Black Friday
Wilmington (6) vs. Cambridge Springs (34)
Written: Nov 14, 2015
  By Ron Poniewasz Jr.
New Castle News
MEADVILLE — The Wilmington High football team had the same problem Friday night as the rest of Cambridge Springs’ opponents did this season.
Moving the ball and scoring against the vaunted Blue Devils’ defensive unit.
The injury-riddled Greyhounds, who lost six starters to injuries this season, managed just six first downs and 91 yards of total offense in dropping a 34-6 District 10, Class A playoff matchup to Cambridge Springs at Meadville High School.
Wilmington didn’t record its initial first down until 6:18 remained in the opening half. It was the Greyhounds’ only first down of the first half.
“We couldn’t block them and our little guys couldn’t get around them,” Wilmington coach Terry Verrelli said. “They have big linemen and they’re good on both sides of the ball. Our problem is we don’t have any size anymore and it showed up.
“They were just a much better team.”
The Blue Devils (10-1) advance to meet Farrell (10-1), a 44-0 victor over Eisenhower, Friday.
Cambridge Springs was eliminated in the first round of the District 10 playoffs last year by Wilmington, 35-0.
“We didn’t focus on last year a lot,” first-year Blue Devils coach Justin Grubbs said. “We mentioned it at the beginning of the week. We knew we were a different team.
“We knew if we came out and played our game, we’d be OK.”
The Greyhounds had just three first-half possessions that covered 12 total plays.
“They’re a running football team,” Verrelli said. “Anybody that has a big line and is playing against a team like ours, running the football will be key.”
Wilmington won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. The Blue Devils, though, took the opening kickoff and marched methodically down the field.
Cambridge Springs went 65 yards in 14 plays, capped off by a Cody Lanning 10-yard touchdown tote. The Blue Devils had three third-down conversions and a fourth-down conversion as well. The scoring run came on a third-and-six play. The drive chewed up 7:27.
Stevie Reisenauer ran the conversion try in for two and an 8-0 buffer.
“That was huge. Having a drive like that was big; controlling the clock and keeping it out of their hands,” Grubbs said of the opening drive.
Wilmington went three-and-out on its first drive, with Kyle Slicker gaining two yards on first down and Spencer DeMedal firing a pair of incompletions prior to a punt.
Reisenauer connected with Hunter Cox on a 16-yard scoring aerial on Cambridge Springs’ next possession. Cox hauled the pass in in the back left corner of the end zone in traffic on a third-and-13 play. Zach Stafford tacked on the two-point conversion run for a 16-0 margin with 7:18 to go in the second half.
The Blue Devils’ second drive was another long march, going 60 yards in 12 plays eating up a little more than eight minutes.
Despite being down 16-0 at the half and generating little offense, Verrelli was optimistic. His team was set to receive the second-half kickoff.
“You can come back from being down 16-0, especially with them kicking off to us,” Verrelli said. “But, nothing was going our way. We’re just too small and we had too many young guys in there trying to compete against a seasoned, good team like Cambridge Springs.”
The Greyhounds again went three-and-out to open the third quarter, managing just three yards on two totes and a pass.
Wilmington finally broke up the shutout when Cameron Marett plowed in from 11 yards out with 1:25 to go in the third period. The conversion kick was blocked and the score held 28-6.
The Greyhounds went 63 yards on the drive in 10 plays, which included a fourth-down conversion on a quarterback sneak by DeMedal.
Verrelli was pleased at the determination his players showed to get on the board.
“We have some good, young kids,” he said. “We’ll be around for a while.”
The Greyhounds had just four possessions in the second half, including one that lasted one play and resulted in an interception.
“Our defense is just fantastic and they fly to the ball,” Grubbs said. “Giving up six points to a team like Wilmington, I’m pretty happy.”
Stafford rolled up a game-high 177 yards rushing on 25 carries.
Wilmington loses nine players to graduation.
“I just feel bad for these seniors,” Verrelli said. “They worked hard all year. Where we were short was on the line. We had a good line, but the subs would be young. And we lost every one of them. But, the kids had a good year, they really did.”
(Email: rponiewasz@ncnewsonline.com)
WILMINGTON CAM. SPRINGS
6 First downs 20
91 Yards Rushing 365
11 Yards Lost 18
80 Net Rushing 347
7 Passes Attempted 6
2 Passes Completed 4
2 Passes Intercepted 1
11 Yards Passing 43
91 Total Yards 390
2-0 Fumbles-Lost 1-1
4-27.5 Punts-Average 0-0
2-15 Penalties-Yards 1-15
WILMINGTON 0 0 6 0 — 6
C. SPRINGS 8 8 12 6 — 34
Scoring plays
CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS — Cody Lanning, 10-yard run (Stevie Reisenauer run).
CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS — Hunter Cox, 16-yard pass from Reisenauer (Zach Stafford run).
CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS — Stafford, 43-yard run (run failed).
CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS — Reisenauer, 53-yard run (run failed).
WILMINGTON — Cameron Marett, 11-yard run (kick blocked).
CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS — Stafford, 2-yard run (run failed).
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