Rockland ends Abington’s 19game win streak
HINGHAM — Rockland’s final in-game adjustment proved to be decisive.
Holding a three-point lead and with Abington threatening from the Bulldogs 13-yard line, defensive end Jacob Moore stayed in the flat and came through with the gameclinching interception as Rockland held on to defeat the Green Wave, 17-14, on Saturday at Hingham High School.
The win is Rockland’s 18th in their last 19 games dating to the 2019 season, while the loss ends Abington’s 12-game winning streak.
Courtesy of a Rockland fumble, Abington got the ball on their own 24, trailing by three with four minutes remaining. Immediately, quarterback Eddie Reilly went to work, completing four straight passes to get the Green Wave to the Rockland 20-yard line with two minutes left. After a pair of Owen Reardon runs got the Green Wave inside the Bulldogs’ 10-yard line, a negative play and an incomplete pass set Abington back at the 13 with 28 seconds left.
That is when Moore came through. After crashing off the edge all game, he stayed out wide and intercepted an errant pass from Reilly to give Rockland the victory. The Bulldogs (1-1) finished the day with four interceptions including ones by Patrick Moriarty and Lucas Learner in the fourth quarter.
“We had the defensive end Jacob (Moore), instead of crashing hard all game like he had been doing, just sit back in the flat and wait for the screen,” said Rockland coach Nick Liquori. “Jacob did an awesome job being in the right spot at the right time.”
Abington held a 14-7 edge at the half as a 37-yard touchdown pass from Reilly to Drew Donovan and a 51-yard pick-six from Tommy Fanara helped the Green Wave dig out of an early hole. Rockland, however, flipped the script in the second half as the combination of Joe Nguyen (13 carries, 110 yards, TD) and Tim McSweeney out of the backfield helped the Bulldogs control possession.
Rockland tied the score on its first drive of the third quarter as after Nguyen picked up three yards on fourth and short to keep the drive alive, the senior back sprung free up the middle for a 47-yard touchdown run to even the game at 14.
The Bulldogs forced a three-andout on their next defensive series and a muffed punt set them up at the Abington 27. Jesse Esposito ensured Rockland took advantage of the prime field position as the senior drilled a 35-yard field goal to give Rockland a 17-14 edge after three.
“This is a great rivalry and Abington is a great team,” Liquori said. “It’s just a lot of leadership from the seniors. They trust what we practice for and trust each other.”