Wilmington runs past Karns City
Wilmington (41) vs. Karns City (12)
Written: Sep 17, 2011
By Dave Aromatorio
New Castle News
KARNS CITY — The Wilmington High football team rode school buses into Karns City last night, but the Gremlins got run over by a fleet of Greyhounds.
Wilmington of District 10 wasted no time wielding its power in the 41-12 victory over Karns City (1-2) of District 9.
The Greyhounds forced a three and out on Karns City's opening possession and promptly marched 60 yards in 11 plays. Anthony Derrick’s 26-yard scamper up the middle got them close and quarterback Josh Tekac took it in from 9 yards out on a keeper to open the scoring.
The Wilmington defense forced another three and out and the Greyhounds’ offense put it in cruise control as they marched 72 yards in six plays.
Tekac made his only completion of the night count from 44 yards out, as he floated a beauty to junior tight end Don Watson, who took in in for the score that made it 14-0.
The methodical ’Hounds made it three-for-three when they scored on their next possession. Ryan Crawford did the honors this time with a 71-yard sprint through the Gremlins' reeling defense and the mercy rule seemed like a certainty.
After the first three plays of the third quarter put the Greyhounds at the Karns City 5 with a first and goal, the cruise control malfunctioned. Three plays got them nowhere and a missed field goal gave the ball back to Karns City at its 20. Two Wilmington penalties and 80 yards later and the score was 21-6.
One of the penalties gave the Gremlins a first down after a stop on a third down play, and the other nullified a Wilmington interception.
“We shot ourselves in the foot with the penalties there,” veteran Wilmington coach Terry Verrelli said.
The ensuing kickoff didn’t do anything to help. Crawford coughed up the ball and the Gremlins fell on it on the Wilmington 26. Two plays into the fourth quarter, the rout looked like it was turning into a nailbiter as Karns City made it a 21-12 count.
“You can't keep giving the ball away to a good team,” Verrelli said. Crawford heard his coach, and restored order, when he took the next kickoff and returned it 92 yards for a touchdown.
“I had to, that's my team,” Crawford said when asked what motivated him to jettison for the TD.
Wilmington salted the game away with two more fourth-quarter touchdowns to complete the rout and keep its 3-0 record perfect.
(E-mail: ncsports@ncnewsonline.com)
WILMINGTON KARNSCITY
10 First downs 5
273 Yards Rushing 146
0 Yards Lost 51
273 Net Rushing 95
4 Passes Attempted 22
1 Passes Completed 10
0 Passes Intercepted 1
44 Yards Passing 125
317 Total Yards 220
3-2 Fumbles-Lost 0-0
1-17 Punts-Average 3-38.3
4-30 Penalties-Yards 6-50
WILMINGTON 14 7 0 20 —41
KARNS CITY 0 0 6 6 —12
Scoring plays
WILMINGTON—Josh Tekac, 9-yard run (kick failed)
WILMINGTON—Don Watson, 44-yard pass from Tekac (Anthony Derrick, pass from Tekac)
WILMINGTON—Ryan Crawford, 71-yard run (Harrison Strum kick)
KARNS CITY—Glenn Toy, 1-yard run (kick failed)
KARNS CITY—Ethan Williams, 20-yard pass from Brady Ellenberger (run failed)
WILMINGTON—Crawford, 92-yard kickoff return (Brandon Ryder kick)
WILMINGTON—Derrick, 10-yard run (kick failed)
WILMINGTON—Derrick, 18-yard run (Slavi Pontius kick)
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