‘Underdog’ Greyhounds move on to a rematch with Sharon
Wilmington (14) vs. North East (0)
Written: Nov 15, 2010
By ED FARRELL
Special to The News
EDINBORO — The underdog tag fit just fine for the Wilmington High football team Saturday.
The Greyhounds, the four-time reigning District 10 titlelist with a quartet of statewide Final Four berths, entered this year’s playoffs in an unfamiliar role as a No. 3 seed out of Region 3-AA. But Wilmington’s ground game and the ’Hounds Hammer defense — playoff staples of the program — proved pivotal in a 14-0 victory over North East at General McLane High School on Saturday.
Sutton Whiting was responsible for both Wilmington scores, sprinting 78 yards in the first quarter, then tossing a 50-yard fourth-frame scoring pass to Ryan Crawford.
Whiting went for a game-high 114 yards, giving the Greyhounds’ ground game a 160-159 edge (226-205 total). Led by Jason McFarland, Wilmington enabled North East only 3.2 yards per play, and the ’Hounds handcuffed the ’Pickers on third- (3 of 13) and fourth-down (2 of 4) attempts.
“They really did do a great job defensively,” head coach Terry Verrelli said regarding his Greyhounds. “If you can’t stop that power stuff, you’ve got problems. And (the Grapepickers are) a good defensive team. They bring people up on the line of scrimmage after you. But we did enough to win, and, hey, that’s really what it’s about.”
The Greyhounds (7-4) will oppose region rival Sharon at 1 p.m. Saturday at Slippery Rock University. The Tigers won the first encounter, 20-14.
One of Wilmington’s key stops set up Whiting’s first score. Jake Devido cut down North East’s 190-pounder Alex Svetz for a one-yard loss on fourth-and-three from the Hounds’ 21. On the ensuing play Whiting cut back against the grain, accelerated upon entering the second level of the Grapepickers’ defense, then outsprinted Tyler Johnson.
Two others occurred during the third period, with Wilmington leading 7-0. On North East’s second half-opening series the ’Pickers (8-3) drove to the Greyhounds’ 18, but on fourth-and-2 quarterback Cory Bailey was smothered by Whiting, Jon Yohman and McFarland. Later, Bailey’s second-and-11 pass intended for Johnson was picked off by Zack Llewellyn.
Midway through the fourth frame the ’Hounds held North East on a third-and-14 as McFarland pressured Bailey into an incompletion, then Whiting returned Spencer Cornelius’ punt 15 yards to midfield. On the next play, Josh Tekac pitched to Whiting, who rolled right, pulled up, then connected with Crawford, who cruised in for the clincher at 7:15.
Tekac orchestrated a virtually flawless offense — Wilmington was flagged for three penalties and there was only one Greyhounds giveaway — but perhaps his greatest contribution was, among his half-dozen punts, he launched 56- and 58-yarders.
“Tekac did a great job punting that ball. Field position, in any big game, is the key,” Verrelli acknowledged.
Wilmington’s diminished statewide status as a PIAA power — perhaps opponents’ perception — was illustrated when the Grapepickers won the toss, but deferred, choosing to begin the game on defense. However, Verrelli verified that he did not recognize it as a knock from North East.
“Nope. We defer all the time. We were disappointed that they deferred,” the straight-faced Verrelli related.
However he admitted regarding the underdog role, “I don’t know about extra motivation. But they’ve been in the playoffs so often, they don’t have that ‘fire’ like a team that’s just made it. So I said, ‘Guys, you’ve gotta get that fire back,’ and they had it all week in practice and it showed up in the game.
“We’ve been having a tough year. We weren’t the favorite, I’m sure we wouldn’t have been playing up here if we were (favored),” Verrelli admitted, concluding, “It’s just gratifying to win. Just give me the ‘W’, man.”
*****
WILMINGTON NORTH EAST
6 First downs 13
160 Net Rushing 159
4 Passes Attempted 14
3 Passes Completed 4
0 Passes Intercepted 1
66 Yards Passing 46
226 Total Yards 205
2-1 Fumbles-Lost 1-0
3-35 Penalties-Yards 3-20
WILMINGTON 7 0 0 7 — 14
NORTH EAST 0 0 0 0 — 0
Scoring plays
WILMINGTON — Sutton Whiting, 78-yard run (Harrison Sturm kick).
WILMINGTON — Ryan Crawford, 50-yard pass from Whiting (Sturm kick).
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