Abington earns share of league title in dominant win over Rockland

ABINGTON Whenever bitter rivals meet it s common to see nail-biters Abington s football squad made sure nothing was left in doubt Thursday night Junior quarterback Jack Reilly turned in a superb performance completing -of- passes for yards and a touchdown as the Green Wave - captured at least a share of the South Shore League Sullivan title with a - drubbing of longtime nemesis Rockland This win means a lot Reilly noted This means a lot to the town to my classmates everyone My brothers they ve all lost to Rockland so it s good to get it back here Entering Thursday night s South Shore League bout Abington was listed as the top-seeded club in the MIAA s Div power rankings The Green Wave certainly played like it early marching yards up the field on the second drive of the battle in just seven plays Lee Spry capped it with a one-yard touchdown rush making it a - contest with left in the opening quarter Abington s Jack Reilly scampers for a long gain trailed by Rockland s Kauan Oliveira left and Jomo Bayer on Thursday night Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill Boston Herald Rockland punched back early in the second Marvelous Pleasant finished a prolonged drive for the Bulldogs with a nine-yard touchdown run diving inside the pylon as his band tied things up at -all with remaining in the half However in the blink of an eye Abington had an answer Exactly one minute later the Green Wave seized a - advantage as Daniel Pifer scampered right up the gut for a nine-yard touchdown rush After forcing Rockland into a three-and-out on its ensuing possession the Green Wave capitalized Ryan Solimini hauled in a -yard reception to set things up in the red zone then plowed to paydirt shortly thereafter with a three-yard touchdown scamper to provide Abington a - edge at intermission Abington deferred to begin the competition and opened the second half with the ball The Green Wave promptly broke things open as Reilly spotted Kingston Maxwell in the red zone and fed his wideout a pass The senior stretched across the goal line for a -yard touchdown reception pushing the lead to - with left in the frame My boys up front gave me a lot of time stated Reilly Then Kingston just got open like all my receivers do But it starts up front My line did a great job all night and they gave me time allowed me to get the ball to my playmakers As the Green Wave attempted to salt things away later Reilly and his teammates began a nine-minute drive that spanned well into the fourth quarter Given a chance to play late senior running back Nick Vachon iced things with a -yard touchdown rush putting the tournament to bed as Abington constructed a - edge with remaining Abington was also led by Maxwell four catches for yards receiving touchdown and Solimini yards receiving yards rushing touchdown Abington s Ryan Solimini reaches and fails to result on a long reception in front of Rockland s Nazir Paulding as Rockland takes on Abington in football Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill Boston Herald Pleasant closed his evening with carries for yards and Rockland s lone amount Any time you can beat Rockland it s a big win for us noted Abington coach Ed Reilly We invariably say the records never matter when you play a squad like your rival What are they two three miles away from us I was just saying that these kids know each other They ve been growing up playing against them since they were seven years old We reported them all week This is the type of event where you re going to run into these kids for the rest of your life You want to be able to say that I got the better of you at least my senior year