’Hounds stay perfect at Reynolds
Wilmington (35) vs. Reynolds (0)
Written: Sep 24, 2011
 By Dan Irwin
New Castle News
GREENVILLE — Sometimes, the road to mercy has no fast lane.
The final six minutes of Wilmington High’s 35-0 District 10, Region 3-AA win over Reynolds last night were played under the nonstop clock of the PIAA’s mercy rule. Yet in spite of the lopsided win, the Greyhounds’ offense wasn’t exactly the juggernaut of its earlier 2011 appearances.
Wilmington (2-0 region, 4-0 overall) had been averaging nearly 15 first downs, 300 yards rushing and 345 total yards over its first three games of the season. Against the Raiders (0-2, 1-3), the ’Hounds posted season lows in all three categories: 7, 170 and 225, respectively.
On the other hand, Wilmington’s defense continued to shine, surrendering just three first downs and 54 total yards, both season bests. Additionally, the Raiders finished with minus-3 yards on the ground, the second time this year that the ’Hounds have held an opponent to negative rushing yardage.
“They really played great on defense,” head coach Terry Verrelli noted. “That was probably the big difference tonight. On a (muddy) field like this, it’s difficult to get any footing and get going offensively, but defensively they really played a great game.
“Our offense is a pull-type offense, and making cuts is difficult on ground like this, but you’re going to get these kind of games. You’ve got to be patient and you’ve got to hang in there, just play the game and take what they give you. That’s what we did.”
Wilmington started out fast when Gunnar Donati exploded on a 77-yard touchdown run on just the ’Hounds’ second offensive play of the game. Donati, who also scored on a 5-yard run in the second period, finished with 94 yards on seven carries.
“It was really bad,” Donati said of the playing surface. “And my luck, we were in the same spot the whole game; one muddy spot.”
Still, the footing was sure enough on his first-quarter breakaway.
“There was a big hole,” he said, “and my wide receiver made a good block. I made a cut off his block and, see ya.”
Wilmington stretched its lead to 21-0 on a 33-yard pass from Josh Tekac to Anthony Derrick just 50 seconds before halftime, and to 28-0 on Ryan Crawford’s 22-yard run midway through the third quarter.
The ’Hounds’ final score game with 6:30 to go when reserve running back Tyler Donati took it in from 26 yards out.
Meanwhile, Wilmington’s defense thwarted the Raiders at every turn. Nick Vasko intercepted two passes — the first of which set up Crawford’s touchdown — and Raiders’ QB Clay Stoyer was sacked four times for 45 yards in losses. Kellen Gursky, Reynolds’ leading rusher, had 13 yards.
That kind of dominance may not have been matched by Wilmington’s offense, but Verrelli wasn’t concerned.
“As the year goes on, you run into different situations,” he noted. “Just because you played well in one situation doesn’t mean the other’s been tested. Patience is part of football also.
“(Reynolds) did a good job too, and it’s the reason the game’s four quarters long. You don’t have to score 20 points in the first quarter. I think tonight, if anything, you learn a little bit of patience.”
(Email: d_irwin@ncnewsonline.com)
WILMINGTON REYNOLDS
7 First downs 3
187 Yards Rushing 49
17 Yards Lost 52
170 Net Rushing -3
11 Passes Attempted 18
4 Passes Completed 6
0 Passes Intercepted 2
55 Yards Passing 57
225 Total Yards 54
3-1 Fumbles-Lost 1-0
5-38.8 Punts-Average 11-24.3
1-5 Penalties-Yards 4-22
WILMINGTON 7 14 7 7 — 35
REYNOLDS 0 0 0 0 — 0
Scoring plays
WILMINGTON — Gunnar Donati, 77-yard run (Brandon Ryder kick).
WILMINGTON — G. Donati, 5-yard run (Harrison Sturm kick).
WILMINGTON — Anthony Derrick, 33-yard pass from Josh Tekac (Slavi Pontius kick).
WILMINGTON — Ryan Crawford, 22-yard run (Ryder kick).
WILMINGTON — Tyler Donati, 26-yard run (Sturm kick).
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