To view pre-season photos, visit the photo gallery by clicking on the following link: http://photos.suburbanonesports.com/
By Scott Huff
ABINGTON – It was August 20, 2009.
The temperature was a sweltering 90 degrees, and the humidity was an oppressive 82 percent.
The Abington Ghost football team labored in that heat and humidity in a practice that lasted close to three hours. It was the fourth day of Summer Camp, and a scrimmage against Quakertown was just two days away.
It was a grueling offensive practice that included stretching and warm-up - followed by an individual period with a focus on the run game – followed by an individual period with a focus on the pass game – followed by a 7-on-7 period with a focus on pass protection – followed by a team scripted offense sequence – and concluded by a drill on quarterback cadence.
Defense would have to wait – until 3:30 p.m. – in the same stifling heat and humidity.Three of the Abington players were to find refuge in the air-conditioned library to sit down and reflect on the upcoming season.
The first one through the door – gulping down water from a water bottle - was senior offensive tackle/defensive end Nick DiSandro. A starting guard last season, the muscular DiSandro stands 6-foot – 4 inches and weighs 270 pounds.
Next came junior tailback Julien Ireland. Ireland highlighted a productive Ghost running game a year ago as he rushed for sensational 1305 yards and scored 13 touchdowns.
And finally senior quarterback Sam Kind arrived – with an ice pack strapped to his gifted passing arm. Kind completed 157 passes for 2461 yards and a staggering 29 touchdowns last season.
Abington finished last season with a 10-3 record and earned a spot in the PIAA District One AAAA Playoffs. The Ghosts beat Glen Mills in the opening round but saw their season come to an end with a loss to North Penn.
“We want to be better this year,” said Ireland. “The whole idea is get better and improve. We have worked hard to do that.”
“To be able to start last year as a junior, and to get to the playoffs was ‘sick’,” said DiSandro. “To play in games that were that important – and to play in front of crowds of that size – was an amazing experience.”
“We learned how to play the game a whole new level,” said Kind. “We know that we have to work hard on every play in every game.”
One thing that DiSandro, Ireland, and Kind could all agree on was that the Ghosts were out to win. And the trio also agreed on the formula of how to gain that success.
“We have worked hard lifting and getting into condition to get through this camp,” said Ireland. “And with the players we have back, there should be real chemistry.”
“Having (key) players back is very important,” said Kind. “We don’t have to start with a base, we already have that experience playing with each other.”
“Leadership is also going to be important for us to be successful,” said DiSandro. “The captains and every senior are going to have to step up and take control.”
Both Kind and Ireland have been selected as team captains, but both know their task of leadership is going to be shared.
“Nick is the leader of the line,” said Kind. “We have some new players there, and Nick is going to have to be that leader.”“We have a great group of seniors,” said Ireland. “And you can’t have enough leaders on the team.”
The ten wins registered last season was the most wins that an Abington football team ever recorded.
“I have come full circle,” said Abington coach Tim Sorber. “I inherited a team that lost 10 games 10 years ago, and now I start the season with a team that won 10 games last year.
“The taste of success makes motivation to get through camp easier,” added Sorber. “But these players have put in the work all through the off season with the weights and the conditioning programs.
“Nick, Julien, and Sam are three kids that have really made a commitment to get better,” continued Sorber. “And their leadership is appreciated.”
Abington will scrimmage Quakertown on Saturday.
“We will prepare for Quakertown like we would prepare for every team we play,” said Kind. “We’ll watch film from last year, and we will get a good idea of where we are.”
“Scrimmages can be real important,” said Ireland. “We have some real chemistry during practice on this team, but we want show it on the field.”
“Quakertown is usually pretty big,” said DiSandro. “It should be a nice test for our lineman.”
The forecast for the Saturday 10 a.m. scrimmage at Abington High School will be awfully hot and extremely humid.
And it will be August 22, 2009.
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