Wilmington, Sharon ready to renew annual rivalry
Written: Oct 18, 2012
  By Andrew Petyak
New Castle News
Throw the records out the window. Cast aside any predictions. It’s Sharon vs. Wilmington this week, and anything goes.
A District 10, Region 3-AA feud continues on the gridiron Friday when the Sharon High football team visits Wilmington at 7 p.m.
“These are both great teams that have had some great battles,” Wilmington coach Terry Verrelli said. “Just the fact Sharon is playing Wilmington means it’s a big game.”
When Wilmington joined District 10 football in 1994, the rivalry began. Most rivalries are intensified by important games. A Steelers-Ravens battle usually means the AFC North is on the line. A Yankees-Red Sox game is a clash between two division rivals with playoff implications. The Wilmington-Sharon rivalry is no different.
“For so many years, we’d always play them around the same week,” Sharon coach Bob Fromm said. “It was usually around league championship time, winner take all for the number one seed in the playoffs. That might not be the case this year, but that history adds to the intensity and passion the fans like to see and enjoy.”
Both teams aren’t in position to fight each other for a playoff spot this season. The ‘Hounds sit comfortably tied for first place in the District 10 standings (4-1 region, 5-2 overall). Sharon (1-4,1-6) mostly has been competitive in losses, including last week’s 41-21 score at West Middlesex.
“We’ve lost four games by a combined 23 points,” Fromm said. “In all those games we had our chances and just didn’t come away with any points when we needed them.”
Fromm was encouraged by offensive improvement in the red zone last week, scoring touchdowns on all three possessions.
The rivals have split the last two meetings, with the Tigers looking to avenge their 47-7 home loss a season ago. Verrelli knows a motivated Tigers team will be the opposition Friday.
“I don’t think record means a whole lot as far as the intensity you play the game at in this rivalry,” Verrelli said. “They haven’t won many games, but you have to prepare. They have a lot of skilled players.”
The player to watch on offense for the Tigers is senior quarterback Jesse Rodgers.
“He’s had to carry the load this year,” Fromm said. “He’s done really well at that at times. We’re a little bit young up front. He’s provided leadership. He’s playing the way we want him to play.”
The quarterback situation for Wilmington is not as clear-cut. Last week, starter Cody Llewellyn missed a 20-14 loss at Sharpsville with a blood disorder. According to Verrelli, Llewellyn’s white blood cell count dropped significantly last week. Once the count started to rise, his platelet count suddenly dropped. Platelets help the blood to clot, something that’s important in a physical sport like football. Llewellyn, a sophomore, has been practicing this week, but his return is questionable.
“We think Cody will be back,” Verrelli said. “He has to get his blood levels up higher to be released to play. He’s not at the level he can have contact yet, but at least he’s practicing. You have to hope he can play, but we also have to prepare our game without him.”
Freshman Dom Gargiulo took the snaps under center against Sharpsville, while the team also added in a single-wing formation with running backs taking direct snaps.
“We’ve been working a little bit on single-wing, but I wouldn’t say we were ready to run it,” Verrelli said. “Putting a freshman in there was a difficult thing, though he did a great job.”
Even if Llewellyn isn’t able to go, the game plan isn’t going to change when the Tigers come roaring through the gates at Greyhound Stadium.
“We have to play defense,” Verrelli said. “We can’t let them move the ball. We have to force them to go three-and-out.”
No matter who is at quarterback for the ‘Hounds, Fromm knows his team’s key to victory starts in the trenches.
“You game plan for those six boys up front,” Fromm said. “You have to stalemate them there. If you can do that, then it falls into another hierarchy of playcalling.
“We want to come out there Friday night, show great pride, and play a physical game. We want to play the game the way it’s supposed to be played.”
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