Abington earns first win in wild SOL National clash with Bensalem
ABINGTON >> Baring a tie either Abington or Bensalem was leaving Schwartzman Stadium Friday night with their first victory of the season.
It has been typical of Abington this season to have a flair for the dramatic with a late one score loss to Northeast in the season opener and another disappointing one point loss late to Souderton just a week ago.
“The difference in this one was making the necessary plays to seal the victory,” Abington coach Tim Sorber said.
The Ghosts found themselves in another wild contest as the Suburban One League National Conference tilt with the Owls featured six lead changes, a multitude of scores and zero punts in the game saw Abington finally get off the schneid with a 36-35 win.
“We made things very interesting around here,” Sorber said. “It was a nice victory. I’m happy for the seniors on senior night to go out with a victory.”
The Ghosts took a two point deficit into the locker room at halftime despite being outgained by the Owls 200 to 56 in total offense. Part of the lopsided offensive numbers came from a 55-yard fumble recovery for touchdown from Kyle Pitts in the first quarter.
The bizarre game continued in the second half from the opening kickoff. Pitts fielded the kickoff at his own 29 yard line and as he broke into the open field and crossed midfield the fumbled the football. But the ball bounced perfectly to Isaiah Cruz, who picked up where Pitts left and ran the ball into the end zone.
“That kickoff return was something I’ve never seen before,” Sorber said. “Basically the kid, Pitts, dropped it and Cruz was hustling and scoop(ed) and scored. That was a big play.”
Defensively, Abington struggled to get stops all night as Bensalem fullbacks Matt Haffer and Tom Peagler rushed for 118 and 97 yards, respectively.
“Defense didn’t play well that’s pretty obvious,” Sorber said. “They made the play on the two point conversion to stop it (and) they got the ball back when we were only up one point.”
The win serves as big moral boost for Abington, particularly for the seniors who celebrated their senior night Friday night. Up next however for the Ghosts is the best team in the SOL National in North Penn, who enters next week’s contest undefeated in the conference.
“I know (North Penn coach) Dick Beck real well,” Sorber said. “He’ll throw a lot of different wrinkles at us. He’s a great coach because he’s going to add a lot of wrinkles because he’s going to have a first round playoff team ready to prepare for a lot of things.”
