District 10 Playoffs: Wilmington must defend General McLane ground attack

By Joe Simon

New Castle News

Wilmington High coach Terry Verrelli said he doesn’t know General McLane’s rushing totals, just that they’re a good running team.

It’s probably better he doesn’t look in to the totals — because they’re pretty mind-boggling.

The Lancers (9-2), who square off with Wilmington (9-1) in the District 10, Class AA semifinals at 1 p.m. Saturday at Slippery Rock University, have rushed for nearly 4,000 yards this season. They possess four players with at least 690 yards rushing and have scored 53 touchdowns.

The running backs’ numbers are impressive, but Verrelli said General McLane’s success starts up front.

“Their linemen get off the football and block,” he said. “They have quick linemen. They have some size, too, but the key is that they’re quick. It’s a very simplified offense, and they’re very good at it. They have the people who can block, and they certainly have some good running backs.”

Leading the ground game is running back Matt Astorino, a 5-foot-8, 175-pound senior who’s averaging more than 12 yards per carry (836 yards on 67 attempts) and scored 10 touchdowns. Right behind him is fullback Brian Suminski, a 5-11, 185-pound senior with 787 yards and a team-high 13 TDs on 121 carries. Throw in quarterback Josh Ponsoll (780 yards, eight TDs, 125 carries) and 6-1, 210-pound senior running back Chad Kulka (694 yards, 10 TDs, 94 carries), and it’s obvious backfield is deep and loaded with talent.

“I don’t think we have a back with 1,000 yards, but we have three or four guys who are capable runners,” said General McLane coach Jim Wells, also somewhat oblivious to the Lancers’ stats. “We had three backs with 100 yards last game.

“Our offensive line has done an excellent job for us this year, and our system doesn’t allow for teams to focus on one or two backs.”

The Lancers utilize the triple-option on offense, with the quarterback either handing it off to the fullback, running it himself or pitching it out to the tailback. The key, Verrelli said, to slowing such an attack is for everyone to stay disciplined on defense.

“You have to have someone accountable for the fullback every play, someone accountable for the quarterback every play, and you have to have your scheme where someone has the pitch man,” he said. “It just makes it difficult if the wrong guy goes in there to take the quarterback because then, all of the sudden, the fullback is out there wide open. Everyone has to do their job. If guys start trying to help out instead of doing their assignment, that’s where we’ll get into trouble.”

The task becomes even more difficult for the Greyhounds if injured starters Josh Tekac (quarterback) and Ryan Crawford (running back/linebacker) can’t play, and, even after having a bye week to rest, Verrelli didn’t sound optimistic that they would be 100 percent.

“They’re trying, but they both have foot and ankle injuries that just don’t heal up in a week or two,” he said. “Crawford is going to try and practice, and I think they’re both capable of playing, but playing full speed is what we need, and I don’t know if they’re ready for that. Playing and not going full speed really isn’t going to help us.”

Crawford is Wilmington’s leading rusher (760 yards) and one of its top defensive players, and Tekac started every game but one at quarterback, the Greyhounds’ regular-season finale against Northwestern. Fortunately for Wilmington, it has a viable replacement for Tekac in senior Nick Vasko, who rotated at quarterback in every game last season but has been mainly a defender this year. In Week 10, Vasko was 4 of 6 passing for 101 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions in the Greyhounds’ 28-0 victory over Northwestern.

General McLane coach Jim Wells said his main focus is to devise a scheme that will limit Wilmington’s ground game.

“Wilmington’s a very physical, strong team,” he said. “They’re very powerful up front. They want to run between the tackles and pound the football. You’re not going to stop their offense completely, but we have to be able to contain it.”

(Email: J_simon@ncnewsonline.com)