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Game 4 | Friday September 19, 2014
Homecoming

Neshaminy 21 – Abington 18

Ghosts tough-out but ‘Skins even at 2-2

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Game 04

Langhorne: With the non-league games behind them tonight sees the Blue & Red host Abington in the first of the seven league games on their schedule. And with the National Conference realigned in the off-season to closely resemble the old Power Ten, this is the real deal. Kicking it off against the Ghosts, who come into this contest at 3-0, theres hardly a weak sister on the horizon. In fact, with heavy-weight after heavy-weight lined up over the next couple of months there's not much to say other than Whoa Nellie! And with new Head Coach Mike Frederick establishing a firmer grip on the club as each week has gone by were more than sure that the Redskins raring to go. So with that said it's time we get on down to the grass and all the action here in Harry's House (which is rockin with a monster crowd on Homecoming Night).

As Neshaminy won the toss they elected to receive the game's initial kickoff. And up to their tricks right out of the box, the Ghosts went onsides but to no avail as the Skins fell on the loose ball at the mid-field stripe. Pollard then started it up with two straight from Mason Jones to set up a 3rd-and-one. Dan Dogba then grabbed the first as he took it to the 39. Denzel Hughes next added five yards on a quick screen with Pollard's three then taking it to the 32. Apparently deciding it was time to put it away, Pollard took the next handoff and bolted the distance for the score. Dylan McDonalds PAT was true and the Redskins showed the first lead, 7-0, at three minutes into the game.

McDonald's boot back to Abington was a bouncer that was returned nicely but pushed back on a block in the back penalty. After the march by the refs, the Ghosts then set up on their 15. But showing they are as fast as promised, four plays saw the visitors across mid-field and at the Blue & Red 45. Keeping the pressure on with a No Huddle offense, Abington was then at the 16 on just a few more attempts. Stalling a bit with a no gain and a penalty, the Sorbermen were pushed back to the 21 before their QB threw a tight TD strike. With the kick good too the game went to 7-7.

With the visitors kickoff going out-of-bounds, the Skins started at their 35 as Jones brought his offensive crew back on the field. Rolling to his left on the first effort, Jones got one to Hughes who just stayed in bounds at the 49. Then going to third-and-ten on the following series, Jones found Hughes again on a circus grab at the 35. Pollard added five more before then losing 6 to set up a third-and-long. Jones pass to JR Stevens missed with the Kevin Goetz punt downed at the one-yard line with a penalty bringing it back. Goetz's second attempt put it out at the 17.

With Abingtons O back out they went up top on two consecutive shots. The first missed but the second found JR Stevens who made a big Pick Six as he raced home from the 25. McDonald didnt miss the PAT and it went to 14-7.

McDonald's kickoff was then a liner that was picked up at the 5 with a twisting return putting the Ghosts at the 20. One run earned a few with the gun then sounding the end of the first-session. The refs directed the clubs to make the walk as field personnel put the game into the second-quarter. Abington then started the action with a run and immediately earned a first at the 31. Keeping up the pace with it's No Huddle, a run and a pass by the Ghosts gained little but a beautiful aerial was then good for 14 stripes to move the chains to the 45. But once again going to a third-and-long, this time Abington couldn't convert as they brought their punting team on the grass. The kick rolled dead at the 20 as Jones and company returned to the field.

Pollard got the first call as he gained five around end with a Jones pass to Zach Tredway just missing to bring up a third-down and five to go. A penalty on the visitors made it easy as it gave Langhorne a first at the 30. A run then earned a few before a Tredway catch took the ball to the 39. Dogba then made the first at the 41 with a punch up the middle. A deep pass Jones that followed just missed with Pollard then picking up two as it went to a third-and-eight. No sweat at all, though, as the Jones to Hughes combination had it at the Ghosts' 35 with Matt Hollywood Magdelinskas then taking the ensuing handoff and busting it loose to the 15. Another try by Hollywood earned a few before Jones then nailed Lay at the one-foot line for a first-and-goal. Dogba put it through the middle as Mr. Auto came in and hit the point after as it went to 21-7 Neshaminy.

McDonald's kickoff was then picked up at the ten and a fantastic Abington return had it across mid-field with a very questionable penalty on Neshaminy putting it at their 24. Three straight runs gave Abington a first before Hollywood tracked down the Ghost runner for a loss of a yard. With the clock showing 50 seconds the Ghosts lost another five back to the 16 as a third-down rolled around. Using the Pistol formation, the Abington back was then dropped for a loss as the clock went to three seconds before they called a timeout. Abington's kicker then came in and nailed the 33-yard field goal to make it 21-10 as the teams then headed to the locker rooms and a break.

