Wilmington rolls; Verrelli wins 300th
Wilmington (42) vs. Kane (0)
Written: Nov 27, 2016
 By Ed Farrell
CNHI News Service
SLIPPERY ROCK — Whew!
Winning his 300th career game as Wilmington High's head football coach is a question Terry Verrelli won't have to answer again — at least anytime soon.
For Verrelli, victory No. 300 occurred during his Greyhounds gridders' 42-0 win over Kane on Saturday in the PIAA Class 2A quarterfinals at Slippery Rock University.
"Obviously I'm very proud of the fact that I could be around here long enough to get to 300 wins," summarized Verrelli, whose 39-year career coaching record at the 'Hounds' helm stands at 300-128-3.
"It's obviously very important to me — it shows that I've been around that long ... and they've put up with me," he said, more seriously adding, "It's a proud moment for me."
"It's an honor just playing for him. He's such an amazing coach. He just always knows what to run, what to do — that's why he's so successful and has 300 wins," related proud grandson Bryson Verrelli, who caught four passes, including a 70-yard scoring strike.
Wilmington (12-1) will vie for the PIAA western championship next weekend against Steel Valley, a 49-14 victor over Neshannock in the WPIAL championship game.
Wilmington's return is its first since 2009 when Greensburg Central Catholic got the Greyhounds (14-10) a step shy of Hershey.
That was the year following Wilmington's win over Philadelphia's West Catholic (35-34) for the Class AA commonwealth crown. Led by Terry Verrelli, the proud program also has won 11 District 10 titles, plus a pair of WPIAL championships.
However, Verrelli related, it's not as easy as it appears.
"At the beginning of the year people talk about getting your 300th win. Well, I'm thinking, 'Geez, we've gotta have 12 wins.' But, yeah, it's pretty special," Verrelli admitted.
And it never was in doubt during the matinee at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium/Bob DiSpirito Field.
While building a 35-0 bulge by the break the 'Hounds Hammer defense KO'd Kane's offense, while Wilmington's wing-T wreaked havoc on the Wolves. During the first half the Greyhounds had seven plays of 30 or more yards as Wilmington went for a perfectly balanced 362 total (182 rushing, 180 passing).
Reese Bender bombarded the Wolves for four TD tosses — 43 and 39 yards to Spencer DeMedal and the second-stanza strike to Verrelli. On that throw, Bender was belted as he released the ball, but waited until the last second, threw, then bounced up from the hit.
Also for Wilmington, Kyle Slicker sprinted 30 yards for a score, while Jacob Winters went 6 for 6 on PATs.
During the second quarter, Colt Marett had a 43-yard pick-six negated by a block-in-the-back penalty on his return. But two plays later he was on the receiving end of Bender's 20-yard scoring strike. Cam Marett tallied the second-half's lone score on a 5-yard run, part of a seven-carry, 99-yard effort.
Wilmington went for 505 total yards (277 rushing, 228 passing) on only 43 snaps.
In the first half, Bender and Ryan Byler collaborated for a sack and Isaiah Gargiulo added another. The Greyhounds harassed Kane quarterback Issac Williams into a 4-for-12 passing performance. Ultimately, Williams went 11 for 24 for 189 yards, but suffered three sacks.
Byler also bolted 87 yards for an apparent scoop-and-score when the Wolves' Erik DeLong laid the ball on the turf on a first-and-goal from Wilmington's 10. However, that, too, was negated by an illegal block on his return.
"We played offense well, we played defense well — that's the only way you're gonna win big games," Verrelli said.
DeMedal dominated by rushing for 105 yards on only nine carries while hauling in a trio of passes for 90 yards.
Serving as spokesman for his teammates, DeMedal said regarding his Greyhounds' coach, "We knew in the back of our minds if we won this game it was going to be his 300th. But (Verrelli) told us to focus more on just winning the game, 'cause our ultimate goal is to win a state championship.
"But it just makes it extra special to get his 300th win and also move on," DeMedal admitted.
A native of Curwensville, a career in teaching also included coaching for Verrelli, who was welcomed in New Wilmington and now is considered a native son.
"When I went to college I wanted to be a teacher, because I wanted to coach," Verrelli recalled admitting, "Would I ever have imagined ... you know, I've been here the whole time at one school. To be here that long and actually have coached that long ... it's not something that you think about, for sure," he concluded.
(Email: ncsports@ncnewsonline.com)
WILMINGTON KANE
15 First downs 9
277 Net Rushing 42
11 Passes Attempted 24
8 Passes Completed 11
2 Passes Intercepted 1
228 Yards Passing 189
505 Total Yards 231
0-0 Fumbles-Lost 2-1
9-72 Penalties-Yards 4-27
WILMINGTON 14 21 0 7 — 42
KANE 0 0 0 0 — 0
Scoring plays
WILMINGTON — Kyle Slicker, 30-yard run (Jacob Winters kick).
WILMINGTON — Spencer DeMedal, 43-yard pass from Reese Bender (Winters kick).
WILMINGTON — DeMedal, 39-yard pass from Bender (Winters kick).
WILMINGTON — Colton Marett, 20-yard pass from Bender (Winters kick).
WILMINGTON — Bryson Verrelli, 70-yard pass from Bender (Winters kick).
WILMINGTON — Cameron Marett, 5-yard run (Winters kick).
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