Fenwick, Abington ready to go in D5 football semifinal Friday

When Bishop Fenwick and Abington meet Friday in the Division 5 state semifinal football game at Woburn’s Connolly Field, neither coach will have a comprehensive book on the other.Then again, it won’t matter much.”This is going to be the best football team we’ve played all year,” said Fenwick’s Dave Woods, “but then, that’s how it should be. You should be playing a good football team this time of the year.”Exactly, says Abington’s Jim Kelliher.”I tell my coaches, and my players, that whatever team’s gotten this far, it’s pretty good,” Kelliher said. “This is the fourth playoff game, and whoever wins, goes to the Super Bowl. Both teams should be pretty good football teams.”The Crusaders have rolled to a 10-0 record thus far this season — something that impresses Kelliher very much, since his Green Wave did that last year when it went all the way to the Division 4 Super Bowl title. And Fenwick may have an extra ace in the hole Friday night as Lynn’s Rufus Rushins might be back on the field.Rushins dislocated his elbow in the team’s first playoff game against St. Mary’s. And while Woods will certainly welcome him back, he’s also been pleased at how well the Crusaders have done in his absence.”Give us Rufus and I’ll put our 11 up against anyone else’s 11 in the state,” he said. “Even without him, we’re a very good football team.”The depth has served the Crusaders well. Rushins’ absence has meant more touches for Charlie Maistrellis, one of many Crusaders who have stepped up in the wake of the big tailback’s injuries.”I spent a lot of my time worrying about how many times I can get the ball in Charlie’s hands, since every time he touches it, he does something special,” Woods said.Balance is another key to Fenwick’s success. In Friday night’s 43-6 win over Northeast Regional that clinched the Division 5 North title for the Crusaders, Eric Razney and Maistrellis scored two touchdowns each while Rob Carillo had one.”Robbie’s another one,” said Woods. “He could be a starter for any other team. And when he got his opportunity here, with Rufus out, he made the most of it.”Nick Bona, at quarterback, makes the whole thing go, however.”He’s the best player I’ve ever coached,” says Woods. “Everyone talks about his quarterbacking, but on defense, he’s all over the place. He’s 150 pounds, and he’s just everywhere.”The most amazing thing about Bona, Woods says, is his ability to go from an all-out mode on defense to a more cerebral mindset at quarterback.”They’re completely different mindsets,” he says.Rushins will know by later today whether he’s a go.”His last appointment, the doctor didn’t say yes, but he didn’t say no either,” Woods said. “We have a brace for him and we’ll see how it goes.”Abington has had its share of injuries too. Matthew Kilmain, one of the only skill-position holdovers from last year’s Super Bowl-winning team, broke his ankle in two places during a pre-season scrimmage, and he’s just coming back now.”It’s a miracle he’s even back,” said Kelliher.Kelliher is a run-first type of coach, and generally splits the action among several backs. Sophomore Shawn Donovan has emerged from a deep group of running backs to total 14 touchdowns thus far.While Donovan leads the way, there’s been a back-by-committee element to the Green Wave, with seniors Al Freeman (8 TDs) and Jason Halpin (7 TDs) contributing, along with short-yardage specialist Steve Manning (4 TDs), who also plays tight end and defensive tackle.Still, Kilmain saw some action in playoff wins over Cardinal Spellman and Old Rochester.This will definitely be a game that pits one of the state’s best offenses (Fenwick has averaged 40-plus points per game) against a defense — spearheaded by linemen Luca Cerasani and Jake Quinlan — that has allowed just under 11 points per game.”With all that’s happened to us,” said Kelliher, “I have to commend my players for getting us back to such a prestigious game.”