Plymouth Whitemarsh defeated Abington in a battle of last year’s district playoff squads. To view action photos of the game, please visit the Photo Gallery.
By Scott Huff
Plymouth Meeting – There were some serious question marks coming into the season about the defending Suburban One League American Conference champions. Graduation claimed key performers from that Plymouth Whitemarsh title team, and even after the Colonials beat Perkiomen Valley (20-16) in their opener, there were difficult questions still to be answered.
Plymouth Whitemarsh seniors Corey Kelly and Terry Brown answered those doubters with exclamation point performances as the Colonials (2-0) marched to a decisive 45-17 victory over visiting Abington (1-1). The Ghosts entered the game as the defending co-champions of the SOL National Conference.
“We all heard about how the team this year wouldn’t be as good as the team last year,” smiled Brown who scored a defensive touchdown to go along with two rushing scores and 120 rushing yards. “There is no star on this team – just a bunch of players that want to play and win as a team.
“We were proud of being a part of that team last year,” added Brown. “And that success rubbed off on us. But we still need to go out and prove something every time we go on the field.”
Kelly – who pounded the interior of the Abington defense – rushed 23 times for 138 yards and a score.
“I would like to get the ball every down if I could,” grinned Kelly. “After each play, I get up and pound my chest to let them know they can give it to me again.
“We did not beat Abington the last two years, and I don’t know if many people believed that we were going to beat them this year,” continued Kelly. “We came out strong, and that might have surprised them.”
Strong isn’t a strong enough description of what transpired in the opening moments of the game.
After the Colonial defense forced a three-and-out, PW gained possession for the first time in the game. On the very first offensive snap from scrimmage, Kelly rambled through a gaping hole to score on a 47-yard touchdown burst.
“Give credit to the offensive line on that one,” said Kelly. “I wasn’t really touched, and I think I might have had just one defender to beat.”
Kelly teamed with Brown for what proved to be a game changing play on the next Abington series. Kelly jolted an Abington running back and caused a fumble that bounced high on the turf. Brown gathered in the football and jetted 65 yards to give the Colonials a quick two-touchdown lead.
“Give Corey all the credit by forcing the fumble,” said Brown. “All I did was catch the ball on the bounce and take off. I thought all along that it was going to be a touchdown.”
Brown found the end zone so attractive that he culminated the next two Colonial scoring drives with touchdown runs. The first score came on a 14-yard bolt, while the second tally came on an 11-yard blast. The PW lead became 27-0, and thoughts of a 35-point mercy-rule game danced through the heads of those in attendance.
“Brown and Kelly just wore us out,” said Abington head coach Tim Sorber. “They were playing both ways, and they were making plays both ways. We just fell behind too far and too quickly.
“Give (Plymouth Whitemarsh head coach) Dan Chang for getting the ball into the hands of his playmakers,” added Sorber. “Dan does a great job.”
To Abington’s credit, though, the Ghosts rallied to close the score to 27-10.
The first Abington score came on a 23-yard field goal by Sean Tracy, and a second score came on a wonderful 30-yard scoring run by junior Craig Reynolds. A near touchdown pass came late in the half, but the Ghosts would get no closer for the remainder of the game.
PW stopped momentum and scored in the third quarter. Quarterback Pete Giorgio capped a scoring drive with a one-yard sneak.
Abington would counter with what proved to be its last scoring effort as quarterback Dylan Collins fired an 18-yard scoring pass to tight end Trey Guaglionona.
Plymouth Whitemarsh would score the final two touchdowns of the game to seal the win. Giorgio connected with Eric Tucker on a 20-yard scoring aerial, while freshman Manny Jones scored the final touchdown of the game on a nifty 38-yard dash.”
“It feels good to finally beat Abington,” said Chang – now in his third year as head coach of the Colonials. “We have never started the season 2-0 while I have been head coach, and I guess that says a lot about this group of players.”
And those question marks prior to the season are providing winning answers in the early season for the Colonials.
Abington Ghosts 0 10 7 0 - 17
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials 19 8 12 6 - 45
PW: Corey Kelly 47 run (Matt Goldberg kick)
PW: Terry Brown 65 fumble return (kick failed)
PW: Brown 14 run (kick failed)
PW: Brown 11 run (Brown run)
A: Sean Tracy 23 FG
A: Craig Reynolds 30 run (Tracy kick)
PW: Pete Giorgio 1 run (run failed)
A: Trey Guaglionona 18 pass from Dylan Collins (Tracy kick)
PW: Eric Tucker 20 pass from Giorgio (run failed)
PW: Manny Jones 38 run (kick failed)
Abington Plymouth Whitemarsh
11 First Downs 19
185 Rushing Yards 362
53 Passing Yards 128
238 Total Offense 490
5-26 Punts / Average 1-27
8-46 Penalties/Yards 6-50
Abington
Rushing: Craig Reynolds 8-79 & TD; Tyler Schreirer 10-65; Dylan Collins 6-54; Keith Boggi 1-0; Anthony Lee 3 (minus 13). Totals 28-185 & TD.
Passing: Dylan Collins 5-18-1 for 53 yards & TD
Receiving: Kendall Stewart 2-23; Trey Guaglionona 2-28 & TD; Keith Boggi 1-2. Totals 5-53.
Interceptions: Phil Gore
Plymouth Whitemarsh
Rushing: Corey Kelly 23-138 & TD; Terry Brown 11-120 & 2 TD; Pete Giorgio 7-41 & TD; Manny Jones 1-38 & TD; Connor Hanlon 3-25. Totals – 45-362 & 5 TD.
Passing: Pete Giorgio 8-14-1 for 128 yards & TD.
Receiving: Alton Custus 6-93; Eric Tucker 1-20 & TD; Corey Kelly 1-15. Totals 8-128 & TD.
Interception: Cory Grabowsky
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