WARRINGTON: Hopping aboard the old yellow bus yet again, the Redskins headed the short distance to Warrington to line up against Central Bucks South in a District One quarter-final contest. Familiar with the Titans, the Creek Kids well remember Eric Reynolds and the 07 South club that nicked the Schmidtmen, 26-21, in a thriller. And with this years South squad featuring another great runner and a strong, strong supporting cast, it seems eerily similar to more than one Indian fan. But as the Tribe is a group that doesn't forget but rather learns from history, this one should be a spectacle from start to finish. So without further ado, let's get to it.
Taking the initial kickoff, the 'Skins offense came out stiff and sluggish and after a three and out, it was Neshaminy punting it to the hosts. And that series seemed to set the tone for the first-quarter as the two teams battled it out between the twenties without a score to show for their efforts although the Creek Kids were knocking on the door at one point when a Hugh Hart pass was picked in close. Still, as the squads flipped sides to start the second-session, the score was just the same as when the contest had started, 0-0.
Rolling into the second twelve minutes, the 'Skins had the ball at their 35. Going to old faithful, Nate Hall, he took the handoff from Hart and rambled almost 50 yards to the Titans' 18. From there Blake 'Big Bull' Sullivan rammed it down to the ten. Getting the nod once again, Sullivan took it to the four for a first. Then getting sideways on three tries, Nick Tucci came in for a field goal attempt but it was tipped short. And with another missed opportunity on the tally sheet, the ball went back to CB South at the twenty.
Setting up from that spot, Neshaminy's D said no way and another punt soon followed. A nice return by Cole Creighton had Langhorne set up near mid-field. A couple of runs, and a pass play or two by Joe Falkowski, saw the Redskins going backwards, though, and Zach Miller then boomed one to end that series. A late hit call on a 'Skin saw the ball placed at the Titans' 45 after the exchange and that's where South started their next offensive series. A few Giant plays went nowhere and on third and nine a pass play came up short too. The South punt that followed then rolled to the nine and that's where the Tribe took over.
Busting the first play loose for 9 yards and the next for a few more, the Redskins had a fresh set of downs at the twenty in an eye blink. Another run earned five and Hall then added three to the piggy bank. On third and two, a delay of game cost the Blue & Red five stripes but Hall then motored for ten and the chains were moved once again. Going to third and seven at their 38 with under a minute left in the half, the 'Skins called a timeout to sort it out. Going back to live action, an offsides call on the Tribe then pushed it to third and long. With Neshaminy not making it, South called a timeout with 40 ticks on the clock before Miller drilled the punt. Following the short return the Titans then started at their 35 with half a minute to go.
Giving it to their speedy back, the Giants picked up a few out to mid-field and then burned a TO. Another handoff had it in closer to Nirvana with a pass getting it to the 19 with seven seconds on the clock. Then with two seconds till the break, the Titans got it across the end-line on a pass that put six on the board. The PAT was good and it went to 7-0 for the home team. With a kickoff necessary, it was pooched and after a Redskin fell on it, the gun sounded and the teams headed to the locker room for the break.
Neshaminy kicked off to start the second half and after throttling South's offense Langhorne took over and decided it was time to make some noise. Stitching a nice drive together, and chewing up the grass in the process, Hall finished it off on an 11-yarder for the touchdown. Tucci put the PAT down the fairway and with plenty of time in the third, it was all knotted up, 7-7.
As the ball was back to the Titans on the kickoff, it was Steve Olenski who ended that South offensive push with an interception but the 'Skins couldn't convert. The Titans didn't have much luck either and the third-period ended with the clubs still deadlocked seven-all.
Jumping feet first into the fourth, it was Langhorne that finally broke the logjam as Hall scooted in from the 19 to end another Redskin drive while pocketing his second six-pointer of the night. Tucci was on the money once again and with nine minutes on the clock, the Warriors had their first lead of the game, 14-7. With the ball going back to the home team's offense, Neshaminy's D came back out to make a stand. And with Olenski playing like an All-American, he soon picked another South aerial to stop their next drive.
As the clock was becoming a factor, Neshaminy's offense came alive as they took it down to the 20 with under three minutes left in the game. From there Hall busted one in for a score with the Blue & Red fans going wild until the flag on the field signaled it was coming back on a holding call. Then going to a fourth and four a few tries later, the Tucci field goal missed and South got the ball back at the 20 with 1:27 left to play.
With the Titans giving it to their big man, the ball was soon at mid-field but it had cost almost a minute as the clock showed 40 seconds was all that remained. A few shots then saw the Titans inside the Neshaminy 40 as the clock signaled just under 30 seconds in the bank. South then worked it to the 27 with 15 ticks to go. One pass from there fell short and 8 seconds still showed as the Titans set up one more time. And going to the air lanes, the desperation pass went incomplete just as the gun sounded. So here it comes:
Game to 'Skins!
WOW!! Is there much more to say? Maybe not, so one more time WOW!! What a terrific game to watch and what a fantastic effort by these two clubs. The fans couldn't have asked for more and couldn't have gotten more. First, a big shout-out to the Titans for their great season and great effort tonight. And to the Redskins you made the whole Indian Nation proud tonight. Good, good show! Plus with the win, the Tribe will be putting the war bonnets on again next week as they travel down to Coatesville to take on a very good, and a very tough, 10-2 Red Raiders club in a District One semi-final matchup. You can expect a packed house too so lets get there early and in force so we can let our 'Skins know were behind them 110%!
See you at the game.
