because the ball flew end-over-end like a punt on several occasions.
Regardless of the weather, Neshaminy (3-3, 1-3), had little choice but to
throw the ball for two reasons.
First, Bill Saybolt's Panthers (3-3, 1-3) have the third-best defense against the rush in Lower Bucks County (106 yards yielded per game).
Second, Rob Latronica is no longer in the Redskins' backfield, so Neshaminy's rushing game this season is merely average. The Redskins rank only seventh in the county (136 yards per game).
So Welsh, who completed just 9 of 20 passes for 73 yards and 1 touchdown, was pretty much forced to throw and suffer the consequences.
That is not to say he suffered alone. Panthers quarterback Jay Jones was equally ineffective, going 0-for-5 with 2 interceptions.
Which pretty much made it a ground game, something Panthers coach Saybolt dislikes. Like Chaump, Saybolt worships the pass. His teams at North Catholic were known for their gambling air-it-out attack.
Although the Panthers did not get a lot of mileage out of their backfield, running back Donald Pernsley cranked out 90 yards on 20 carries, and fullback Mike Lizzi chipped in with 49 yards on 10 carries, plus a pair of touchdowns, as the Panthers finally cracked the victory column in Suburban One league play.
"The last three weeks we have not executed offensively," said Saybolt, who, in preseason, never thought his club would be at break-even point after six games.
Part of the reason is Pernsley's slow start in the backfield (296 yards entering the game) and a recent switch in quarterback from Rich Clancy to ex- receiver Jay Jones.
Jones is a natural at wideout, where he has 4.5 time in the 40 and is the defending state champ in the indoor 60-dash.
Although Jones had a dreadful game offensively against Neshaminy, his fourth-quarter interception stopped a Redskins drive at the Panthers' 39-yard line - the closest Neshaminy got to scoring that quarter.
Turnovers played a role in this game. In the second quarter, Rick Adcock's fumbled punt return set up Welsh's 11-yard touchdown to Ross Gay, which gave Neshaminy an 8-7 lead.
That lead did not last long. Later that quarter, Adcock atoned for his earlier gaffe with a brilliant 74-yard punt return that was 4 yards shy of the goal line.
Ralph D'Angelo took it from there as Tennent jumped back in front, 13-8.
Midway into the third quarter, Tennent's Martin Noble intercepted Welsh, and that set up a 15-yard run by Lizzi that put the game out of reach at 20-8.
Meanwhile, Neshaminy continues to wonder what is happening to its season.
"Am I perplexed? Absolutely," said Chaump.
Maybe it is something in the wind.
