Neshaminy edges Pennridge in defensive battle

EAST ROCKHILL >> In a football game dominated by defense, Neshaminy found itself needing one more stop deep in its own territory to hold off Pennridge Friday night.

“We stopped them all night,” Neshaminy senior defensive back Adam Goodman said. “Offense goes down to score and we got to keep them shut down.”

Taking over 37 yards from the end zone down a point with just 44.3 seconds remaining in the Suburban One League National Conference matchup, the host Rams moved down to the 15 but could go no further – a incompletion on a pass over the middle on fourth down securing Neshaminy’s 7-6 win at Helman Field.

“All we can ask for is be in a position to win at the end even with the slow offensive night,” Pennridge coach Chuck Burgy said. “Defense is lights out. Craig Whitten puts together plans every week, he’s been a great DC (defensive coordinator) and the kids have rallied around him and they do a great job.”

The defense produced the Rams’ only points as Chase Marshall took an interception back 59 yards for a touchdown at 4:22 in the first quarter – a blocked extra point leaving Pennridge up 6-0.

The score stayed that way until the fourth. Facing a 4th and Goal from the nine, Neshaminy quarterback Colin Baker connected with Travis Lavelah, who got over the goal line for a touchdown. Kaden Nicastro’s extra point gave the visitors a 7-6 edge with 5:23 remaining.

“It was a pass to Travis, he was the primary receiver and he ran an OK route but he’s a good athlete and he got open,” Neshaminy coach Steve Wilmot said. “When we watched this Pennridge defense on film, the thing that really struck out is they have one or two really great individual defensive players but their defense as a whole did a really nice job of running to the ball and that was really on display tonight.”

Pennridge looked poised to answer on the next series. Starting at its own 47, the Rams drove down to the Neshaminy 7 but had to settle for a 26-yard field goal try – a high snap leading to a low kick into the line to leave Neshaminy still up one with 1:52 to go.

A Neshaminy false start on a 3rd-and-2 helped Pennridge force a three-and-out and a short punt had the Rams back with the ball at the Neshaminy 37 in the game’s final minute.

Freshman quarterback Noah Keating – making his first start – found Connor Lelii for 11 yards on 3rd-and-2 to reach the 18. Keating connected with Lelii for three more yards on the next play then spiked the ball on second down to stop the clock.

An incompletion on third down set up a 4th-and-7 from the 15 and on Rams’ last chance with 11.3 seconds a pass over the middle went a bit high and Neshaminy (4-2, 2-1 conference) held off for a second straight win.

Pennridge (2-4, 1-2, meanwhile, lost a close game for a second consecutive week, having fallen in double overtime to Central Bucks East 16-13 last Friday.

“Noah’s our true freshman, first game, he played huge,” Burgy said. “He was poised, he was a little field general, he did his job, we got to fix some things up front and give him some time to work.

“Back-to-back like this is tough. We got to keep it together and we have a lot to play for, nothing’s done. Not surrendering. We’re going to give them Monday and we’ll get back at it.”

Senior running back Markus Barnett provided Neshaminy most of its offense, carrying the ball 33 times for a game-high 161 yards – breaking away for a key 43-yard run on Neshaminy’s touchdown drive in the fourth.

With all of Pennridge’s offensive output coming on Marshall’s pick six, it was the second straight game Neshaminy’s defense allowed zero points, having shut out Abington 26-0 last Friday. Neshaminy also blanked Ocean City (N.J.) 21-0 in its season opener.

“I’m extremely happy to get out of here with a 7-6 victory,” Wilmot said. “I’m extremely proud of our defense, they pitched a shutout. It’s the second week in a row that they pitched a shutout. I think they’re playing at a really good level right now and I’m really proud of them.”

Brennan Fisher finished with 103 yards on 20 carries for the Rams while Keating was 9-of-21 passing for 79 yards and an interception.

“It’s a cliché but it’s like one guy here, one guy there,” Burgy said. “Executing together – the calls are there, the backs, we have some really great backs, weapons. Noah was doing a great job orchestrating it, we need to make sure that everybody’s executing at the same time cause it really is just one run through, one guy here.”

