Fenwick’s playoff run, winning streak, end with loss to Abington

BROCKTON – The state?s longest high school football winning streak ended Saturday when Bishop Fenwick, winners of 26 straight, fell to Abington, 29-14, in a Division 5 semifinal.Abington will face Northbridge in the Division 5 Super Bowl Dec. 5 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. The Rams lost to Fenwick last season, and the Green Wave of Abington will try to reclaim the title it won two years ago against St. Mary?s.It was revenge for the Green Wave, who lost to the Crusaders in the same game last season.?These were two much different team?s than the ones that met last year,” said Fenwick coach Dave Woods. “Both teams were big-time talents a year ago. Today definitely had more of the typical high school football feel.”One major similarity did remain. Crusaders senior running back, Rufus Rushins, impressed for the second consecutive season with 158 yards and a touchdown on 32 carries.This time around however, Abington had an answer, in the form of junior Shawn Donovan who racked up 193 yards and two scores on 16 touches.?They?re a very different style of runner but both guys played great games,” said Woods who harped on his 6-1, 230 pound powerhouse.?He?s going to leave here as one of the best running backs in the history of the state,” he said. “He?s been one of the most consistent performers I?ve had over the last four years. His numbers speak for themselves.”The counterpart backs created a timeline of events in the fourth quarter, which began with Rushins punching one in from the goal line.A successful conversion pass from Matt Renzulli to fellow senior, Myles Connor, cut the Green Wave?s lead to one (15-14) with 9:15 remaining.Donovan took the ensuing kickoff all the way to the Fenwick 31 before runs of 17 and 10 yards gave way to fumble at the goal line, which was recovered by Crusaders senior linebacker, Brian Fitzpatrick.The breath of new life was quickly muffled when Abington?s James Landers picked off a Renzulli pass at the Green Wave 49. On the next play, Donovan broke into the open field en route to a 51-yard touchdown run, upping the lead to 21-14 at 3:56.Senior Aidan Cawley hammered the final nail into Fenwick?s coffin at the 1:46 mark with a 56-yard pick six.?(Abington is) a team that gets after it defensively,” said Woods.?Both teams are aggressive and physical and I thought we matched them for three and a half quarters today.”Bryan Dwyer, Abington?s senior signal-caller, found Donovan on a successful conversion pass to cap the scoring.?We fought back in the fourth quarter but (Abington) made a couple of big plays to answer us. That?s what championship teams do,” said Woods.Fenwick?s defense broke the ice in the final seconds of the opening period.Facing a third and five, Dwyer was flushed from his pocket before senior linebacker, David Hurley?s hit forced a fumble which was recovered in the end zone by senior lineman, Josh Niconchuk.But Abington reeled off the next 15 points in a second quarter that featured a pair of rushing touchdowns from Donovan (16 yards) and junior Brendan Glavin (2 yards) respectively.