Trading opportunities with a new half underway, Neshaminy kicked off to Abington as McDonald put a bouncer down the field that was returned to the 27. Staying with the No Huddle, a nice run by a Ghost earned eight with another short gain moving the chains. Then looking to air it out, the Abington QB threw it deep with Hughes making another big interception that he returned to the enemy 35; however, a clipping penalty took the ball back to mid-field where Jones set up the team. Finding Hughes on a screen earned the Skins a first at the 40 with Pollard adding three and Hollywood gaining three more to the 34. Jones then missed Lay and a fourth-down and five then saw the Skins go for it as Jones nailed Stevens at the 25 yard line for the first. Pollard got a few more and another Jones pass made it third-and-a-few at the 18. A missed snap then bounced off Jones and was picked up by Pollard from where he raced to the five to make it first-and-goal. But getting bunched up Neshaminy then went to third-and-nine before calling a timeout to catch their breath.

Back in action with just under five minutes in the third-quarter, Jones went to The Gun but just missed Stevens who had gotten loose in the endzone. McDonald then came in for the field goal try but it was blocked as Abington then fell on loose ball out at the 25. Back on offense, the Ghosts saw two running plays go nowhere with a pass then missing its mark as well. Punting to Neshaminy from the five, Hughes made the catch at the 48 and was dropped immediately on a huge hit. Offsetting unsportsmanlike penalties then left the ball right where it was to start another Langhorne series.

With Jones first going to Tredway on a pass and then Will Dogba on the ground, the chains were moved to set up a first at the 37. A pass to Lay added eight with Dogba then just short of the first on a ground effort. A motion call on Neshaminy then made it third-and-six with the Jones to Lay aerial that followed missing. Punting from there, Goetz put it into the endzone as Abington then came out at the 20 as the first play gained three. The third-quarter then ended and the teams made the flip.

Two straight runs then earned the visitors a first at the 31 with a few more ground efforts adding a few before a nice push saw Abington across mid-field to Neshaminys 42. And although it looked like Neshaminy then picked up a fumble, the refs said no after a long discussion that exhibited nothing but confusion by the Zebras. Two plays later Abington then had a first on a pass to the Redskins 30 with Dogba then busting up the next effort for a two-yard loss. Daulton Fox looked like a lion as he ripped through the line on the next run to cause a big loss and a third-and-15. Neshaminy called a timeout at that spot as the clock showed seven minutes left in the contest.

As the refs signaled action was back underway, Abington went up top and although complete it was still short as a fourth-and-eight came up. A 'Skin penalty made it a bit easier at fourth-and-three but no matter as the Abington busted it to the 15 for a first. A pass by the Ghosts then went awry but a Neshaminy back was called for pass interference on the play and it gave the enemy a first at the seven. And with the next play good for the score, the Abington back was pushing all the way as he dove in for the TD. Then going for two, the Abington QB kept it around end to make it 21-18 with five minutes on the clock.

Abington then surprised the packed house as they kicked it deep with the ball went bounding out-of-bounds and Neshaminy enjoying a nice spot at their 35. Their first attempt lost seven but Jones then got most of it back as he connected with Tredway for 15 yards to the 43. On the third-down effort Dogba then ripped it up the middle for a first down at the 46. At the 3:22 mark Jones then went to Pollard on two-in-a-row as he was caught for a loss on one before getting it all back on the next. Looking at a third-down, Jones then nailed Tredway at the visitors 40 for a big first down.

As Jones surveyed the field with the new set of downs in his pocket, the clock slipped under the two minute mark as Pollard took the first assignment to the 35. Abington then stopped the clock with a timeout at 1:47 as the teams then huddled on the field. Back live, the first snap saw Pollard earn the first with a burst to the 30. From there the clock went to 34 seconds before the visitors burned their final timeout. Jones then kept the final snap as he ran the clock down a bit before grabbing a knee. From there the clock burned out soon enough which means just one thing: Game to 'Skins!

First we'd be remiss if we didn't acknowledge the strong and determined play of Abington. A tough-out year-after-year, they never fail to deliver the goods. Then we just have to say it: How about them Skins! They have not only given their fans two straight wins at home, and settled in nicely after a rocky start, theyve shown solid improvement each week of the season. So not a lot to say other than it's been a thrill watching so far as well as getting to know the players better and better each week. And Coach Frederick is also becoming more familiar to us too and we like what we see. So hey you Redskin fans make sure you let the boys know how much you appreciate them and the coaches too. Plus dont forget that next week the team is away at Pennridge and as Neshaminy is known for travelling well we expect a big crowd of Blue & Red supporters to make the trek to Ram country.

See you at the Game!


Boxscore

Game 4
1
2
3
4
F
Neshaminy
14
7
0
0
21
Abington
7
3
0
8
18

 

Team Qtr Time Description NHS OPP
NHS
1
8:46
Pollard 32-yd TD Run. McDonald Kick.
7
0
AHS
1
4:53
Abington 20-yd TD on pass play. Kick good.
7
7
AHS
1
0:47
JR Stevens Pick-6 run back 18-yds for a TD. McDonald kick.
14
7
NHS
2
2:29
Dogba 1-yd TD dive. McDonald kick.
21
7
AHS
2
0:03
Abington 15-yd TD run. Kick good
21
10
AHS
4
5:55
Abington 7-yd TD run. 2-pt attempt is good.
21
18

Photos by Jesse Garber

For more game photos go to Jesse Garber on Zenfolio


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