TimesLeader.com

October 1
Comets end Buckhorns’ perfect season

By Don McGlynn dmcglynn@theabingtonjournal.com
Reporter/Photographer

HAWLEY- For the first time in half a decade, the Wallenpaupack Buckhorns High School football team was undefeated going into week five of the season, but that all changed Friday, September 26, when the Abington Heights Comets came to town.

Above Ross Cadman on the carry.

Abington Journal Photo/Stephanie Walkowski

Above, Eric Ofcharsky with the ball against Wallenpaupack Buckhorns.

Abington Journal Photo/Stephanie Walkowski

The third-ranked Comets defeated the Buckhorns 49-20 at Wallenpaupack, for Abington’s fourth straight win of the season, improving their record to 4-1.

“I was really happy with job our players did,” said Abington head coach Joe Repshis.

“We had a great week of practice. Our line did a great job blocking, the offense controlled the ball, and I was really happy they came out and played so well in a game of that magnitude with Wallenpapack being undefeated and a very good team.”

The Comets set the tone for the rest of the game early with Eric Ofcharsky returning the opening kickoff for an 81-yard touchdown. The Buckhorns had trouble with Ofcharsky’s speed the whole game.

The team captain scored three more touchdowns before the end of the night, including a 52-yard run. Ofcharsky finished with 165 yards on 18 carries for another stellar game.

“Eric has really stepped up as a senior. He’s always been a talented athlete, but this year he’s a more physical runner. He’s always had the speed, but now he’s breaking tackles, he’s more confident, and he’s making it very difficult for people to catch him,” said Repshis.

Ofcharsky wasn’t the only one running all over Wallenpaupack. Paul Gallagher ran the ball 13 times for 86 yards and two touchdowns, one of which was on a 30-yard interception which he brought back to the end zone for his first touchdown of the night.

While Ofcharsky and Gallagher were running circles around the Buckhorns’ defense, the Comets’ defense was making it impossible for the Buckhorns’ star, Joey DeFebo, to get through their line.

The Buckhorns junior running back scored two of Wallenpaupack’s three touchdowns.

“We wanted to keep the ball out of Joe’s hands, he’s obviously a phenomenal running back, and he is able to make big plays. And we did focus on him, but we didn’t want to lose focus on our scheme and what makes us successful,” said Repshis.

DeFebo’s first touchdown came late in the second quarter on a 69-yard run, cutting Abington’s lead down to seven.

The Comets answered back with an 11-play drive down the field capped off by an Eric Ofcharsky 3-yard run into the end zone, giving the Comets a 21-7 lead going into the half.

DeFebo scored again in the third quarter on a 19-yard run, just to watch the Comets go on to score more times. The Buckhorns’ Eric Garcia scored the last touchdown of the game returning an 82-yard kickoff, but at that point it was too little to late the Comets had the game won.

Abington will now try and extend their winning streak to five when they take on the North Pocono Trojans, who are just coming off a 35-18 loss to Delaware Valley.

“North Pocono is a good team, competitive, strong offensive line, skilled kids, speed, they’ll be ready, so we’ll have to be ready,” said Repshis.

The Comets will take on the Trojans this Saturday, October 4 at Abington at 2 p.m.