Wilmington clinches conference title
Wilmington (42) vs. Slippery Rock (6)
Written: Oct 25, 2008
 By DAN IRWIN
d_irwin@ncnewsonline.com
SLIPPERY ROCK — On paper, it seemed like the week when Wilmington might have a scrap on its hands.
The Greyhounds went into last night’s PIAA District 10 Region 3-AA game here not just unbeaten, but also having posted all but one of their wins via the mercy rule.
Standing in their way was Slippery Rock, a one-loss team that was coming off a win over previously unbeaten Canandaigua Academy (N.Y.).
Despite their credentials, though, the Rockets, wound up being Mercy Rule Victim No. 8, dropping a 42-6 decision that gave Wilmington the conference title.
So was it no test after all— or just one that the Greyhounds (7-0, 9-0) happened to ace?
Senior two-way lineman Clint DeRosa was voting for the latter.
“I don’t want to take anything away from them. They are a great team,” said DeRosa, who had two quarterback sacks and a touchdown. “They came out to play and hit hard.
“Each team made a couple mistakes, and we capitalized on a few. I think it was a test, and I think we did a great job.”
Head coach Terry Verrelli seemed to feel the same after watching his team limit the Rockets (4-2, 7-2) to a pair of field goals and just 96 yards total offense.
“We just played great defense, I don’t think there’s any question about it, and our offense really has performed all year,” he said. “This team is serious about the game and they’re prepared every week, mentally and understanding what the other team does.”
Luke Yohman keyed the Hounds’ offense with 82 yards on seven carries, including touchdown runs of 30, 10 and 12 yards. His first score, followed quickly by Derrick Burns’ 28-yard fumble return, staked the ’Hounds to a quick 14-0 lead.
The Rockets retailiated with Michael Ramirez field goals of 25 and 23 yards, but Wilmington mistakes played key roles in both scores. Major penalties helped sustain each drive, and the Greyhounds’ mishandling of a squib kickoff following Ramirez’ first three-pointer directly set up his second.
“That was our fault, not theirs,” Verrelli said. “Yeah, they got two field goals, but the penalties we had, that’s what moved them downfield, not their offense.”
Still, Wilmington responded with touchdowns on its next two possessions, on a 30-yard pass from Shane Wagner to cousin Matt Wagner and Yohman’s 10-yard run. The latter was set up when the Rockets opted not to punt on fourth-and-1 from their own 29, then ended up turning the ball over on downs.
“For our offense to come right back in score, after they’d taken the momentum, that was major,” Verrelli said. “And their not punting and us stopping them, that was a major turning point.”
The ’Hounds went on to add Yohman’s third score in the second half, and DeRosa scooped up an errant snap at the 1-yard line and powered it into the end zone in the fourth period to round out the scoring.
“I fumbled the ball on the snap, so I looked between my legs and there it was,” he said of the play. “I picked it up and just reached forward.
“I’m speechless on the touchdown. I never had one before. I wasn’t sure what to do.”
More importantly, will Wilmington — still yet to play a truly tight game — know what to do in the playoffs?
Another one-loss team — 8-1 Karns City of PIAA District 9 — may help answer that question next week in Wilmington’s regular-season finale.
“That’s going to be a tough game,” Yohman said. “I don’t think we’ve really been tested yet. That’s going to be the game that gets us ready for the playoffs.”
WILMINGTON SLIPPERY ROCK
6 First downs 8
256 Yards Rushing 81
24 Yards Lost 31
232 Net Rushing 50
3 Passes Attempted 7
3 Passes Completed 2
0 Passes Intercepted 0
56 Yards Passing 46
288 Total Yards 96
1-0 Fumbles-Lost 1-1
1-35 Punts-Average 5-36
5-55 Penalties-Yards 3-32
WILMINGTON 14 14 7 7 — 42
SLIPPERY ROCK 3 3 0 0 — 6
Scoring plays
WILMINGTON — Luke Yohman, 30-yard run (Bryce Wilson kick).
WILMINGTON — Derrick Burns, 28-yard fumble return (Wilson kick).
SLIPPERY ROCK — Michael Ramirez, 25-yard field goal.
SLIPPERY ROCK — Ramirez, 23-yard field goal.
WILMINGTON — Matt Wagner, 30-yard pass from Shane Wagner (Wilson kick).
WILMINGTON — Yohman, 10-yard run (Wilson kick).
WILMINGTON — Yohman, 12-yard run (Wilson kick).
WILMINGTON — Clint DeRosa, 1-yard run (Wilson kick).
|