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By Scott Huff
ABINGTON – Abington wasn’t invited – but the Ghosts finally busted into the penthouse of the Suburban One National Conference with a wonderful 28-24 victory over visiting Neshaminy.
“This league has always been about Neshaminy and Pennsbury,” said Abington head coach Tm Sorber. “So we challenged the players to knock down that door with a win tonight.”
“The coaches wrote on the white board before the game that if you just knock on the door, nobody will let you in,” said senior quarterback Sam Kind who had a glorious game with 234 yards passing and a pair of touchdowns. “We finally got in tonight.”Not without a furious fourth quarter rally by the defending SOL National champion. The Redskins nearly erased a 28-10 in the final period with a pair of touchdowns.
Neshaminy was on a potential game-winning drive late in the game when Ghost defensive back Jared Claybrook intercepted a pass on the Abington 13-yard line with 29 seconds left in the game.
“I was thrilled with the way that we battled back,” said Neshaminy head coach Mark Schmidt. “I’m very proud of the effort we gave, and we had our opportunities to win the game.
“But give Abington credit for the way that they played,” added Schmidt. “(Abington wideout -Anthony) Hensley is a good football player, and he and Kind made some big plays in the first half.”
Indeed.
Kind connected with Hensley on 11 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns – in the first half. The duo accounted for 196 yards on 14 connections for the game.
“We have been playing together for a long time,” said Hensley. “Even when there is a breakdown on the play, I seem to be able to find an open spot and Sam will get me the ball.”
“Everything worked very well in the first half,” said Kind, who was slowed by cramps in the second half. “We have always had a great connection.”
Neshaminy took a 3-0 lead as the Skins scored on their initial possession of the game. Senior Ricky Domico showed plenty of leg on a 35-yard field goal.
Abington answered right back and took a 7-3 lead. The Ghost moved 73 yards on 11 plays with the scoring play a 26-yard pass from Kind to Hensley. Ian MacMillian added the first of his four extra points.
Neshaminy regained the advantage early in the second period. Bryan Dean – who led the Skins with 95 yards rushing – scored on a 40-yard TD bolt inside the tackles. Domico added the placement, and the Skins led 10-7.
Abington again answered right back with an impressive 11-play, 95-yard touchdown drive to snatch a 14-10 lead. Hensley caught five balls on this march – including a 48-yard play – and Kind capped the drive with a one-yard run.
Abington would push the lead to 21-10 before the close of the half. The Ghosts scored with just 11 seconds left in the half on a four-yard TD pass from Kind to Hensley. The highlight of this drive, though, was a 44-yard tear by junior running back Julien Ireland. Ireland would lead all rushers with 144 yards on 23 carries.A huge Abington defensive play seemed to seal the deal for the Ghosts. Abington defensive back Kevin Deal intercepted a ball on the Skin 19-yard line and returned it four a touchdown. MacMillian’s placement swelled the Abington lead to 28-10 with 9:53 left in the game.
Neshaminy came storming back. A six-play drive featured the right arm of senior quarterback Brian Titus who completed four passes on the drive for 72 yards. Dean capped the drive with a three-yard touchdown leap, and a two-point conversion from Titus to Shane Quinn shaved the lead to 28-18.
The Skins’ defense made a huge play as Corey Majors intercepted a pass at the Abington 21-yard line. One play and six seconds later, Neshaminy scored when Titus fired a scoring strike to Frank Csaszar. The kick failed, and the score remained 28-24.
Neshaminy’s Kyran Kervick blocked a Ghost punt late in the game to set up a final drive toward the Abington goal line. However, the Claybrook interception put an end to the gritty Skin comeback.
“You can tell I’m a big man,” smiled Sorber. “I was clutching my heart there in the fourth period.
“Neshaminy has been a house of horrors for our program ever since I’ve been here,” added the coach. “It was a nice win.”
“I guess we just didn’t knock the door down,” said Hensley. “We knocked it wide open.
rdquo;
Neshaminy 3 7 0 14 - 24
Abington 7 14 0 7 - 28
N: Ricky Domico 35 FG
A: Anthony Hensley 26 pass from Sam Kind (Ian McMillian kick)
N: Bryan Dean 40 run (Domico kick)
A: Kind 1 run (McMillian kick)
A: Hensley 4 pass from Kind (MacMillian kick)
N: Dean 3 run (Shane Quinn pass from Brian Titus)
N: Frank Csaszar 21 pass from Titus (kick failed)
Neshaminy Abington
11 First Downs 18
137 Yards Rush 148
164 Yards Pass 235
301 Total Offense 382
3-36 Punts/Avg. 3-36
5-35 Pen./Yards 4-30
Neshaminy:
Rushing: Bryan Dean 17-95, 2 TD; Stephen Stemme 1-39; Corey Majors 1-3. Totals 19-137, 2 TD.
Passing: Brian Titus 12-21-1, 150 yards TD; Charlie Marterella 1-4-1, 14 yards. Totals 13-25-2, 164 yards TD.
Receiving: Rick Brebner 4-57; Ricky Williams 3-40; Frank Csaszar 2-25 TD; Shane Quinn 1-14; Stephen Stemme 1-13; Ariel Hoffman 1-8; Dwight Williams 1-7, Totals 13-164- TD.
Interceptions: Marco Dapkey, Corey Majors.
Abington:
Rushing: Julien Ireland 23-144; Sam Kind 9-14, TD; Alex Eaton 2-0. Totals 34-148 TD.
Passing: Sam Kind 20-28-2, 234 yards 2 TD; Kevin Regan 1-1-0, 1 yard. Totals 21-29-2, 235 yards 2 TD.
Receiving: Anthony Hensley 14-196- 2 TD; Guiuliano Presta 4-17; Julien Ireland 3-22. Totals 21-235-2 TD.
Interceptions: Kevin Deal, Jared Claybrook.
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