Wilmington reaches the D-10
title game for fifth straight tme
Wilmington (45) vs. North East (21)
Written: Nov 23, 2009
By TODD KRISE
t_krise@ncnewsonline.com
SLIPPERY ROCK — Derrick Burns stopped as his prey slowly walked off the field.
The Wilmington High linebacker had just pancaked North East’s Tyler Johnson during a kickoff and wanted to savor the moment.
“That felt real good,” Burns said after his team’s 45-21 win in the semifinals of the District 10, Class AA playoffs Saturday night.
The Greyhounds (11-1) not only beat the Grapepickers (9-3), they recorded perhaps their most dominating performance of the season.
Wilmington now will make its fifth straight appearance in the District 10 championship game when it faces archrival Sharon at 7 p.m. Friday at Slippery Rock University.
“Defensively, that was one of the best efforts we had all year,” ’Hounds’ coach Terry Verrelli said.
Wilmington came into Saturday’s game mindful of North East’s powerful running game, but it didn’t fear it.
The ’Hounds’ starting defense gave up just 17 yards in the first half, forced five three-and-outs and did not allow an offensive first down until the Grapepickers’ first possession of the second half.
In total, Wilmington allowed 182 yards with more than half of that coming after the ’Hounds pulled their starters in the fourth quarter.
“That’s their history,” North East coach Matt Shesman said. “We knew they were a physical football team and they came out and smacked us down.
“I really have to give a lot of credit to their defense,” he added. “Their defense took us out of our ball control-type of offense. That’s one of the things that we’ve been able to do this year is keep the ball away from people like that.”
Burns and fellow running back Sutton Whiting combined for 339 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
Whiting scored on plays of 44 and 59 yards, while Burns contributed two scores, including a 79-yard outburst that gave Wilmington a 31-0 lead midway through the third quarter.
With his 201 yards Saturday night, Whiting now has 1,025 rushing yards for the season. He missed out on the feat last year by 130.
“I was pretty frustrated that I missed it last year,” the junior said, “so it makes it feel good that I got over it this year.”
’Hounds quarterback Jake DeMedal provided additional offensive support with two passing scores. His first came on a pretty fade pattern to fellow senior Chad Palladino in the first quarter. The second was a 28-yard toss to a wide-open Josh Phillian in the fourth.
Senior placekicker Bryce Wilson gave Wilmington a 17-0 halftime lead with a booming 42-yard field goal.
“We had to step it up. This is a statement game. Last week, we didn’t play as well,” Burns said, referring to his team’s 32-21 victory over Fort LeBoeuf in the quarterfinals, “so coming into this week we had to keep working because we knew their linemen are pretty good.”
North East quarterback Jim Bailey accounted for all three of his team’s scores. Bailey threw a 39-yard strike to his brother, Corey Bailey, for the Grapepickers’ first touchdown.
Jim Bailey then returned a fourth-quarter kickoff 92 yards to paydirt, and followed it two possessions later with a 48-yard score.
Wilmington now sets its sights on Sharon, a 21-14 winner over previously unbeaten General McLane on Saturday night. The ’Hounds defeated Sharon on Oct. 9, 21-7.
“It’s always the Sharon-Wilmington rivalry,” Verrelli said. “I’m happy for Sharon. That’s great. That’s a big victory. We look forward to next week.
*****
NORTH EAST WILMINGTON
8 First downs 18
136 Yards Rushing 401
22 Yards Lost 3
114 Net Rushing 398
10 Passes Attempted 11
4 Passes Completed 6
1 Passes Intercepted 0
68 Yards Passing 78
182 Total Yards 476
2-0 Fumbles-Lost 1-1
7-32 Punts-Average 2-23
0-0 Penalties-Yards 7-65
NORTH EAST 0 0 7 14 — 21
WILMINGTON 14 3 14 14 — 45
Scoring plays
WILMINGTON — Sutton Whiting, 44-yard run (Bryce Wilson kick)
WILMINGTON — Chad Palladino, 20-yard pass from Jake DeMedal (Wilson kick)
WILMINGTON — Wilson, 42-yard field goal
WILMINGTON — Whiting, 59-yard run (Wilson kick)
WILMINGTON — Derrick Burns, 79-yard run (Wilson kick)
NORTH EAST — Jim Bailey, 39-yard pass from Corey Bailey (Zac Henry kick)
WILMINGTON — Burns, 1-yard run (Wilson kick)
NORTH EAST — Jim Bailey, 92-yard kickoff return (Henry kick)
WILMINGTON — Josh Phillian, 28-yard pass from DeMedal (Wilson kick)
NORTH EAST — Jim Bailey, 48-yard run (Henry kick)
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