BENSALEM: Not traveling far at all for their last road game of the 2016 season, tonight’s contest saw the Blue & Red playing Bensalem, a team on their schedule since 1930. And always a tough out this year’s Owls group is as scrappy as they come being right in the thick of a playoff berth hunt. Then as tonight was their Homecoming game, and with a full moon hanging large in the sky, there was all the flavor a football fan could want.

With the Owls winning the toss a roaring kickoff return had them at Neshaminy’s 39 where they looked ready to pounce. But with Oleh Manzyk, Mike Garlick and Jacob Gordon stepping it up on that series, Bensalem only reached the 31 before they turned it over on downs. Then just eight plays and 69 yards later Will Dogba’s short run, along with Dylan McDonald’s point after try, gave the ‘Skins a 7-0 lead.

The first-quarter then quieted down until the Owls’ Keith Parrish picked up what appeared to be a dead ball following an incomplete Bensalem pass as he ran it nearly 50 yards for a touchdown. A two-point try came up short and the initial session then ended 7-6 just barely in Neshaminy’s favor.

And emboldened by their score, the Owls turned up the heat as they added two more scores in the second-period with one featuring a long pass to their big fullback, Malcolm Carey, and another on Keith Parrish’s short 4-yard run.

Then as the first half was then closing out, and on the wrong end of a 19-7 score, Mason Jones fired up his troops and engineered a last minute drive capped off by his 18-yard touchdown toss to Garlick. With McDonald’s kick true the score tightened to read 19-14 Bensalem as the two teams broke for the halftime break.

Clearly realizing that they were in a game, the ‘Skins picked up the pace in the third-quarter adding two six-pointers. Both scores were on ground efforts by Dogba highlighted by an exciting two-point conversion pass from Jones to Zach Tredway for good measure. Plus with the defense doing their part, Bensalem could claim just three points of their own on a field goal.

Finally pulling back the sheets in the last period, Neshaminy called it a night for the Owls behind Dogba’s fourth score of the evening. As the big board then showed 35-22 in Neshaminy’s favor, and with their comeback completed, that’s the way it was at the final gun.

A big congratulations to Zach Tredway on grabbing his 100th career reception during tonight’s game, and to Will Dogba who eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark in back to back seasons.

Then a special thank you to head coach Ed Cubbage and the entire Owls’ organization for making all of us feel welcome at Bensalem Township’s Memorial Stadium. And with Bensalem’s 2016 gridders the story of the year here’s a shout-out not only to coach but to his assistants and then the entire Owls squad.

Good Night Mrs. B!

Game Captains – Zach Tredway #1, Will Dogba #7, Mason Jones #8 and Hayden Rooney #40.

Photos courtesy of Jesse Garber

For more game photos go to Jesse Garber on Zenfolio

Pregame Suburban One Sports: Intelligencer/Courier ‘Let’s Talk Football’ (10-14-16)

WBCB Game video