NEWTOWN: Back again at a packed Walt Snyder Stadium on Senior Night, we welcomed the beautiful weather and the opportunity to play Head Coach Vince Bedesem of the legendary Bedesem family and his 3-5 tough Council Rock South Golden Hawks. The 7-1 ‘Skins, not taking any opponent for granted, spent the week doing a lot of Hawk homework.

The game started off with Brody The Cowboy McAndrew firing one off to Mike Garlick out of the pistol formation for a 13 yard gain. And from there they marched right down the field on a 7 minute drive that cumulated in a 19 yard touchdown run by Joe Stills and the extra point by Matt Leonhauser. The Hawks’ only possesssion of the quarter stalled at the 40 when Luke Hitchen deflected a pass to Andrew Vera. The rest of the quarter was all ‘Skins who drove to the 2 yard line and the end of the 1st quarter.

Unable to move two yards, the ball was turned over on downs but the Hawks were stopped at the 26 yard line. A rare interception of one of The Cowboy’s shots gave the ball right back, but pressure from Hitchen, Giovani El General Fiqueroa and Nick Silenok stopped the drive on a crucial 3rd and 5 forcing the Hawks to punt. It was then back and forth until the end of the 1st half with the score 7-0 ‘Skins

Highlights of the Hawks’ first drive of the 3rd quarter were bruising tackles by the ‘Skins defense’s Lou DiFrancesco and John Copabianco and the Hawks turned the ball over on downs after a big sack by Hitchen. The ‘Skins then stalled on the Hawks’ 45 yard line where McAndrew punted it to the 10. Council Rock South then had one of their better drives of the night getting the ball all the way down to the ‘Skins 34 yard line but a Christian Jabbar pass was picked off by Stills who returned it 30 yards to the 35 as the quarter ended.

The Cowboy got to work, and on a 3rd and 13, threw a beautiful 21 yard pass to Cory Joyce. The Iceman crashed and bashed his way up to the 5 where Stills scored on a 3 yard run and Leonhauser’s kick was good for a score of 14-0 ‘Skins. The Hawks then turned the ball over on a sack by Chris Majors who recovered the ensuing fumble.

With 4:22 left in the game, the ‘Skins took over on the 27 yard line. Stills then ran the ball to the Hawks’ 10 yard line but a unnecessary roughness penalty brought the ball to the 6 and The Iceman slid easily in the end zone for a TD. Leonhauser split the uprights for the extra point and the score was 21-0 ‘Skins. With a minute left in the game, Garlick picked off a Jabbar pass and ran it 48 yards in for another ‘Skins touchdown and Leonhauser was 4 for 4 on PATs. The clock ran out with the score 28-0 ‘Skins.

There were some impressive defensive plays that need to be mentioned – Hitchen’s 2 sacks, Majors’ sack and fumble recovery and let’s not forget Garlick’s pick-6 for a TD. How about those ferocious tackles by DiFrancesco, Silenok, Copabinaco and Hitchen. Not to forget the O, catches by Joyce and Manzyk and Stills’ running kept us moving down the field.

We thank Coach Bedesem and the Hawks community for their hospitality and we have to give a shout out to their tough defense. The Hawks played hard all game and we wish them a great rest of the season.

Captains: #5 Oleh Manzyk, #10 Mike Garlick, #25 Cory Joyce and #74 Jacob Kelly

Good night Mrs. B!

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 (10-20-17)

PreGame Suburban One Sports: SOL Football Notebook (10-19-17)

Pregame PA Prep Live: Neshaminy, Pennsbury face potential trap games

Trentonian: Neshaminy football blanks CR South