DISTRICT 10 PLAYOFFS: Wilmington to take on North East
Written: Nov 20, 2009
 By RON PONIEWASZ JR.
rponiewasz@ncnewsonline.com
Nail-biters became common in the playoffs for the Wilmington High football team last year.
Three of the Greyhounds’ six playoff games went at least one overtime en route to the PIAA Class AA crown. Another was decided by two points in regulation.
Wilmington got a quick introduction to playoff football in the District 10, Class AA opener last week against Fort LeBoeuf.
The Greyhounds scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to rally past the Bisons in the first round of the District 10, Class AA playoffs, 32-21. The rally earned the Greyhounds a date with North East in the semifinals at 7 p.m. tomorrow at Slippery Rock University’s N. Kerr Thompson Stadium.
“I think a tough game like that is a good way to start the playoffs,” veteran Wilmington coach Terry Verrelli said. “The image we have is of the top seed, but Fort LeBoeuf was a good football team.
“That opens your eyes a little bit because you have to be ready.”
This is believed to be the first matchup between the schools.
Wilmington (10-1) is gunning for a fourth straight District 10, Class AA championship and fifth consecutive appearance in the district title tilt.
“They’re a great football team,” Grapepickers coach Matt Shesman said of Wilmington. “They’re the defending state champions and we respect that. We respect the fact that they have a great program for what seems forever.
“We know that we have to bring our ‘A’ game if we’re going to compete. We’re focusing on the Wilmington 2009 team, which is a great team. I don’t think our players need any extra motivation.”
North East (9-2) finished second in Region 4 behind 11-0 General McLane. The Grapepickers’ lone region loss came against the Lancers, 17-14.
The teams have three common opponents — Greenville, Fort LeBoeuf and Oil City. Wilmington won all three games and North East dropped a 14-7 season-opening decision to Greenville.
The Grapepickers boast a run-oriented attack, averaging 26.7 points a game. That’s a conflicting style to last week’s first-round foe Fort LeBoeuf, which engineered a strong passing attack.
“We think they’re a good football team,” Verrelli said. “They’ll throw some, but they like to run the football.”
Jordan Elchynski, a 5-foot-9, 165-pound senior running back, paces the Grapepickers’ ground attack with 874 rushing yards on 187 attempts with seven touchdowns.
“He’s a good, hard, power runner,” Verrelli said. “He’ll run inside, that’s what they do a lot; they want to blow you off the ball.”
The Grapepickers have thrown just 50 passes all season. Corey Bailey, a 5-9, 150-pound sophomore quarterback, is 17 of 44 for 348 yards with seven touchdowns and four interceptions.
“They run more of an option-type thing; a power option,” Verrelli said. “Bailey is under center all the time and they work out of that.
“They are a time of possession team. If they get something going, it’s tough to stop them.”
Wilmington’s Jake DeMedal is fifth in the county in passing with 789 yards. DeMedal, a 6-2, 175-pound senior quarterback, is 51 of 85 with seven touchdowns and six interceptions.
“His growth as a quarterback has been phenomenal,” Shesman said. “He throws the ball well and runs well.
“He adds a dimension to an offense that is very difficult to defend.”
This is DeMedal’s first season as the starting signal caller. Last year, DeMedal served as Shane Wagner’s backup while lining up at wingback. Wagner has since graduated.
“Jake’s done a great job this year,” Verrelli said. “I believe it’s not so much the position, it’s the comfort zone of being in a varsity game and being relaxed.
“Last year really helped Jake come out firing; he’s multi-faceted.”
Sutton Whiting and Derrick Burns are the top Greyhounds rushers. Whiting, a 5-8, 155-pound junior running back, has 824 rushing yards on 90 attempts with 16 touchdowns and a county-best 100 points.
Burns, a 5-11, 205-pound senior running back and University of Pittsburgh recruit, has rolled up 771 yards on the ground on 77 totes with 16 scores. He shares the county lead in touchdowns with Whiting.
“I don’t think they get much better than those two backs,” Shesman said. “Both of those guys are quick runners and they’re strong; they hit the hole hard.”
Shesman also has taken note of Wilmington’s offensive line.
“I think their offensive line is the best we’ve seen all year,” Shesman said. “They come out low and smack you; they really fire off the ball.
“We’ve done a decent job against the run all year, this will be our biggest challenge.”
Wilmington’s defense has posted four shutouts and is allowing just 8.5 points a game.
“The defense is a great indication of how good they are,” Shesman said. “They swarm to the ball and they play a great base defense.”
The winner will meet the survivor of the Sharon-General McLane matchup.
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