FAIRLESS HILLS, Pa. — The Neshaminy High football team did not get to celebrate winning a Suburban One League National Division championship this year, but on Friday night it did get to savor the one thing it will always enjoy most short of winning a district title.
This, of course, is beating Pennsbury, which Neshaminy did in convincing style by rolling past its arch rival by the score of 35-14 in front of a big home crowd at Falcon Field.
Neshaminy went into the game hoping it could earn a share of a league title along with four other teams, but those hopes went out the window when Pennridge defeated Central Bucks South, 28-7, to lock up the title outright.
On the plus side, even though it was not a significant achievement to beat a 1-9 team that was one of the worst in Pennsbury history, the Redskins were able to rebound from losing two of their three previous games and take momentum into next week’s PIAA District 1 Class 6A playoffs. Neshaminy was 10th on the latest power points chart, and only time will tell if it can bump up into the top eight and get a home game.
Neshaminy running back Carter Clee runs to the end zone to score a touchdown against Pennsbury during a SOL National football game on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025 at Falcon Field in Fairless Hills, Pa. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)
Neshaminy running back Brock Williams, center, carries the ball as teamamte Bobby Lagler, 12, blocks and Pennsbury’s Shawn Beatty, 3, and Jacob Parada, 11, go to make the tackle during a SOL National football game on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025 at Falcon Field in Fairless Hills, Pa. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)
Pennsbury running back Luke Beighley, 34, breaks away from Neshaminy defensive back Mike Sassano, 15, to score a touchdown during a SOL National football game on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025 at Falcon Field in Fairless Hills, Pa. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)
Pennsbury running back Luke Beighley, 34, reacts to scoring a touchdown against Neshaminy during a SOL National football game on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025 at Falcon Field in Fairless Hills, Pa. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)
Pennsbury quarterback Jack Arndt, 12, is tackled by Neshaminy’s Dan McGarrity, 7, Tristan Rivera, 6, and Milo Makes, 54, during a SOL National football game on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025 at Falcon Field in Fairless Hills, Pa. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)
Pennsbury linebacker Justin LaRue-Madison, 32, holds the ball after recovering a fumble against Neshaminy during a SOL National football game on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025 at Falcon Field in Fairless Hills, Pa. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)
Neshaminy wide receiver Brock Williams, left, tries to get away from Pennsbury safety Jacob Depew, right, during a SOL National football game on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025 at Falcon Field in Fairless Hills, Pa. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)
Pennsbury running back Kaiden Brown, center, looks to avoid the tackle of Neshaminy defensive back Mike Sassano, left, and linebacker Luke Howell, right, during a SOL National football game on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025 at Falcon Field in Fairless Hills, Pa. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)
Pennsbury running back Luke Beighley, 34, celebrates with teammates Justin LaRue-Madison, 32, Jacob Parada, 11, and Kaiden Brown, 2, after scoring a touchdown against Neshaminy during a SOL National football game on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025 at Falcon Field in Fairless Hills, Pa. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)
Neshaminy quarterback Michael Eckart, 1, fumbles the ball as he’s hit by Pennsbury linebacker Justin LaRue-Madison, 32, during a SOL National football game on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025 at Falcon Field in Fairless Hills, Pa. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)
Pennsbury quarterback Jack Arndt, 12, gets under center to take the snap from center Spencer Grim, 52, during a SOL National football game on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025 at Falcon Field in Fairless Hills, Pa. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)
Pennsbury wide receiver Aiden Kitchenman, right, blocks against Neshaminy linebacker Luke Howell, left, during a SOL National football game on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025 at Falcon Field in Fairless Hills, Pa. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)
Neshaminy quarterback Michael Eckart, 1, follows through on a pass attempt against Pennsbury during a SOL National football game on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025 at Falcon Field in Fairless Hills, Pa. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)
Neshaminy coach Nick Felus walks on the sideline against Pennsbury during a SOL National football game on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025 at Falcon Field in Fairless Hills, Pa. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)
Neshaminy coach Nick Felus walks on the sideline against Pennsbury during a SOL National football game on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025 at Falcon Field in Fairless Hills, Pa. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)
Pennsbury coach Galen Snyder watches from the sideline against Neshaminy during a SOL National football game on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025 at Falcon Field in Fairless Hills, Pa. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)
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Neshaminy running back Carter Clee runs to the end zone to score a touchdown against Pennsbury during a SOL National football game on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025 at Falcon Field in Fairless Hills, Pa. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)
The biggest star of Friday night’s show was senior quarterback Michael Eckart. Other than a second quarter fumble in which he lost the ball at the Pennsbury 1-yard line, Eckert played about as good a game as you could possibly imagine.
Prior to sitting out the fourth quarter, Eckert repeatedly picked apart the Pennsbury secondary and ended up going 20-for-25 for 243 yards and three touchdown passes. For good measure, he also ran for 97 yards on nine carries against a Pennsbury defense that had previously played very well for most of the season.
“It sounds great,” replied Eckart when he was told about his passing stats for the game. “We just needed to do what we had to do. We have good athletes everywhere, and we can run and pass the ball. We just felt confident in what we were doing and went out an executed.”
Did they ever because other than two Redskin turnovers late in the first half, Pennsbury was not able to stop Neshaminy once prior to the fourth quarter.
It all began with a game-opening 68-yard drive on nine plays that was culminated by a five-yard sweep around right end by Carter Clee.
In what was really its only bright moment of the game, Pennsbury replied with a drive of its own when junior Luke Beighley scored on an eight-yard burst up the middle to tie the score on the second play of the second quarter.
Neshaminy had the quick reply for this as it roared right down the field and scored on a 21-yard pass by Eckart to Clee.
Only trailing by the score of 14-7 at the half after recovering a fumble in the end zone, Pennsbury got the ball to start the third quarter and appeared to be still very much in the game.
Looks, as they say, can be deceiving.
Neshaminy took total control of the game in the third quarter with three touchdowns, all by senior MIke Sassano.
Sassano’s first two touchdowns were on passes of 11 and 28 yards from Eckert. The first of those TD receptions by Sassano was a real backbreaker for Pennsbury because it came on fourth down.
With the Neshaminy defense pretty much stone walling the Falcon running game, Pennsbury increasingly tried to throw the ball as the game went along. This resulted in a 45-yard interception return by Sassano, who scored his third touchdown on the pick six. Sassano also had another interception on a nice diving grab a few minutes earlier on a play that started at the Neshaminy 46 yard line.
As it turned out, three teams ended up tied for second behind Pennridge (9-1, 6-1). In addition to Neshaminy, Central Bucks West and North Penn all finished a game back with 5-2 divisional records.
Neshaminy (7-3) 7 7 21 0 — 35
Pennsbury (1-9) 0 7 0 7 — 14
First Quarter
N-Clee 5 run (Buczek)
Second Quarter
P-Beighley 8 run (Pereira kick)
N-Clee 21 pass from Eckert (Buczek kick)
Third Quarter
N-Sassano 11 pass from Eckert (Buczek kick)
N-Sassano 28 pass from Eckert (Buczek kick)
N-Sassano 45 interception return (Buczek kick)
Fourth Quarter
P-Beighley 49 run (Pereira kick)
CR South, 45, CR North 0
NEWTOWN, Pa. -—The Hawks easily defeated their sister school in the so called Unity Bowl and wrapped up the Suburban One Continental Division championship outright. Rock South also improved to 9-1 and assured itself of a home game in the Class 6A playoffs, which get underway Friday night.
OTHER SCORES
North Penn 56, Abington 13; CB West, 35, CB East 21; Bensalem 31, Truman 13; Pennridge 28, CB South 7