Wilmington blanks Sharon
Wilmington (19) vs. Sharon (0)
Written: Nov 28, 2009
By TODD KRISE
t_krise@ncnewsonline.com
SLIPPERY ROCK — Sutton Whiting isn’t cocky. He’s confident.
That’s why the Wilmington High running back waited until after last night’s game to showoff his homemade “4 peat” T-shirt, which he wore underneath his team jersey.
Wilmington (12-1) defended its District 10, Class AA championship for the fourth straight season. The latest title came following a 19-0 win over rival Sharon (10-3) at Slippery Rock University’s N. Kerr Thompson Stadium.
“The kids believe in what we’re doing,” Greyhounds’ coach Terry Verrelli said. “That’s the part that makes me excited and feel good is the fact that every year they’ll come and give their best and greatest effort all winter and all summer.
“It’s not the trophies that matter; it’s just being able to get that out of the kids.”
Whiting and the ’Hounds continue the defense of their 2008 state championship Friday against Forest Hills (13-0) in the PIAA quarterfinals at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Wilmington and Sharon met in three previous district championship games, the last in 1999. The Tigers took two of three, but the ’Hounds have won the last eight encounters.
Whiting rushed for a game-high 133 yards and scored three touchdowns. The junior’s performance, coupled with Wilmington’s stifling defense, propelled the ’Hounds to their eighth straight victory.
Snow flurries and strong winds slowed offensive production in the first half.
Wilmington went into the locker room with a 6-0 lead on Whiting’s first-quarter touchdown.
“At halftime, we went in and we decided that we needed to start playing better,” Wilmington senior Sean Christofferson said. “I guess it took until the fourth quarter, but we finally came together and stepped up.”
Wilmington recorded two first downs in the third frame, while Sharon had one.
But it was Christofferson who broke the silence with his blocked punt halfway through the fourth quarter. The play set Wilmington up on the Tigers’ 38-yard line. Whiting scored three plays later from 20 yards out with 3:50 left.
“I knew we just needed a big play,” Christofferson said. “They punted several times before, so I knew how the kid was playing and I just jumped off the ball.
“I knew their snap count, and I blew right past them. I just jumped up and got lucky, I guess.”
On the ensuing kickoff, Sharon fumbled and gave the ’Hounds possession on the Tigers’ 16. Whiting notched his third score from 4 yards out with 2:04 remaining.
“Those guys on offense are a pretty well-oiled offensive machine,” Sharon coach Bob Fromm said.
On defense, Wilmington limited the Tigers to four first downs and 123 total yards. The ’Hounds forced five turnovers, including two Whiting interceptions — the final one coming on the Tigers’ last possession of the game.
“We knew we had it and we just stepped up,” Whiting said. “Our defense is really coming together.”
SHARON WILMINGTON
4 First downs 16
112 Yards Rushing 275
18 Yards Lost 27
94 Net Rushing 248
11 Passes Attempted 4
5 Passes Completed 1
3 Passes Intercepted 0
29 Yards Passing 24
123 Total Yards 272
5-1 Fumbles-Lost 4-2
4-29 Punts-Average 5-26
2-10 Penalties-Yards 2-13
SHARON 0 0 0 0 — 0
WILMINGTON 6 0 0 13— 19
Scoring plays
WILMINGTON — Sutton Whiting, 1-yard run (kick blocked)
WILMINGTON — Whiting, 20-yard run (pass failed)
WILMINGTON — Whiting, 4-yard run (Bryce Wilson kick)
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