Abington controls its destiny
ABINGTON - The playing conditions may have been wet, but Abington was determined to control its destiny in its quest for the South Shore League title against Norwell last night.
The Green Wave (8-0, 4-0) dominated Norwell (6-2, 3-1) on offense, defense, and special teams in a 32-13 victory that gives Abington a chance to clinch the league championship Friday at Cohasset.
Abington got off to a shaky start. A fumble on the opening kickoff on the 25 led to a 1-yard touchdown run by Norwell's Kevin Helm, but after that, the Green Wave took control.
A 40-yard run by Tony Giannini and a 19-yard run by Kristian LaPointe (93 yards rushing, 27 receiving) highlighted Abington's 82-yard initial scoring drive that was capped by a 5-yard run by quarterback Steve Perakslis. After another Helm 1-yard score, the momentum shifted in Abington's favor.
With 49 seconds remaining in the half, Perakslis broke through the arms of two defenders for a 15-yard touchdown run. Just five seconds later, after Norwell fumbled the ensuing kickoff, Mel DeYulus recovered the ball in the end zone for the touchdown. The Green Wave took a 20-13 lead into halftime.
"That was the turning point of the game to me," Abington coach Jim Kelliher said. "From there, we could run the clock and dictate the style of play."
LaPointe had his longest run of the year, a 44-yard scamper, during Abington's first possession of the third quarter to give his team a 26-13 lead. Giannini (84 yards rushing) brought three defenders with him into the end zone from the 4 to close out the scoring. It was the Green Wave's fourth 30-point effort of the season.
When these teams met last year, the weather was much clearer as Abington squeaked by with a 6-0 win. Kelliher was impressed with his team's offense in this year's rain-soaked contest because of its explosive scoring and its ability to hold onto the ball.
"The offense did a superb job," Kelliher said. "We were able to mix it up well; Kristian and Tony keep getting better and better."
Defensively, the Green Wave put on a clinic in the second half. Norwell's Cam Evans ran the ball effectively in the first half, gaining 64 yards on the ground, but he was held to just 8 yards over the final two quarters.
With a big lead, the defenders keyed in on Clippers quarterback Tom Finkenstaedt, who didn't complete a pass in the second half and more often than not had defensive end Kalonji Kabongo in his face.
"We can set our own table now; what happens from here on out is in our hands," said Kelliher.
