Newtown: We are at Walt Snyder stadium in Newtown to play head coach CJ Szydlik and his Golden Hawks for game 2 of the 2022 season. The weather is perfect and the Neshaminy faithful are out in force. Both teams are coming into the game with a record of 1-0 and both are looking to add another W to their schedule.
The ‘Skins kick off and the Hawks' first snap was botched causing a fumble which Nick Buchys promptly fell on. Ball to ‘Skins on the Hawks’ 43 yard line. Despite some nice runs by Markus Barnett, the ‘Skins were stopped. The Hawks took over on downs at their own 13 yard line, but then the Neshaminy D Line shut them down 1-2-3. The Hawks were only able to gain 2 yards in that drive before they were forced to punt and Neshaminy got great field position at the Hawks’ 38.
The offense went to work and scored on the second play of the drive with a 16 yard TD run by Markus Burnett. Kaden Nicastro’s PAT attempt is batted down by Hawk Jake Hemple. Score ‘Skins 6 – Harks 0.
The Hawks started their drive on their own 20 but a holding penalty pushed them back 10. The dominant defense of the ‘Skins shut them down, still in their own territory, and forced a punt. The ‘Skins were intercepted by Hawks’ Hemple, deep in ‘Skins territory at their 25, but the tenacious Neshaminy D shut them down and forced a punt. The 1st quarter ends with the score ‘Skins 6 – Hawks 0.
Switching sides, Neshaminy starts on their 25 but back to back penalties put them at 3rd and long and they were forced to punt. The Hawks almost immediately fumbled the ball when a snap hit a Hawkman and Joey Zack quickly fell on it, giving Neshaminy great field position on the Hawks’ 36. However, the ‘Skins were not able to capitalize as the Hawks shut down the run and the ball was turned over on the 33.
The Hawks punted after they were unable to make their first down and the ‘Skins started on their own 36 with 4:35 left on the clock before halftime. Neshaminy QB Colin Baker was sacked for a loss of 10 yards and the ‘Skins found themselves in a 3rd and 16 situation. A screen pass to Barnett, who rocketed down the sideline, gained them 32 yards into Hawks territory and a 40 yard catch and run TD by Ashton Lovelace added 6 points on the board. Nicastro is good for the PAT and the score moves to ‘Skins 13 – Hawks 0 as the first half ends.
NHS vs CRSouth_09022022_Dunkley and Buchys' tag team of terror
Half time thoughts: Let’s talk about the defensive leaders Jack Dunkley and Nick Buchys for a second. We were inspired by Jesse Garber’s photo of the pair rushing Council Rock South’s quarterback. This photo encapsulates the fear and awe a quarterback must feel to see this pair coming at ‘ya. Checking on Max Preps the pair are in the top three ranking in the Suburban One National league in sacks. Demacio Cooper also has 9 tackles to date and has played well both games. Buchys has 13 tackles and Dunkley has 8. In fact, the entire defense has done a bang up job. We believe that the game starts and ends with the lines, and both the offensive and defensive line have exceeded our expectations. The hard work done off season by both the players and the coaches shows. Check out Max Preps for where we stand in relation to the national average.
Back to the game. The kick went to the ‘Skins and the Hawks’ defense effectively shut them down and they were forced to punt. The Hawks started from midfield and went long but Travis Lavelah broke up the pass. Hawks’ quarterback Chase Ennis went long again to Bryan Rabatin but a hard hit from Neshaminy’s Payton Smolenak forced a fumble and John Morris recovered. However, the ‘Skins went a quick three and out.
On the punt to the Hawks the snap was high but somehow Lovelace was able to quickly recover the ball and punt it down to the Hawks’ 36 where Chase Myers received the ball and brought it to the 40. The Golden Hawks showed a combination of plays on the ground and in the air with a long pass to Rabatin that brought the Hawks to the ‘Skins’ 2 yard line where Myers runs it into the end zone for a TD. Thomas Shea is good for the extra point and with 2:30 left in the 3rd quarter, the score goes to ‘Skins – 13 – Hawks 7. The ‘Skins then manage to move the ball 16 yards before the clock runs out.
The start of the 4th quarter sees the ‘Skins at their own 35. A combination of Barnett runs and 41 passing yards (Lovelace and John Morris) the ‘Skins score when Jullian Hammond punches the ball 12 yards into the end zone for a TD. Going for a two point conversion, ‘Skins QB Baker floats the ball right into Buchys’s hands for an additional 2 to make the score “Skins 21 – Hawks 7.
The Hawks kept fighting but the Neshaminy defense was just too strong. Going long, an Evan’s pass was intercepted by Adam Goodman and Neshaminy proceeded to run down the lock with a series of running plays by Barnett but the Hawks had one more possession left. The Hawks quickly drove down the field but their hopes were dashed by a Lavelah interception in the red zone. Game ends with score ‘Skins 21 – Hawks 0.
The Hawks played tough and fought all four quarters. We thank Coach Szydlik and the Hawks for their hospitality and wish them the best for the rest of the 202 season.
Captains for tonight’s game were Nick Buchys, Jack Dunkley, Markus Burnett and Joey Zack. Make sure that you join the team next week at Downingtown West for a great matchup in game 3!
Good night Mrs. B!
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