Greyhounds steamroll into District 10 title game
Wilmington (35) vs. Greenville (8)
Written: Nov 11, 2016
  By Ed Farrell
CNHI News Service
HERMITAGE — Terry Verrelli, very rarely, if ever, would be given to giving his team any hype.
Perhaps that's part personality make-up, part 39 years of serving at the helm of the Wilmington High football team.
So the Greyhounds' coach was hesitant to heap too much praise around Hickory's Hornet Stadium following his Greyhounds 35-8 win over Greenville in Friday night's District 10, Class 2A semifinals.
Wilmington (10-1) will meet Sharpsville — a 41-14 winner over Iroquois — Friday at a site and time to be determined for the district crown. In Week 4, Wilmington walloped the Blue Devils, 63-21.
Against Greenville, Spencer DeMedal dominated, accounting for a pair of first-half scores on a 12-yard run and 51-yard scoring strike from Reese Bender. DeMedal also provided a 43-yard, third-period Pick-6, one of his pair of interceptions.
"He is with the top ones, for sure," Verrelli responded when asked if DeMedal is as good a Greyhound as he's coached. "He's a great athlete, no question about that."
How 'bout that " 'Hounds Hammer" defense that is surrendering less than 10 points per game, coach?
"They've grown as the year went along," Verrelli. "I wouldn't say we were a great defense to start with, but you know something? Coach Phillian's doing a great job with them, and it's obvious, it shows up. They're doing a great job."
There was a significant game-opening momentum swing.
The Trojans traveled 67 yards in a dozen plays and almost 6 full minutes; however, on fourth-and-goal from the Greyhounds' 1, Canyon Eells was stonewalled by Wilmington.
Approximately 4 minutes later, Nate Bell's bobble was turned into a 34-yard scoop-n-score by Jack Patton.The first of a handful of Jacob Winters' PATs gave the Greyhounds a 7-0 edge with 2:52 remaining in the first frame. Though Greenville was game, it was game over, essentially.
"Again, I give credit to Phillian there," Verrelli said. "The kids, they came to play, and I think it showed up there."
"We lost momentum there," admitted Trojans' coach Brian Herrick. "We really, I thought, came out like I wanted us to come out — the kids believed. But you've gotta punch it in from the one-yard line. We had multiple opportunities."
"It's a credit to Wilmington; we couldn't move them," he added. "In hindsight, we probably should have run something wide or maybe tried to throw it. But, you know, 'flip's' our play (flip or toss power), and we couldn't get it in with 'flip,' and if you can't, you don't deserve to win."
The 'Hounds Hammer sacked the beleaguered Bell a half-dozen times, half of those produced by rush end Ryan Byler.
The Greyhounds' ground game was led by Cameron Marett, who sprinted 69 yards on his initial carry on a second-and-3 play with 6:55 remaining to intermission.
DeMedal also had 54 yards rushing, as center Matt Jamison, guards Colton Richards and Byler, tackles Jordan Gray and Anthony Berardi, and tight end Colton Marett provided paths.
"We thought we got Nate back (Bell missed Greenville's regular-season game, a 35-0 Wilmington whitewashing) we could throw it a little bit, but we couldn't protect the quarterback," Herrick said. "(Bell) didn't have enough time to throw, and (the Greyhounds) just manhandled us up front. You're not going to win games when that happens."
The victory for Verrelli was the 298th of his coaching career, but his focus is only on Sharpsvillle.
"I didn't want to meet Greenville again," Verrelli said. "But it is what it is. ... I made sure these guys understood, you beat Greenville the first time; it doesn't mean anything the second time. The same thing with Sharpsville, I'm glad they won. It should be a great game."
Wilmington has won 10 District 10 titles under Verrelli, but none since 2009 (19-0 over Sharon in the AA finale).
"It's been a little while, but it's nice," Verrelli admitted adding that feeling never grows old.
"Just me," Verrelli said with a smile.
Colton Marett also pilfered a pass for Wilmington, while Cam Marett came in with a game-high 89 yards rushing.
(Email: ncsports@ncnewsonline.com).
GREENVILLE WILMINGTON
12 First downs 11
71 Rushing yards 162
102 Passing yards 102
20-10-3 Att-comp-int 13-5-0
173 Total yards 264
1-1 Fumbles-lost 3-2
4-25 Penalties-yards lost 7-57
GREENVILLE 0 0 0 8 8
WILMINGTON 14 14 7 0 35
Scoring plays
WILMINGTON – Jack Patton, 34 fumble return (Jacob Winters kick).
WILMINGTON – Spencer DeMedal, 12-yard run (Winters kick).
WILMINGTON – Cameron Marett, 69-yard run (Winters kick).
WILMINGTON – DeMedal, 51-yard pass from Reese Bender (Winters kick).
WILMINGTON – DeMedal, 43-yard interception return (Winters kick).
GREENVILLE – Ian Porter, 2-yard run (Porter run).
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