New faces, same results

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With plenty of new faces in key spots it would have been easy for teams to look at the Abington football program a little bit differently this season. But after a season opening 34-0 win over Hanover on Saturday, the Green Wave made a statement to the rest of the area, that the program is alive and well.

It had been a long off-season, and a hard preseason, but the memories of seasons past were faded with the opening kickoff, and it was a new team, and one that was raring to go.

“Mentally we were ready, we didn’t have a lot of mental mistakes,” Abington head coach Jim Kelliher said. “Their efforts in the preseason were rewarded.”

Hanover was doomed from the start as they turned the ball over a couple of times, and the Green Wave made them pay.

Keith Faxon opened the scoring for Abington with a three-yard scoring run in the first quarter. It would be the first of five Green Wave touchdowns, scored in a Patriots like fashion, as five different players found the end zone. It was a lot of the newcomers who contributed early on.

Kristian Lapointe caught a 35-yard pass from Steve Perakslis, making his first varsity start under center that set up the second score of the day. Lapointe’s grab brought the ball down to the nine-yard line and the drive was capped on a nine-yard pass to Mitchell Dillon from Perakslis.

Lapointe also had two other long runs, and showed a nice burst of speed on both of them.

“He can be tough to handle in open spaces,” Kelliher said.

Another first year varsity contributor is Pat Gabriele, and he got his first touchdown of the season on a 31 yard score.

The fourth touchdown came courtesy of the only returning veteran in the backfield, Tony Giannini who scored from two yards out in the second half.

Senior Mel DeYulus, who started as a defensive back last year, but is also getting some time in the backfield this season added the last touchdown. The spreading the wealth, and sharing carries is a staple for Kelliher, and this season it may be taken to an extreme with so many capable backs in the fold. Saturday was a chance to see them all in game action and see what they can do.

“A good number of guys had some carries,” Kelliher said.

Kelliher also credited his offensive line with a terrific day, allowing for so much action on the ground, The group of Kevin MacClean, Kalongi Kabongo, Jarad Dunn, and Sean Martin were solid all day in sustaining blocks and opening holes.

The veteran head coach was also happy with the debut of Perakslis as his new quarterback. There were some tough judgements, and he missed a couple guys but overall Kelliher was happy with the effort.

“It was a nice opening day at quarterback,” he said. “He more than handled himself.”

Defensively it doesn’t get much better than a shutout on opening day, and Kelliher was pleased.

“We played pretty good defense. Our front five and linebackers had a good day,” he said.

In the defensive backfield, Josh Miggins had an interception, and safety Tyler Hitchcock also had a good day.

Abington must now keep the momentum going this weekend in the annual rivalry game with Rockland. The Green Wave downed the Bulldogs a year ago, and are hoping to stay on the right track.

Rockland is coming off a season opening 7-0 loss to East Bridgewater, but Kelliher knows his team will be in for a battle.

They are tough, and always physical,” Kelliher said. “We are happy with 34-0 but we have to get that out of our minds because they could whip us.”

Game time is set for noon on Saturday at Rockland Stadium.