Abington/Neshaminy Football Game Moved to Monday

As severe storms douse the area, elevated concerns over field conditions forced the postponement of Friday night's football game between Suburban One League National powers Abington and Neshaminy.

The game will be played Monday night at 7 p.m. at Schwartzman Stadium.

"The Abington School District made the decision to cancel our Friday home football game in order to provide the best possible field conditions for our athletes and our scheduled opponents," Abington athletic director Cosimo Fiorino said. "The forecasted rainfall created a concern for playing conditions. We are hoping for better weather conditions next week."

As SOL teams opened the conference portion of the regular season, no game had more sizzle. Both schools are 3-0 and coming off high-scoring wins, and the Galloping Ghosts and Redskins each posted 6-1 conference records last season to share the SOL National title.

 Neshaminy holds a head-to-head mental edge, having beaten the Ghosts 35-21 in November of last year in a second-round district playoff game. The Redskins also won 28-10 in the SOL regular-season opener for both teams in September 2010.

"We know Neshaminy very well," Abington head coach Tim Sorber told SuburbanOneSports.com. "Maybe they have our number. In the last four or five years, we have won only one or two times, and I think that wears on our kids' minds. If we're really going to be classified as a good team, we have to overcome this obstacle and beat Neshaminy because in the 1950s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and the 21st century, they've been one of the top programs in this area, if not the state."

In lighting up Souderton 38-17, Abington dazzled with speed and overall offensive explosiveness, led by quarterback Ken Cropper, wide receiver Ray Schreiner and Josh Lee and tight end Chris Ruhl.

  Cropper, a transfer from Cheltenham, has seamlessly transitioned into the Ghosts' shotgun offense. In his first game with his new school earlier this month — a 35-20 win over Central Bucks East —

Cropper raced for two touchdowns and hooked up with wide receiver Josh Lee for a 52-yard strike 50 seconds into the game.

    On defense, the Ghosts force turnovers and turn them into points. Defensive end Bryan Osei, verbally committed to Villanova, leads that charge.

"He's extremely disruptive and does a lot of things," Sorber said. "He's a kid you have to account for and game plan."

 

Though Neshaminy coach Mark Schmidt would've likely preferred to play in muddy conditions that may have neutralized some of Abington's speed, he said he hopes his team is ready Monday.

   

"When you play a team like Abington, who can take it to the house on any play, we have to take advantage of opportunities," Schmidt told SuburbanOneSports. "That's the one thing we're not doing. We have to get better in all aspects. We have to protect better, connect on short passes and stay solid on special teams. When you play against a good team like this one, you can't let them break one."