PLAYOFF PROFILES : He Handles the Workload

Only twice in 344 carries had Abed Abusaleh fumbled. And never in that two-year stretch had Abusaleh fumbled the ball away.

So, eyebrows raised when Abusaleh, a senior tailback for Harvard-Westlake High, twice coughed up the football in last week’s Camino Real League finale against St. Monica.

Didn’t matter, though. The Wolverines recovered one of Abusaleh’s bobbles. And though St. Monica recovered the other, Abusaleh more than made up for his miscues by rushing for 210 yards--a career high--and two touchdowns in a 15-14 victory that earned the Wolverines a share of their second consecutive league championship.

Abusaleh’s performance boosted his total to 2,031 in a three-year career. And it gave him and Harvard Coach Dave Bennett a funny story to share.

“I guess I put the hex on him,” Bennett said. “Two days before the game, I said: ‘I don’t think you’ve ever fumbled.’ He said: ‘Don’t say that.’ ”

Abusaleh deserves a laugh. A junior year in which he was plagued by a painful shoulder injury is in the past. So is the Wolverines’ 0-5 start this season as Harvard (4-6) prepares for Friday’s opening-round game against Montclair Prep at Valley College in the Southern Section Division IX playoffs.

“I’ve been lucky,” Abusaleh said. “Knock wood.”

He’s also tough. Despite limping to the sidelines in several games last season, Abusaleh (6-feet, 205 pounds) still managed to rush for 857 yards and 11 touchdowns while leading Harvard to the section semifinals.

A healthy workhorse this season, he has gained 1,116 yards and rushed for 11 touchdowns.

He’s come a long way from his days as a sophomore fullback who rushed a little and blocked a lot. These days, shouldering the load suits him fine.

“I love it,” he said.