coatesville had it at their 29 with half the third-quarter gone. Going back to basics, two runs had it their 45 before a false start sent the back five. And once again showing their speed, it was the Coatesville quarterback finding a streaking wide out for the whole enchilada. The PAT was on the money and with 5:47 to play in the third, the scored opened to 42-28 in favor of the home team.

Pollard handled the return again and had the Skins at the 24 after the stop. An offside on Coatesville made it a short first and five from there. Two Hall attempts were short as a third and long followed. Hart was sacked and it was Miller punting it from there. And even with a booming spiral a good return saw the Raiders at the 'Skins 34 after the return. Going up top the pass was incomplete but interference gave Coatesville a first at the 19. A run earned eight to the 11 with the Raiders QB lugging it to the one-yard line for a first and goal from there. The next play saw it lugged across and the PAT was on mark to make it 49-28 for Coatesville.

Back on offense after the Pollard return, it was the Redskins with a first and ten at their 34 with two minutes to go in the third. A run and trick play came up empty and it went to third and ten with Hart being sacked. Miller came back out to punt and a fabulous roll put the ball down to the 12. And after one play which gained three the third-period ended and the teams switched sides for the final session.

Back to live action, another run picked up a few as the Raiders then faced a third and four. A screen pass saw it moved out to the 32 for a fresh set of downs. Another nice effort by a Raider had it to the mid-field stripe with nine minutes to play. Keeping up the pressure a Coatesville back spun for 12 down inside the 40. A few more had it near the 30 and then inside the 25 for a first. From there it was a quick burst by a Raiders back that saw the score go to 56-28 after the PAT.

The squibbed kick was picked up by Steve Olenski and taken to the 32 where Neshaminy started their next possession. From there a quick out from Hart to Hart had it out to mid-field for a first down. Two plays then came up a cropper as it went to a third and nine for the Tribe. Joe Falkowski then came in to put one up top that just missed forcing a fourth down but that one was knocked loose. With five minutes on the clock, the ball then went back to the Raiders took over but punted after failing to gain traction.

Following the punt in the end zone, it was Neshaminy at their 20 with just minutes remaining. Falkowski came out throwing and putting just a little too much on one it was picked and returned for a score. The PAT was on the button and the scoreboard went to a gaudy 63-28 as the clock showed two minutes still to play.

Olenski picked up another bouncing kickoff and took it to the 35. And with the clock on the run, Pollard took the first handoff across the 50. Another few snaps then had it across the 25 before the clock struck zero and the gun sounded the end of the game.

First of all, a nice hand and shoutout to the Red Raiders who showed their stuff tonight. Congratulations on the win and good luck next week as you move on to the D1 Final. Next, and to our Redskins way to hang tough guys. You played through a load of adversity this season and you refused to give in to some long odds that crossed your path. You made your fans proud all season long. And although well miss the seniors who will be moving on, you know well be looking forward to the return of the underclassmen who contributed so much all year long. Were proud of you guys, all of you. Thank you for leaving it all on the field.

So closing it up for the year, best of luck to those who will graduate and to the rest of you players we can't wait for 2013!

See you all next year.

Suburban One Sports: Intelligencer/Courier Times 'Let's Talk Football (Wk 13)

Suburban One Sports: SOL District FB Preview (Semifinals)

Suburban One Sport: Redskins Fall to Raiders in Semifinals

Suburban One Sports: 2012 SOL Football Season in Review

Suburban One Sports: 2012 All SOL National Team