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DISTRICT 10 PLAYOFFS: Wilmington to meet Fort LeBoeuf

Written: Nov 13, 2009
Article
By RON PONIEWASZ JR.

rponiewasz@ncnewsonline.com

Four football teams earn the right to be called state champions ever year.

Last season, the Wilmington High football team was included in that small group.

That was last year.

The Greyhounds will begin a quest for a second consecutive PIAA Class AA championship when they square off against Fort LeBoeuf at 7 p.m. tomorrow in the first round of the District 10, Class AA playoffs. The game is set for Slippery Rock University’s N. Kerr Thompson Stadium.

Wilmington (9-1) is bidding for a fourth straight District 10, Class AA championship and fifth consecutive appearance in the district title tilt.

“I think they are ready for a playoff run,” Greyhounds coach Terry Verrelli said. “I think they understand from being in the playoffs several times that you don’t look ahead, you have to play them one at a time and concentrate and focus on the one you’re playing right now.

“We don’t worry about championships, those things happen if you keep winning.”

The Greyhounds won the Region 3 championship with a 6-1 mark, tying with Sharon. However, a 21-14 victory over the Tigers gave Wilmington the crown outright and the region’s top seed. The Bisons (7-3) took fourth in Region 4 with a 5-3 mark.

“Wilmington is extremely fast,” Fort LeBoeuf coach John Campbell said. “I was impressed with them from what I saw on film against Karns City (a 55-9 victory).

“The way we look at it, once you get in the playoffs you’re going to see great teams. We’ll find out real quick what we’re made of and the kids are excited to go up against the defending state champs.”

This is the first matchup since 2007 and the Greyhounds swept both games that year, 30-6 in the regular season and 44-6 in the first round of the District 10 playoffs.

“I like the fact we’re facing new teams,” Verrelli said. “Then it comes down to doing your homework and spending time with it.

“You never really think of those things. You have to play this team whether you’ve played them before or not; I like to have someone new.”

The Greyhounds have won nine straight District 10 playoff games dating back to a 21-0 loss to Reynolds in the championship game.

B.J. Arrowsmith, a 6-foot-1, 175-pound quarterback engineers the Fort LeBoeuf offense. Arrowsmith is 79 of 135 for 1,210 yards with 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

“From what we’ve seen he doesn’t run a lot but he can run,” Verrelli said. “He likes to move rather than just sit in the pocket and he can throw the deep ball real well.”

Arrowsmith’s favorite target is Corey McWilliams, a 6-1, 170-pound wide receiver. McWilliams has a team-high 56 receptions for 872 yards and nine touchdowns. Those numbers would rank tops among Lawrence County receivers.

Casey Pace, a 5-8, 175-pound junior running back, has rolled up 854 rushing yards on 182 attempts with seven scores.

“He’s a good running back but he doesn’t have lightning speed,” Verrelli said. “He’s not a juker, he’s a power runner.”

The Bisons have surrendered 100 points, 42 of which came in a 42-28 loss to region champion General McLane (10-0).

“They’re like a 3-5 front, an odd front and they like to pressure the line,” Verrelli said. “They’ll play cover 3, but the rest of them are up on the line trying to stop the run.

“They’ll blitz a little, especially if you’re moving the ball.”

Wilmington’s Jake DeMedal ranks fourth in the county in passing with 702 yards. DeMedal, a 6-2, 175-pound senior quarterback, is 45 of 75 with seven touchdowns and five interceptions.

“He’s a tough kid,” Campbell said of DeMedal. “He throws the ball well and he directs that offense real well.”

Sutton Whiting and Derrick Burns lend balance to the Greyhounds’ rushing attack. Whiting, a 5-8, 155-pound junior running back, has 778 rushing yards on 79 carries with a county-best 16 touchdowns.

Burns, a 5-11, 205-pound senior running back and University of Pittsburgh recruit, has amassed 730 yards on the ground on 69 carries with 15 scores.

“The speed and the power of those guys is impressive,” Campbell said. “Whiting runs with a lot of power and Burns was powerful when we last saw him and he’s more powerful now.”

Wilmington’s defense has posted four shutouts and is allowing just 7.2 points a contest.

“The way they come off the ball and their hitting, it’s a complete package that a team has to go up against,” Campbell said. “We’ve seen them run their basic package and they’ll run some twists, some stunts and some blitzes; it’s a well-oiled machine.”

Both coaches agree defense will play a large role in the game’s outcome.

“The key is that we play well enough defensively to get us the ball,” Verrelli said. “The best way to stop a good offensive team is to move the ball yourself; work the clock down and don’t let them have the ball too much.”

Said Campbell, “We have to play fundamental football. If we tackle and we come off the ball well, then we can hang with them. If we fall short in either area, Wilmington is the type of team that can knock you out.”

The winner will meet the survivor of the North East-Oil City contest at a time, date and site to be determined by District 10.
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