Wilmington rolls page Girard
Wilmington (41) vs. Girard (0)
Written: Nov 10, 2008
  By JOHN D’ABRUZZO
jd’abruzzo@ncnewsonline.com
SLIPPERY ROCK — It was back to familiar ways for the Wilmington High football team.
Eight days after suffering their only loss of the season, the Greyhounds posted a convincing 41-0 victory over Girard in the first round of the District 10, Class AA playoffs Saturday night at Slippery Rock University.
Wilmington (10-1), which is ranked 10th in the Class AA state poll by the Harrisburg Patriot-News, advances to the semifinals next week and will play General McLane (9-2) at 7 p.m. Saturday at Allegheny College. The Lancers beat Greenville (8-3) on Saturday, 42-28.
Against Girard (7-4), the ’Hounds posted their third shutout and ninth win decided by the mercy rule.
Still, for veteran Wilmington coach Terry Verrelli, earning a victory following a 22-21 loss to Karns City in Week 10 helped put the ’Hounds back on track.
“Especially after the last game, you need to get your feet back on the ground and back to doing this right,” Verrelli said. “There’s no question this helps us refocus.
“(The loss against Karns City) was definitely a positive impact. You like to win games and learn a lesson. The kids took it the right way. It was a good thing and I think it paid off for us.”
The ’Hounds quickly got on the board during their first possession with a Derrick Burns 15-yard touchdown run. The junior running back led all rushers with 119 yards on 10 carries.
“I was just trying to do my thing and get some yards,” Burns said. “I did what I did, but we got the win and that’s really all that matters.”
Wilmington jumped out to a 14-0 lead less than two minutes later on the ’Hounds’ first play of their second possession. Senior quarterback Shane Wagner hit his cousin, senior wide receiver Matt Wagner, on a 50-yard pass.
Matt Wagner had two receptions for 72 yards.
“It’s very important to get on the board early in playoff games like this,” Verrelli said. “It puts a little pressure on the other team and takes a little off of you.”
Sophomore running back Sutton Whiting scored his first of two touchdowns with 7:33 left in the second quarter on a 41-yard run to help Wilmington take a 20-0 lead at the half.
Whiting, who gathered 63 yards on six carries, scored on a 3-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter.
Shane Wagner, who completed 2 of 11 attempts for 67 yards with one interception, connected with senior receiver Carson Sharbaugh for a 17-yard touchdown with 4:16 left in the third quarter to put Wilmington up, 34-0.
Girard had its best opportunity to score late in the third with an 11-play drive down to the Wilmington 12. The Yellowjackets, however, ended up turning the ball over on downs.
“They’re pretty physical,” Girard coach Mina George said. “We tried to play a physical game of football against them and that’s what hurt us because they were more physical.
“We gave them a couple easy plays and that put us on our heels.”
Wilmington’s defense continued to hammer the Yellowjackets and limited them to a total of 102 yards of total offense and eight first downs. The ’Hounds gained 379 yards of total offense and 19 first downs.
“You’re not going any where in the playoffs if you don’t have a defense,” Verrelli said. “They moved the ball a little bit, and they’re a good power team. They came after us.”
Girard running back Bill Sobucki led the Yellowjackets with 60 yards on 22 carries.
“Our defense is definitely a big key in the playoffs,” Burns said. “Defense is the name of the game right now, and defense is what’s going to win championships.”
Junior running back Josh Phillian scored the ’Hounds’ final tally on a 1-yard run to initiate the mercy rule with 1:43 left in the game.
“Everything we tried to do today, they out-did us,” George said. “You have to give them credit. They were a better football team and I think they’re going to give General McLane a run for their money.”
GIRARD WILMINGTON
8 First downs 19
140 Yards Rushing 309
47 Yards Lost 19
93 Net Rushing 290
4 Passes Attempted 12
1 Passes Completed 3
0 Passes Intercepted 1
12 Yards Passing 89
102 Total Yards 379
3-2 Fumbles-Lost 3-1
7-34.4 Punts-Average 3-29.7
3-34 Penalties-Yards 4-35
GIRARD 0 0 0 0 — 0
WILMINGTON 14 6 14 7 —41
Scoring plays
WILMINGTON — Derrick Burns, 15-yard run (Bryce Wilson kick).
WILMINGTON — Matt Wagner, 50-yard pass from Shane Wagner (Wilson kick).
WILMINGTON — Sutton Whiting, 41-yard run (kick failed).
WILMINGTON — Whiting, 3-yard run (Wilson kick).
WILMINGTON — Carson Sharbaugh, 17-yard pass from S. Wagner (Wilson kick).
WILMINGTON — Josh Phillian, 1-yard run (Wilson kick).
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