Memorable run ends for Wilmington football team

By TODD KRISE

t_krise@ncnewsonline.com

SLIPPERY ROCK — There were no tears inside Wilmington High’s team huddle.

No thrown helmets or pointed fingers, either.

There was only grace.

One of the greatest four-year stretches in Pennsylvania high school football history ended Saturday.

The Greyhounds, which have recorded a 55-6 record, PIAA title and four District 10 championships, fell to Greensburg Central Catholic, 14-10, in the Class AA western final at Slippery Rock University’s N. Kerr Thompson Stadium.

The Centurions (13-2) used their overpowering running back, Dave Miller, and a stifling defense to stop the ’Hounds (13-2) from repeating as state champions.

“If this is how it’s supposed to end, so be it,” Wilmington senior running back Derrick Burns said. “We had a good run.”

Neither the ’Hounds’ offense nor defense could muster enough production to stop Greensburg Central Catholic.

Wilmington’s juggernaut tallied a season-low 197 total yards, while the defense surrendered 378 — 197 of which was gain by Miller, who carried the ball 30 times.

“I guess we didn’t expect them to be that big and that good,” Burns said. “We tried to bring the intensity but they pretty much just manhandled us.”

That did not appear to be the story early in the game, when ’Hounds cornerback Sutton Whiting picked off quarterback Trent Hurley on the first play from scrimmage.

Wilmington took a 3-0 lead 10 plays later on Bryce Wilson’s 22-yard field goal.

The ’Hounds made it a two-score game when quarterback Jake DeMedal weaved through the Centurions’ defensive line and sprinted past the secondary for a 40-yard scamper. The touchdown came a possession after Wilmington stuffed Greensburg on fourth-and-6 on the ’Hounds’ 30-yard line.

“We got started pretty well,” Wilmington coach Terry Verrelli said. “(But) even at that point it meant very little because that’s a great football team. You’re going to have to play football the entire game.”

Wilmington did not do that.

Greensburg Central Catholic, which won the WPIAL Class AA title this season, wound up scoring the game’s final 14 points en route to its first appearance in the PIAA championship game.

The Centurions will face District 3 champion Lancaster Catholic at 1 p.m. Saturday at Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey. Lancaster Catholic edged Philadelphia West Catholic 23-21 in the other semifinal.

Miller dove in from 2 yards out for Greensburg Central Catholic’s first touchdown of the game. The score completed an eight-play, 63-yard drive that was nearly stalled on the Centurions’ 46-yard line.

Facing a fourth-and-1 late in the second quarter, Miller blasted through the line and gained 3 yards to continue the drive.

“Let me put it to you this way: My coaches think I’m crazy because I’ve gone for fourth down inside my own 10,” Greensburg coach Muzzy Colosimo said. “There was no doubt it my mind that we weren’t going to make it.”

Burns fumbled the second-half kickoff and it appeared Greensburg Central Catholic would take advantage. But Miller returned the favor by coughing the ball up on the ’Hounds’ 1.

After a Wilmington punt, Greensburg Central Catholic receiver Ross Deglau recorded what he called the “No. 1” catch his career.

Hurley, a Bowling Green University recruit, threw a 25-yard aerial into the end zone during the third quarter. Deglau and Wilmington linebacker Chad Palladino jumped and grabbed the ball at the same time.

After both players wrestled for possession, the referees awarded Deglau with a touchdown.

“I thought I brought it down,” Palladino said. “I touched the ball first. From the ref’s point of view, he might have had possession but I had it against my chest the entire time.”

Deglau disagreed.

“It may have hit our hands both at the same time,” he said, “but with my height, I just jumped right over top of him, snagged it into my stomach and held on for dear life.”

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GREENSBURG C.C. WILMINGTON

21 First downs 9

256 Yards Rushing 166

4 Yards Lost 42

252 Net Rushing 124

21 Passes Attempted 13

11 Passes Completed 5

2 Passes Intercepted 1

126 Yards Passing 73

378 Total Yards 197

2-1 Fumbles-Lost 3-1

0-0 Punts-Average 4-32

9-70 Penalties-Yards 6-55

GREENSBURG C.C. 0 7 7 0 — 14

WILMINGTON 3 7 0 0— 10

Scoring plays

WILMINGTON — Bryce Wilson, 22-yard field goal

WILMINGTON — Jake DeMedal, 40-yard run (Wilson kick)

GREENSBURG — Dave Miller, 2-yard run (Brian Gongaware kick)

GREENSBURG — Ross Deglau, 25-yard pass from Trent Hurley (Gongaware kick)