Jim Kelliher really isn’t sure what he’s going to do tomorrow.
“You might see me mowing my lawn,” he joked.
Friday starts a well-earned retirement for Kelliher who’s always had a steady gig since he was a teenager, whether it was helping his father’s oil and asphalt businesses, playing college football, teaching in an Abington classroom, or for the past 50 years, coaching the Green Wave football team. On his final day as coach, his players sent him off the best way they could: with an impressive 46-6 Thanksgiving Day drubbing of its ancient foe, Whitman-Hanson.
“It meant so much to me we that we were able to win,” said senior A.J. Nash, who capped off his own standout Green Wave career with 124 yards rushing and three touchdowns. “I’m so happy this is the way I get to go out and the way we get sent Coach Kelliher out. That’s all we were talking about the past two weeks, sending him out on a high note and I think 46-6 is defintely a high note. “
Kelliher, who has been on the sideline for 56 of 112 meetings between Abington and Whitman-Hanson either as a player or coach was honored before the start of the game at Dennis O’Brien Field. He received a signed Whitman-Hanson helmet from current Panther coach Zack Botelho. Former Whitman Hanson coach Bob Bancroft, Kelliher’s Abington High teammate and longtime friend, presented him with the Massachusetts High School Football Coaches Association’s Silvio Cella Lifetime Achievement Award.
Abington came out ready to play, jumping on Whitman-Hanson from the get-go and forcing the Panthers to go three-and-out on their opening drive. Three plays later, Abington quarterback Michael Reilly scrambled to his right and found Ryan Simonetti behind the Whitman-Hanson defense for a 47-yard touchdown pass and a 6-0 Green Wave lead.
In the second quarter, Whitman-Hanson took advantage of a pass interference call in the endzone on a third-and-8 pass play. Three plays later, Panthers quarterback Ryan Nash punched the ball in from the 2-yard line to even the score at 6-6 with 6:55 left in the half. It would be the hosts’ only points of the day.
Abington needed just two minutes and four plays to pull ahead for good. A.J. Nash broke free up the middle for a 49-yard touchdown run and the first of his three scores. Reilly then connected with senior captain Connor Pease — who also had a fumble recovery and batted pass — for a 2-point conversion and a 14-6 Abington lead.
Whitman-Hanson threatened to score again before the half but a tipped pass in the endzone landed in the hands of Green Wave defensive lineman Ryan DeRosa to end the drive.
Nash said Kelliher rallied the squad one last time during halftime, prompting the Green Wave to play opportunistic, dominating football, scoring five touchdowns over the next 24 minutes while forcing 3 Whitman-Hanson turnovers .
“Going into the second half, Coach Kelliher gave a speech that fired everybody up,” Nash said. “It was all about sending him off on a high note.”
The Green Wave received the kick to start the half and put together an efficient 57-yard, 11-play drive that culminated with an 8-yard touchdown run by Will LeBlanc. Reilly found Nate Duggan in the endzone for the 2-point conversion, giving Abington a 22-6 lead.
On the ensuing kickoff, Duggan recovered a Whitman-Hanson fumble, allowing the Green Wave offense to come back out on the Panthers’ 30-yard line. Reilly connected with Ryan Solimini down the right side for a 28-yard completion. Two plays later, after a false start penalty, Nash ran it in from 7 yards out to give Abington a 28-6 advantage and the rout was officially on.
The Panther defense came up stout near the end of the third quarter, sacking Reilly on fourth down, and taking over on the Abington 40. However, they were only able to gain 15 yards before turning the ball over on downs. On the first play from scrimmage, Reilly found Simonetti again, this time down the left sideline, and the sophomore running back sprinted down the field for a 68-yard touchdown reception and 34-6 Green Wave lead with 10:56 left in the game.
Whitman-Hanson’s offense would stumble again, turning the ball over at midfield three plays. Abington wasted no time in taking advantage, with Nash scampering 50 yards for his third touchdown of the day and pushing the Green Wave lead up to 40-6.
With 2:21 left in the game, LeBlanc picked off Panther quarterback Nash and returned the ball 35 yards for another Abington touchdown and the 46-6 fial score.
The Green Wave sideline just had to wait out the last couple minutes before they could dowse Kelliher with a celebratory ice bath and take back possession of the rivalry trophy.
“I’m still in awe how well we played, a smiling Kelliher said afterwards. “We played pretty good.”
Kelliher ended his career with 312 career victories, five state titles (2002, 2005, 2012, 2014, 2019), and with the Green Wave winning 15 of last 21 Thanksgiving Day meetings between the teams. He thanked Abington school officials for letting him decide when he was ready to hang up his whistle.
“I dont know if I’m going to be sleeping tonight,” he said. “I might be sitting up and just sit there thinking of all the years.”
During the game, it was announced that the Abington Athletic Hall of Fame Nominating Committee had approved Kelliher as a member of its next induction class.
ADDITIONAL COVERAGE OF JIM KELLIHER’S RETIREMENT
Abington News – “We’re Just So Fortunate”
Abington CAM – Player Tribute Video
NBC10 Boston — HIgh School Coach Retires After 50 Years
CBS Boston — “Like A Second Father”
PHOTOS FROM THE GAME
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