Football: Magdelinskas and Redskins turn back Ghosts

NESAHMINY 21, ABINGTON 18

Matt Magdelinskas says he and his Neshaminy football teammates decided to draw on the positives associated with a disappointing 0-2 start to the season.

"We knew our early schedule was tough," the senior said of lopsided losses to Washington's Gonzaga Prep and Downingtown West. "We had to use it as a learning experience and get better."

Friday night in Langhorne, with Magdelinskas making solid contributions at running back and outside linebacker, the improving Redskins bested visiting Abington, 21-18, in the Suburban One League National Conference opener for both squads.

The win over the Ghosts followed last week's 49-15 romp over former National Conference rival Council Rock South.

"We're getting there," Magdelinskas said. "We lost a lot of starters from last year's team, so we knew it wouldn't happen right away. We had to be patient."

Neshaminy senior tailback D'Andre Pollard agreed. "We knew it was going to be a little bit of a process," he said. "We had to come together as a family and continue to work hard."

The 5-foot-10, 175-pound Magdelinskas registered eight tackles, including seven solos, vs. Abington. He also carried three times for 19 yards.

Magdelinskas' father, Tom, is Neshaminy's athletic director and former head football coach at Archbishop Wood. He was a two-way end and kicker for the Redskins.

"Growing up, it was a football house," Matt Magdelinskas said. "Everything was football. It was a fun environment."

Neshaminy (2-2) held Abington senior tailback Juawine Sowell, who came in averaging 178 yards rushing per game, to 69 yards on 20 attempts.

"We just read our keys and flew to the football," said Magdelinskas, a speedy attackman with 129 career goals in lacrosse.

On offense for the Redskins, sophomore quarterback Mason Jones completed 12 of 19 passes for 143 yards. Pollard netted 70 yards on 21 carries.

"He's matured big-time over the last few weeks," Magdelinskas said of Jones. "He's being patient, making the right reads."

In the first quarter, Neshaminy cornerback J.R. Stevens broke a 7-7 tie by intercepting a pass along the sideline and scoring from 20 yards. Fullback Dan Dogba's 1-yard plunge made it 21-7 late in the second.

Abington (3-1) trimmed the gap to 21-18 on Sowell's 7-yard burst and QB David Kretschman's conversion run with 5:47 to play.

For lacrosse, Magdelinskas, a third-year varsity contributor on the gridiron, is considering Centenary College, in Hackettstown, N.J., and Gwynedd-Mercy.

Abington 7 3 0 8-18
Neshaminy 7 14 0 0-21

N: D'Andre Pollard 32 run (Dylan McDonald kick)

A: Daron Boone 20 pass from David Kretschman (Matt Bevilacqua kick)

N: J.R. Stevens 20 interception return (McDonald kick)

N: Dan Dogba 1 run (McDonald kick)

A: FG Bevilacqua 32

A: Juawine Sowell 8 run (David Kretschman run)