Langhorne: We welcomed Head Coach Galen Snyder and his Falcons to Heartbreak Ridge. It is Senior night for the Neshaminy players and the biggest game of the season with our neighbors and arch rival, the Pennsbury Falcons. The ‘Skins are 6 - 3 and the Falcons are 4-5. The Falcons need to win to make the playoffs and a Neshaminy win would give the 'Skins home field advantage next week.
Eckart TD
Pennsbury won the toss and deferred. Skins’ Mike Sassano had a good kick return getting to the Falcon’s 36. QB Michael Eckart gained a few yard on the ground, but the ‘Skins were quickly in a 4th and 2 situation. Jason Wilmot and crew pulled off a trick play instead of a punt and Wilmot scrambled 23 yards to the Falcons’ 33. Carter Clee made the next conversion and Eckart ran the ball in 21 yards for a TD. Kaden Nicastro nailed the PAT and the score was ‘Skins 7 – Falcons 0.
The Falcons started their first drive, and after two offside ‘Skins’ penalties, made it to the 40 yard line, However, great defense by Chris Long and John Dougherty in the secondary shut down the Falcons’ air game and Pennsbury was forced to punt.
Connor Frederick
Neshaminy started on their 35 yard line and Eckart gained 9 yards on a QB keeper. Connor Frederick then gained 24 yards on beautiful catch and run, but the ‘Skins end up stalling at the 29 yard line and turned the ball over on downs.
The Falcons played their ground and pound game and got down to the ‘Skins' 19 when the 1st quarter ended.
Switching sides, the Falcons scored on a 2 yard TD run by Kaiden Brown. Angelo Pereira’s kick was good and the teams are tied at 7 a piece.
Neshaminy’s next drive went to a punt situation despite some hard Eckart and Clee runs.
With halftime coming up, Pennsbury stuck to their run game and got down in the red zone but the ‘Skins’ defense kept them from scoring, stopping the runners at the 1 yard line. Kicker Angelo Pereira attempted a 20 yard field goal but Shakir Whiting batted the ball down. Frederick picked it up off the ground and ran it to the Pennsbury 32. The clock then ran out with the score remaining at 7 each.
Chris Long
Pennsbury started up the 2nd half but Chris Long intercepted the Falcons’ ball and set the ’Skins up on Pennsbury’s 38. Two plays later, Eckart connected with Lucas Stewart on a 35 yard TD pass and Nicastro is again good for the PAT. Score ‘Skins 14 – Falcons 7.
There is no time to celebrate as Ray Vereen returns the ball to midfield to put the Falcons in good field position. A few plays later Jordan Brensinger scores on a 17 yard run and Pereira’s kick is good. Score is tied up again with both teams at 14 points each.
Neshaminy was able to move the ball due to Clee and Exkart sharing runs, but penalties killed the drive and the ’Skins turned the ball over on downs on the Falcons’ 22. Pennsbury got off three plays and we moved into the final quarter with the teams still tied at 14.
Pennsbury got off 2 plays before they had to punt to the ‘Skins to start the 4th quarter.
Lucas Stewart
The heavy hitters on Neshaminy’s next driver were Clee and Eckart as they switched up carries to confuse the Falcon defense. Stewart and Frederick haul in two great catches and the ‘Skins scored on an Eckart 9 yard run and Nicastro was good for the extra point. Score is ‘Skins 21 – Falcons 14 with 2:55 left in the game and everyone in the stadium is biting their nails in anticipation as to what will happen next...
...and Pennsbury uses that 2 minutes to score a TD and a 2 point conversion. The “Skins try to come back and were able to set up for a very difficult 52 yard high school field goal. The kick was short and what was heartbreaking was, if he had just a few more yards, we believe that Kaden Nicastro would have made that field goal as he was oh-so-close.
Captains for tonight’s game: #1 Michael Eckart, #8 Connor Frederick, #10 Jason Wilmot, #20 Aiden Korol, #33 Carson Schneider and #95 Owen Swartz.
You can re-watch the game here. We were so happy to see so many of the Pennsbury and Neshaniny fans in the stands. This game is always a full house and the fans came out for their players. It was a tough loss tonight, but we are not worried as we know the team will regroup and come right back.
It is now officially playoffs! We will update next week's opponent on the schedule as soon as all the scores come in.
Good night Mrs. B
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