To Run in the November 1stBucks County Herald
The Lions stay at the top of the food chain.
With Friday night’s no doubt 47-0 win at Morrisville, the New Hope-Solebury Lions (8-2, 5-0 BAL) clinched their third straight Bicentennial League title. NH-S’ offense showed exceptional balance, gaining 205 yards in the air and 174 on the ground.
Morrisville (3-6, 1-3 BAL) had three three-and-outs and suffered a Mike Richards interception in their first eleven offensive plays. The Lions first five drives ended in touchdowns. Patrick Cooney’s 40-yard catch set up Patrick Tangradi’s nine-yard touchdown.
“It was a play action. Phil (Weinseimer) carried out the fake well and the corner came down for run support,” Cooney described. “I was wide open and (Phil) looked my way.”
John Flavin’s beautiful 33-yard grab at the pylon made it 14-0.
“The line held up forever and I just kept running,” Flavin said. “The safety just came down and I was wide open. Phil put it in a perfect spot and I scored.”
Cooney added a 20 yard touchdown reception while a Tom Raupp two yard run put the Lions up 27-0 early in the second quarter.
Cooney collected 54 yards on a screen pass, setting up Tim Leonard’s three-yard scoring run with 2:35 remaining. It put NH-S up 34-0 at halftime.
“The screen was a well designed play,” said Cooney, who caught four passes for 122 yards. “The linemen got out and got on men. I found the hole.”
The Lions started that drive after Leonard broke up a fourth-and-goal pass to end a Morrisville scoring threat.
“We were doing a rotation with the DBs tonight, so we were al fresh,” said Leonard, who ran for 69 yards on seven carries while adding an interception. “It was a team effort.”
Michael Borys scored on an impressive 40-yard broken field run early in the third quarter. Leonard’s lunch pail six yard burrow capped the scoring.
A big lead “actually gets harder for us,” explained Lion head coach Jim DiTulio. “That is where coaching comes in. We want to sub guys but at the same time, we don’t want it to be a circus out there. We want to put our young kids in good positions.”
Quarterback Weinseimer completed 10 of 15 passes, going over 100 completions and 1,400 passing yards on the season.
“The line has been really solid this year,” Cooney credited. “It’s one of the best lines in the area and that gives Phil, who is a good young quarterback, time to throw.”
“Usually in New Hope it’s been a one receiver thing but this year, it’s everyone,” added Flavin, who caught three balls for 42 yards. “Cooney has the most yards and touchdowns but everyone is contributing.”
Morrisville drove inside the NH-S five once in each half. Bulldog quarterback Felix Feliciano was stopped at the Lion 1 on the game’s last play.
Morrisville moved the ball in Feliciano’s first series under center, but the Lions adjusted. “The first drive was not the quarterback we expected,” Leonard added. “When (Feliciano) came in, he is who we studied on film. We were ready to play.”
Friday night marked the 17thstraight Bicentennial win for the Lions. They will likely travel to Royersford on Friday as the three seed in AAA District One playoffs. Their foe, #2 Pope John Paul II, won at New Hope 39-27 on week two.
Tough upcoming game aside, the Lions could still celebrate another conference title on Friday. “Winning the League title again is always one of our goals. It’s always nice,” DiTulio reminded, “but it’s only one of our goals.”
