The Div. 6 quarterfinal football contest between Sandwich and Abington on Thursday night will carry special meaning for both Sandwich athletic director Neil Murphy and his football coach Matt MacLean.
Murphy and MacLean both grew up in Abington and went on to attend Abington High School where they played sports. Had it not been for the fact that they’ll be on the opposite side, they would likely be in attendance rooting for the Green Wave.
“Ever since we both won our first-round games, it’s been non-stop chatter,” Murphy said with a laugh. “I’m sure there will be a lot of banter until the game, but it’s all fun.”
It was Murphy’s knowledge of the Abington football scene which allowed him to entice MacLean away from the Green Wave, where he served as a volunteer coach. After a year as an assistant at Sandwich, MacLean took over the program four years ago and the Blue Knights have prospered ever since.
“I was looking for a football coach at the time,” Murphy said. “I was friendly with (Abington athletic director) Peter Serino and the football coaches there. I knew Matt was a volunteer because they couldn’t get him a job, so I said we had a phys ed job at Sandwich and he’s been an awesome addition.
“The funny thing about it was when I told my sister Marianne (a first-grade teacher in Abington) that we hired Matt, she was so excited because she had Matt in class. She said Matt was one of her all-time favorite students.”
MacLean makes no bones about the fact that he is where he is due in large part to being around longtime Abington coach Jim Kelliher and his staff.
“I’m extremely grateful to coach Kells, Ed Reilly, Jim Daly and the rest of the coaches there,” MacLean said. “I wouldn’t be where I am without those guys.”
The last place MacLean ever expected to be was on the sidelines coaching against Abington as the two schools were in different divisions until this year. Both teams qualified for the Div. 6 tournament and as fate would have it, wound up on the same side of the draw.
Abington had little trouble, coasting to a 48-15 win over St. Paul. Sandwich went on the road and knocked off Norwell, 27-14, to set up the quarterfinal contest between the two sides.
“It’s definitely going to be different being on the other side,” MacLean said. “Frolio can be an intimidating stadium, but one advantage I think we have is that my team has scrimmaged there before, so we know what to expect.”
