AJ Sports

By Don McGlynn dmcglynn@theabingtonjournal.com
Reporter / Photographer

It only took the Abington Heights High School football team a little over a minute during the District 2 Class AAA semifinals, to show Berwick Area that things were going to be a lot different from last year.

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Matt Badamo celebrates after his touchdown in Saturday’s 53-19 win over Berwick.

Abington Journal Photo/Stephanie Walkowski

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James Fruehan finished the game with two touchdowns and an interception for Abington Heights.

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Abington Heights, who lost to the Bulldogs 3-0 in their last post meeting in the 2008 District 2 Class AAA finals, came out on the field strong, scoring their first two touchdowns of the game in less than two minutes, and finishing with a 53-19 victory on Saturday, Nov. 14.

“I’m real proud of my team and the way they worked so hard this week. They really came to practice and worked and put forth a great effort and credit to them, and credit to Berwick because they fought hard. That’s a very good team we played today,” said head coach Joe Repshis.

Paul Gallagher and James Fruehan delivered a one-two punch to the Bulldogs on the Comets’ first possession of the game. Gallagher ran the ball 44 yards to set Fruehan up for a 21-yard touchdown on the following play, getting Abington on the board 16 seconds into the game.

Gallagher found his way into the end zone after Berwick lost the ball on their following possession thanks to a Morgan Craig sack that caused a Bulldog fumble recovered by Evan Craig. Gallagher ran the ball in for a touchdown to give the Comets an early 14-0 lead.

Berwick eventually found its way onto the scoreboard on a 1-yard Jared Pierce touchdown run, but the Comets answered back scoring on a 23-yard Mike Beamish pass to Matt Badamo late in the second quarter to end the first half with a 19-7 Abington lead.

Only trailing by 12 at the start of the second half, Berwick entered the third quarter looking to turn things around. But four Abington Heights’ touchdowns before the close of the quarter quickly erased any hope the Bulldogs had of a comeback.

“Our kids responded very well,” said Repshis. “Any time Berwick made a play to creep back in, our kids responded.”

The Comets’ defense got the team started in the second half, with Gallagher recovering a Berwick fumble, that quarterback Mike Beamish ran in for a one-yard touchdown.

A Fruehan interception on Berwick’s following possession set the Comets up on the 33-yard line. Gallagher scored two plays later on a two-yard run, he finished the game with 189 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

The Bulldogs managed to score on an Alec Ladonis three-yard run, but the Comets answered right back with a Fruehan 55-yard touchdown run on their following possession.

“All of the seniors wanted to come out and win their last one at the Pit, and I’m just so proud of everyone and so proud of the team, we worked very hard for this to get another shot at the championship,” said Fruehan.

“We came out prepared. The coaches had us well prepared and we came out and executed the game plan, and we played together as a team today and it shows.”

Pat Murnin scored the final touchdown of the game on an 11-yard run to officially put the Bulldogs to bed.

Now with Berwick behind them, the Comets will look to take on Dallas High School, who are just coming off of a 21-14 victory against North Pocono, in the District 2 Class AAA finals.

“I don’t know much about Dallas, they beat a North Pocono team that we lost to, but I know if we keep playing the way we’ve been playing we’re going to be hard to stop,” said Fruehan.

“They’re a very good team,” added Repshis. “We’re expecting another game just like today, another physical battle.”

The Comets will take on Dallas Saturday, Nov. 21, at 1 p.m. at Scranton Memorial Stadium.