’Hounds blank Reynolds again
Wilmington (35) vs. Reynolds (0)
Written: Oct 06, 2012
By Dan Irwin
New Castle News
GREENVILLE — As their team’s top rushers, Wilmington’s Tyler Donati and Reynolds’ Mike Millero both had targets on their backs last night.
Ultimately, though, Millero spent most of the night lying on his.
The Raiders’ sophomore had rushed for 188 yards a week earlier in a win over Sharon, but the Greyhounds defense limited him to just 67 on 24 carries in a 35-0 District 10, Region 3-AA win here.
Overall, Wilmington (4-1 in the league, 5-1 overall) allowed the Raiders (3-2, 4-2) just 94 total yards while shutting them out for the sixth time in their last seven meetings. The ’Hounds have outscored Reynolds, 324-7, over that span.
As for Donati, who entered the contest as Lawrence County’s leading rusher with 768 yards, he started slowly, with only 19 yards after his first seven carries. But the ’Hounds’ fullback broke off a 55-yard touchdown run in the second period and kept on rolling from there, amassing 166 yards on 18 tries.
“I think they were determined to stop Donati,” Wilmington coach Terry Verrelli said. “They squeezed everything in the middle and ignored any of the fakes outside, still looking for him.
“You’ve just got to be patient. We started to run the outside, and it was there, and we got some yards on it, and it got us going.”
Senior Nic Pugh, meanwhile, enjoyed a standout night on both sides of the ball. His two interceptions each set up a Wilmington touchdown, including his own 60-yard romp that finished off the scoring. Pugh also started the rout on a 16-yard run with 6:20 to go in the first half. He finished with 96 yards on eight carries.
“We knew (Millero) was a good back and we had to stop the run,” Pugh said. “Once we stopped the run, we knew they were going to throw the ball, and our secondary just stayed patient. Once they threw the ball, I just jumped up and got it.”
Pugh’s first TD also was the first of three Wilmington scores within a span of 3:07 in the second quarter. Donati’s 55-yarder was the second, and Alex Patton’s 26-yard run was third. Patton’s score came just two plays after Reynolds fumbled away the kickoff following Donati’s touchdown.
Pugh’s first pick came late in the third quarter, and set the stage for an 8-yard, Cody Llewellyn-to-Donnie Watson TD pass three plays later. His second interception was followed by his own 60-yard breakaway on third down.
“Jeremy Miller made a good block for me, and I just made one cut and it was all open land from there,” Pugh said of the play.
The offensive bonanza didn’t seem to be on the radar screen in the first period, when Wilmington committed three false starts and fumbled the ball away at the Reynolds 5 on its opening drive.
“You can’t expect to move the ball immediately in big games,” Verrelli said. “We made two big mistakes jumping offside the first two plays we had the ball. That kinda puts you in a hole offensively, but you have to be patient. That’s why, again, it’s four quarters.
“But I’m really pleased with the way they played.”
(Email: d_irwin@ncnewsonline.com)
WILMINGTON REYNOLDS
12 First downs 6
333 Yards Rushing 98
4 Yards Lost 15
329 Net Rushing 83
8 Passes Attempted 9
5 Passes Completed 1
0 Passes Intercepted 2
66 Yards Passing 11
395 Total Yards 94
1-1 Fumbles-Lost 1-1
4-35.8 Punts-Average 7-37.4
9-60 Penalties-Yards 0-0
WILMINGTON 0 21 7 7 — 35
REYNOLDS 0 0 0 0 — 0
Scoring plays
WILMINGTON — Nic Pugh, 6-yard run (Brandon Ryder kick).
WILMINGTON — Tyler Donati, 55-yard run (Slavi Pontius kick).
WILMINGTON — Alex Patton, 26-yard run (Ryder kick).
WILMINGTON — Donnie Watson, 8-yard pass from Cody Llewellyn (Pontius kick).
WILMINGTON — Pugh, 60-yard run (Ryder kick).
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