Comets Jayden Anglin looks to score during the first quarter of their homecoming game against Scranton.
Buck Norton-Jennings | For Abington Journal
Abington Heights quarterback Noah Kayal runs for a first down against Scranton.
Buck Norton-Jennings | For Abington Journal
Gavin Anders with the catch and run for the Comets, becoming Abington Heights’ all-time receptions leader.
Buck Norton-Jennings | For Abington Journal
Cooper Maning gets a quarterback sack for the Comets.
Buck Norton-Jennings | For Abington Journal
Abington Heights’ Jalen Barbee returns a Scranton kickoff to set up great field position for the Comets.
Buck Norton-Jennings | For Abington Journal
Comets Trey Hughes runs away from North Pocono defenders en route to a first down.
Buck Norton-Jennings | For Abington Journal
Abington Heights running back Blake Davis carries two North Pocono defenders over the goal line for a Comets touchdown.
Buck Norton-Jennings | For Abington Journal
Comets freshman Ryan Repshis kicks an extra point during their game with North Pocono.
Buck Norton-Jennings | For Abington Journal
Nathanael Kayal scampers for a Comet first down against North Pocono.
Buck Norton-Jennings | For Abington Journal
Abington Heights freshman Gavin Shay takes a quarterback keeper against North Pocono.
Buck Norton-Jennings | For Abington Journal
CLARKS SUMMIT — Abington Heights closed out the regular season with four straight victories to land the top seed in the District 2 Class 5A playoffs.
The Comets finished tied for second out of seven teams in Lackawanna Football Conference Division 1 with a 4-2 record. They headed into the postseason with an 8-2 record.
Abington Heights averaged more than 30 points per game behind the performances of record-setting receiver Gavin Anders, 1,000-yard rusher Jayden Anglin and the play of two quarterbacks.
Anders has 60 catches, second most in District 2, for 967 yards, which is the most in the LFC and second most in the district. His school records include career catches and receiving yards, which were at 127 and 1,825 through the end of the regular season.
Anglin pushed his rushing total to 1,046 yards.
Bradley missed four games with a hand injury, then returned to go 9-for-11 for 149 yards and three touchdowns in the final game. Picking up where he left off, Bradley raised his completion percentage to 68.2.
Noah Kayal stepped in during Bradley’s offense and did more than show excellent ballhandling and footwork. He kept the Comets viable in the passing game, helped them go 3-1 in his starts, ultimately giving them enough to land the top seed and home field through the district playoffs. Kayal was 37-for-69 for 506 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in his four starts.
Anders also leads the defense in tackles while Anglin leads in interceptions and Logan Bohn leads in sacks.
Abington Heights 44, Hazleton Area 14
Anglin rushed for 122 yards and Anthony Severs turned his first two carries into touchdowns as Abington Heights rolled over host Hazleton Area in the Oct. 24, non-league finale.
Severs was just one sign of the offense’s efficiency. The Comets scored on all seven possessions and used three quarterbacks to go a combined 13-for-16 through the air.
Abington Heights took control early, forcing three straight three-and-outs to score 20 first-quarter points and add another touchdown early in the second quarter.
Abington Heights 49, Scranton 13
The combination of the defense setting things up and the offense quickly taking advantage was also in place in the last LFC game when the Comets rolled over Scranton for a Homecoming victory Oct. 16.
Anglin ran for three touchdowns in the first 19:10 as part of the Comets scoring on all six first-half possessions for a 42-0 lead.
Field position created by the defense and special teams was a big part of that fast start. The Comets began four drives in Scranton territory and the others at their 43 and 44.
The defense held Scranton to minus-11 yards rushing in the first half when only one of the 23 plays by the Knights resulted in more than five yards.
Each of the first four touchdowns came on drives that took less than two minutes.
Scott Weiland recovered a mishandled kickoff for Abington Heights at the 26 and Anglin returned a punt 30 yards to set up scores.
Jack Hartshorn went 7-for-7 on extra points and had four touchbacks on kickoffs, including all three in the first quarter.
Abington Heights 31, Wallenpaupack 14
Anglin ran for 178 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries and Abington Heights shook off a pair of early deficits to win the LFC Division 1 road game Oct. 10.
Wallenpaupack scored on the opening drive and regained the lead, 14-7, after one quarter.
Anglin also led the Comets defensively with seven tackles, including one for a loss, and two assists.
Abington Heights 17, Scranton Prep 15
Hartshorn’s 30-yard field goal with seven seconds left lifted host Abington Heights to the victory in the Oct. 3 meeting of LFC Division 1 rivals.
Abington Heights led 14-7 at halftime, but Scranton Prep moved in front 15-14 going to the fourth quarter.
Will McPartland scored on a 4-yard run midway through the third quarter, but Anders blocked the extra point to keep the Comets in front.
Scranton Prep pinned Abington Heights after a mishandled kickoff, then the punt snap went out of the end zone for a safety to put the Cavaliers in front.
Abington Heights started at its 27 with 5:57 remaining and marched for the winning score.
Anders took a Kayal pass 15 yards on third-and-four for the initial first down of the drive and went up over defenders for a 34-yard reception on third-and-20.
The first half scoring had all taken place in the second quarter.
Anglin’s 24-yard run and Kayal’s 20-yarder gave the Comets a 14-0 lead before the Cavaliers started their comeback.
McPartland hit A.J. Croom with a 13-yard touchdown pass before halftime.
