Abington's bond of brothers

ABINGTON -- Brothers on the same football team could create an environment for sibling rivalry. But the brothers on the Abington High football team seem to spend more time cracking jokes about each other than envying the other's role.

Among Abington's 48 players are four sets of brothers -- Joe and Pat Gabriele, Matt and Kevin MacLean, Ronny and Jarad Dunn, and Anthony and Matthew Giannini.

Together they have made a substantial contribution to the team's 5-0 record. ``They all play a pretty big role," says coach Jim Kelliher.

Kelliher, in his 36th season at Abington, says he has coached many of his former players' sons, but this is one of the first times he has had this many siblings on one team.

While the brothers share many characteristics, they also can appreciate their differences.

The Gabriele brothers both play tailback and defensive back. Pat, a sophomore, has grown up watching his big brother Joe, a senior, weave through defenses, describing him as a ``scrappy runner." Pat said he mimicked Joe's training habits in preparation for the varsity season.

The effort paid off. Pat earned playing time on special teams and impressed Kelliher with his approach.

``We didn't even think [Pat] would be able to see the game field because he was a sophomore. ... He has been a pleasant surprise," said Kelliher.

Anthony Giannini, a junior tailback, also learned from his brother, Matthew, a senior safety. Anthony said he would like to have his brother's toughness, and tries to emulate him when running the ball.

The players have learned to acknowledge that any success is based on teamwork.

Joe Gabriele is one of four team captains -- three of them from the ranks of brothers -- but when a teammate calls him a superstar, he quickly dismisses the idea. ``No one's a superstar," Joe said. Running backs ``get the glory, but if we had a good game, it's because of the line."

On either end of the line are the Dunn brothers, Ronny and Jarad. They both play offensive and defensive tackle, and their teammates call them ``basically the same person." There are, of course, differences. Jarad, a junior, would like people to think he is nearly as tall as his brother, but he is about 5 feet 11 and 260 pounds, compared with Ronny, a senior, who is 6-5 and 285 pounds.

Still, it was the younger, smaller Dunn who came out on the winning end of a tug-of-war match against his brother and other teammates during practice earlier this season -- one of the moments when the players were reminded of the brotherly connection.

For the most part, though, it is barely noticed, and the brothers say they generally do not view their sibling much differently than they do other teammates.

Maybe that's because it is a close-knit team. Many of its members played youth football together.

``We're like a family," said Kevin MacLean.

Their bond deepened, they say, in last season's Division 3 Super Bowl game. Abington was down 20-8 at halftime and came back to earn the 21-20 victory.

That bond has proved especially useful this season in light of the injuries that have taken key players out of the game -- notably Matt MacLean, a captain and team leader. He injured his knee when he fell awkwardly in a pile during a game.

``When he went down, I knew it was bad," said Jarad Dunn.

Matt's injury was a blow to the team, but he maintains his presence on the sideline, as Abington presses ahead on its quest to defend their division title.

Kelliher reminds his players there is more at stake than just wins and losses.

``I'm not going to remember what they did against Norwell; I'm going to remember what kind of person they were," Kelliher said. ``How they prepared for games, worked at practice and how they treated their teammates."

Send story suggestions to mwalker@globe.com.