FOOTBALL: Michael Eckart gets Neshaminy off to fast start in blowout win over Pennridge
EAST ROCKHILL – Michael Eckart got the Neshaminy football off to a fast start, as the junior quarterback darted through the middle then dashed away for a 70-yard touchdown run on the opening snap of Saturday afternoon game against host Pennridge.
"It was great, they parted the Red Sea, I saw my opening," Eckart it was open and I just used my speed."
Neshaminy got another big run to extend its lead late to 17-3 in the first half as Nahsir Moore burst 44 yards to the end zone. The visitors proceeded to pull away after halftime, Eckart connecting on a pair of touchdowns passes in the third and Neshaminy rolled past the Rams for a 38-3 win at Helman Field.
"Everybody working as one," Eckart said. "Linemen were getting their job done, receivers were getting their job done and then running backs were getting their job done."
Eckart completed 6-of-9 passes for 119 yards and added another 85 yards on the ground as Neshaminy (5-2, 2-2 conference) collected 251 rushing yards to bounce back from a Week 6 loss to Central Bucks West to reach five wins for the first time since 2020.
"Getting over that five-win mark, we have gotten there in years so it feels good," Eckart said.
Neshaminy, which went 2-8 in 2021 then 4-6 in both 2022 and 2023, has not qualified for the District 1-6A playoffs since 2008 but entered Saturday 10th in the district rankings with the top 16 making the tournament.
Neshaminy finishes the regular season with three straight games at home beginning Thursday against Central Bucks East.
Pennridge (4-3, 2-2) shut out Abington 47-0 last Friday but could not continue the momentum Saturday, the Rams' lone points coming on Luis Nunes' 20-yard field goal to cut Neshaminy's lead to 10-3 in the second quarter.
"Definitely hurts, this is not what we wanted to happen today," Pennridge senior linebacker/tight end Trevor Fuhs said.
The Rams, who began the day eighth in the District 1-6A rankings, is back at Helman Field for its next game on Saturday, Oct. 12 against Central Bucks West 7 p.m.
Sean Leuthe paced Pennridge with six catches for 45 yards, most of that coming on a 38-yard run in the fourth. Quarterback Noah Keating completed just 10 of his 25 passes for 66 yards and an interception.
In the third quarter, the Rams' Jackson Gregoire snagged an interception off a deflection to give Pennridge the ball at its own 44. But on the next play, Pennridge was ruled – after a lengthy discussion – to have fumbled, giving possession back to Neshaminy.
A flag for defensive pass interference followed by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty moved Neshaminy 30 yards down to the Rams' 15. Eckart hit Carter Clee for a 10-yard completion to make it 1st-and-Goal at the five. A false start backed the visitors up five but Eckart rolled and connected with Colby Bracey for a 10-yard touchdown for a 24-3 lead at 9:15 in the third.
"I could've used my legs but he was there so I hit 'em," Eckart said.
After forcing a Pennridge punt, Neshaminy made it 31-3 on its next drive as Eckart found Jason Gilardi on the left side on a 3rd-and-10 and Gilardi turned up the field and down the sideline for a 52-yard TD at 5:13.
Jason Wilmot's 29-yard touchdown run with 1:56 remaining in the fourth put Neshaminy up 38-3.
Eckart gave Neshaminy a 7-0 lead just 20 seconds into the game with his 70-yard TD. The visitors pushed their advantage to 10-0 at 1:59 in the opening quarter when Kaden Nicastro connected on a 26-yard field goal.
Pennridge put together its best drive on the following possession and had 1st-and-Goal from the Neshaminy eight. However, an incompletion then two short runs made it 4th-and-Goal at the four and the 17-play series ended with a 20-yard Nunes field goal.
Neshaminy made it 17-3 on its next drive, Moore racing up the middle on a 2nd-and-14 and taking it to the end zone for a 44-yard score with 3:38 left in the half.