Both teams are on the road for SOL National matchups next week. Pennridge, which sits 19th in the District 1-6A rankings visits Pennsbury 1 p.m. Saturday at Truman. Neshaminy, 10th in the rankings, is at Central Bucks West 7 p.m. Friday.

“Feels really good, especially last year I didn’t get to play as much cause I had a knee injury,” Goodman said. “But having a good year this year (is) good and we got to make a push to get in these playoffs. Every game’s a must win.”

The Rams grabbed a 6-0 lead on Neshaminy’s second series, Muller intercepting a pass to the right side and racing 59 yards to the end zone at 4:22 in the opening quarter.

In the second quarter, a short punt had Pennridge starting at the Neshaminy 33 but the Rams’ drive began with a holding penalty and ended with a turnover on downs after a four-yard completion on 4th-and-9 from the 32.

Neshaminy proceeded to move down the field and late in the half had a 1st-and-10 from the Pennridge 12. Barnett ran for six on second down to reach the 6-yard line but after the Rams force him into a 1-yard loss on third down Neshaminy elected to go for it on fourth, only to come up empty after an incomplete pass to the end zone.

On the first possession of the second half, Pennridge picked up a first down as Xavier Dantzler collected 26 yards on a fake punt but the drive ended on the next play when Demacio Cooper made a diving interception.

Neshaminy tried its own fake-punt run on the following drive but gained just five and then fumbled on 4th-and-8, giving Pennridge the ball at the Neshaminy 33. The Rams, however, ended going backwards on a three-and-out and punted for the visitors’ 47.

Neshaminy’s go-ahead drive began at its own 20 with 10:02 remaining in the fourth. Barnett began the series with a 15-yard run then two plays later broke free for 43 yards down to the Rams 20. A Pennridge offsides penalty on 3rd-and-5 gave Neshaminy a 1st-and-Goal at the 10.

After two Barnett runs and an incompletion, Neshaminy faced 4th-and-Goal at the nine. Baker came through with his second and last completion of the night, connecting with Lavelah in front of the end zone with the junior receiver turning upfield and getting over the goal line at 5:23.

“I didn’t know what they were going to call there but good read by Colin, nice catch by Travis,” Goodman said.

Keating opened the following series with a seven-yard pass to Nick Swanson then after a Rams false start the freshman QB found Jake Holt for a 19-yard completion to the Neshaminy 37. Fisher followed with runs of 10 then 18 yards to put the Rams at the nine.

Fisher collected two yards on 1st-and-Goal. But Neshaminy got him for a two-yard loss on second down then held Fisher to no gain on third and  the Rams’ try at a 26-yard field goal was unsuccessful.

Neshaminy 7, Pennridge 6

Neshaminy (4-2, 2-1) 0 0 0 7 – 7

Pennridge (2-4, 1-2) 6 0 0 0 – 6

First Quarter

P – Chase Marshall 59 interception return (kick blocked), 4:22.

Fourth Quarter

N – Colin Baker 9 pass to Travis Lavelah (Kaden Nicastro kick), 5:23.

N P

First Downs 9 10

Rushes-yards 40-146 32-144

Passing 2-11-1 9-21-1

Passing yards 15 79

Totals yards 161 223

Punts 7 5

Penalties-yards 5-25 7-60

Fumbles-lost 2-1 3-0

Rushing

Neshaminy: Markus Barnett 33-161; Julian Hammond 3-10; Cole Tarapchak 1-(-5); Colin Baker 3-(-20).

Pennridge: Brennan Fisher 20-103; Xavier Dantzler 2-27; Connor Lelii 4-25; Nate Mossbrook 1-7; Tyler Wetzel 3-2; ; Noah Keating 2-(-20).

Passing

Neshaminy: Colin Baker 2-11-1, 15, TD.

Noah Keating 9-21-1, 79.

Receiving

Neshaminy: Travis Lavelah 1-9, TD; Connor Frederick 1-6.

Pennridge; Nick Swanson 5-42; Jake Holt 1-19; Connor Lelii 3-18.

Interceptions

Neshaminy: Demacio Cooper.

Pennridge: Chase Marshall.