To view game action photos, visit the photo gallery at the following link: http://photos.suburbanonesports.com/
By Scott Huff
ABINGTON – The only way that this classic scholastic football game was going to end was on a scoring play by the winning team on the final snap from scrimmage.
And when Council Rock South running back Greg Welch took a vicious hit on the one-yard line and dragged a pair Ghost defenders into the end zone, the Golden Hawks (5-1, 2-1) had claimed an exhilarating 41-38 overtime victory over host Abington (4-1, 2-1).
“This was a huge win for this team,” winced Welch who rushed for 80 yards and scored three touchdowns. “Abington is a great football team. Any team that can beat Neshaminy like they did has to be a great football team.”
“It might be time for (Council Rock) South to get some of the recognition that Pennsbury, Neshaminy, and Abington have gotten in our league,” said CR South running back/defensive back Keith Hickey who scored a touchdown – rushed for 107 yards on only five carries – and also intercepted a pass. “This game was a real emotional roller coaster.”
It appeared that Abington would win the game in regulation. The Ghosts – who churned out 442 yards of total offense – pieced together a terrific drive in the final moments of the fourth period with the score even at 35-35.
Abington quarterback Sam Kind – who passed for 250 yards and three touchdowns – led the Ghosts from their own 35-yard line to the Rock South 13-yard line and a first down as the clock ran down.
First down lost two yards and second down was an incomplete pass with 33 seconds left in the game. Third down was a 6-yard run by Kind to line the ball up in the center of the field for a probable 26-yard field goal by Ian MacMillan.However, Abington never got its field goal team on the field, and time expired with the game still tied at 35.
“I blew it, I didn’t know we were out of timeouts” said a disconsolate Tim Sorber – head coach of the Ghosts. “I try to create situations where the kids can win ballgames, and the reality is that I have to accept the responsibility for what happened.
“The momentum shifted to their sideline in the overtime,” added Sorber. “You have to give both teams credit – both teams had to fight back.”
Council Rock South would score first in the opening period. Hickey intercepted a pass and just two plays later, quarterback Billy Fleming scored on a one-yard run. Rich Bruno would make the first of his five successful extra points to give the Hawks a 7-0 lead.
Abington cashed in on a CR South turnover when Julien Ireland - who rushed for 102 yards on 21 carries - capped a scoring drive with a five-yard run. A penalty and a low snap from center resulted in a missed conversion and the Hawks still led 7-6.
Abington rallied to take a lead when sophomore speedster Ray Schreiner jetted 40 yards for a score. The pass for the 2-point conversion failed, and the Ghosts settled for the 12-7 lead.
“Ray has looked great all season on our scout team,” said Sorber of his soph that rushed for 88 yards on eight carries. “He is going to help us down the road.”
Abington would score its third straight touchdown when Giuliano Presta latched on to a 5-yard TD pass from Kind. Again, the two-point conversion failed and Abington would assume an 18-7 lead.
Rock South would rally, though; to take a 21-18 first half lead with a pair of impressive second period touchdowns.
Fleming scampered18 yards for a score on a busted play and would add a one-yard score with just 32 seconds left in the half. The second scoring drive featured a nifty 61-yard dash by Hickey.Abington would regain the lead at the outset of the third period when Kind threw a gorgeous 41-yard scoring pass to a streaking Kevin Deal. MacMillan’s PAT gave the Ghosts a 25-21 lead.
The Golden Hawks would fly back into the lead as they began to punish the inside of the Abington defensive line. Fullback Braxton Ambrose – who rushed for 93 yards – was the featured back in this drive. Welch, though, would score the TD on a 25-yard bolt to the end zone to regain the lead for Rock South at 28-25.
The game would feature its first tie, as MacMillan was perfect for the Ghosts on a 35-yard field goal attempt to knot the score at 28-28 late in the third period.
Abington would take its final lead in regulation on the longest play of the game. Kind found his favorite receiver – Anthony Hensley – on a wonderful 77-yard scoring play. MacMillan’s placement made the score 35-28.
Rock South tied the score at 35-35 as it took advantage of a poor snap from punt formation to get a first and goal on the Abington six-yard line. Two plays later, Welch scored on a five-yard run to retie the scoring knot.
The contest went into overtime – MacMillan booted a 33-yard field goal to give the Ghosts a 38-35 lead – but then Welch scored the game winner on the final play of the game.
“This game was like a prize fight – and we were the last man standing,” said Council Rock head coach Vince Bedesem. “We are going to see a lot of these games in our league
“Coach Sorber is an excellent coach with an excellent coaching staff,” continued Bedesem. “Stuff happens in a high school football game.”
And with this significant Suburban One National Conference game on the line it was Council Rock South that had the right stuff.
/span>
Council Rock South 7 14 7 7 6 - 41
Abington 12 6 10 7 3 - 38
CRS: Billy Fleming 1 run (Rich Bruno kick)
A: Julien Ireland 5 run (run failed)
A: Ray Schreiner 40 run (pass failed)
A: Giuliano Presta 5 pass from Sam Kind (run failed)
CRS: Fleming 18 run (Bruno kick)
CRS: Greg Welch 1 run (Bruno kick)
A: Kevin Deal 41 pass from Kind (Ian MacMillan kick)
CRS: Welch 25 run (Bruno kick)
A: MacMillan 35 FG
A: Anthony Hensley 77 pass from Kind (MacMillan kick)
CRS: Keith Hickey 5 run (Bruno kick)
A: MacMillan 33 FG
CRS: Welch 9 run (no attempt)
CR South Abington
14 First Downs 18
240 Yards Rush 192
16 Yards Pass 250
256 Total Offense 442
6-55 Pen./Yards 6-65
5-36 Punts/Yards 3-38
Rock South
Rushing: Keith Hickey 5-107-TD; Braxton Ambrose 17-93; Greg Welch 15-80- 3 TD; Billy Fleming 16-60- 2 TD. Totals 53-240- 6 TD.
Passing: Fleming 3-6-0; 16 yards.
Receiving: Andrew Haviland 2-12; Mark Damigran 1-4. Totals 3-16.
Interceptions: Hickey, Haviland.
Abington
Rushing: Julien Ireland 21-102, TD, Ray Schreiner 8-88, TD; Sam Kind 5-2. Totals 34-192- 2 TD.
Passing: Kind 12-28-2; 250 yards – 3 TD.
Receiving: Anthony Hensley 4-119- TD; Kevin Deal 2-55-TD; Brandon Peoples 2-30; Giuliano Presta 2-24-TD; Raun Gray 1-15; Julien Ireland 1-7. Totals 12-250- 3 TD.
Interceptions: None.
- Log in to post comments
0
