District 10 Playoffs: Wilmington crushes Fairview
Wilmington (47) vs. Fairview (0)
Written: Nov 13, 2012
GROVE CITY — It was Big Play Saturday for the Wilmington High football team.
The Greyhounds racked up 453 yards en route to an easy 47-0 win over Fairview in a District 10, Class AA quarterfinal battle at Grove City High’s Forker Field.
Wilmington (8-2) scored on its first four possessions and had four touchdowns from more than 20 yards to dispatch the Tigers (6-4).
“Everyone came out hyped up and we were blocking well,” Wilmington’s Alex Patton said. “We just stepped up.”
Patton was one of the Greyhounds to enjoy a field day. He rushed for 166 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries and a returned a kickoff 95 yards for a score. Tyler Donati racked up 201 yards rushing and three scores on 11 attempts. Josiah Bloise had 31 yards on six carries and hauled in two passes for 26 yards and a TD in the balanced attack.
“I just think, if you’re going to be a playoff team, you can’t make it just with one guy. They others have to contribute. I think that’s what we’re getting out of them,” Wilmington coach Terry Verrelli said. “Bloise, this is his first game back in about four weeks and he really did a nice job in there. Patton came around to being a really good running back. Cody Llewellyn does what he needs to do in there at quarterback. He does a great job of reading and handling the team.”
Wilmington advances to face Greenville, a 35-28 upset winner over Corry, at 7 p.m. Saturday at Slippery Rock University. The Greyhounds beat the Trojans, 26-0, in Week 9.
“We’ll keep practicing hard and come out fighting next week,” Patton said.
With the victory, Verrelli (270-112-3) tied the District 10 record for coaching wins set by Warren High legend J.B. Leidig (270-124-27) from 1912-1951.
“It’s a great thing, there’s no question about it. Those things just aren’t something I think about at all. It’s quite an honor, though,” Verrelli said. “I think it just shows how long I’ve been around more than anything else.”
Donati set the tone for the Greyhounds when he bolted 80 yards for a TD on Wilmington’s first offensive play. Bloise and Patton reached the end zone as the team posted a 20-0 edge in the first quarter.
Donati and Patton scored again in the second quarter to give the Greyhounds a 34-0 halftime lead.
While Wilmington’s offense was clicking, so was the ’Hounds Hammer defense. It limited Fairview’s Shannon Jackson, District 10’s top rusher, to 89 yards rushing on 23 carries. He was knocked out of the game late in the first quarter with a left leg injury. He missed all of the second quarter, but returned for the second half and finished the year with 2,010 yards on 267 totes.
“First, you better stop him because they’re going to give the ball to him about every time,” Verrelli said. “After that, we knew the quarterback would roll out and pass and he can run also. That was the second concern and I thought we did a good job on both ends.”
FAIRVIEW WILMINGTON
5 First downs 20
111 Yards Rushing 438
11 Yards Lost 11
100 Net Rushing 427
6 Passes Attempted 4
1 Passes Completed 2
0 Passes Intercepted 0
7 Yards Passing 26
107 Total Yards 453
2-0 Fumbles-Lost 2-0
5-35 Punts-Average 1-41
2-12 Penalties-Yards 1-5
FAIRVIEW 0 0 0 0 — 0
WILMINGTON 20 14 13 0 — 47
Scoring plays
WILMINGTON — Tyler Donati, 80-yard run (kick failed).
WILMINGTON — Josiah Bloise, 15-yard pass from Cody Llewellyn (pass failed).
WILMINGTON — Alex Patton, 36-yard run (Donati run).
WILMINGTON — Donati, 12-yard run (Slavi Pontius kick).
WILMINGTON — Patton, 23-yard run (Brandon Ryder kick).
WILMINGTON — Patton, 95-yard kickoff return (kick failed).
WILMINGTON — Donati, 14-yard run (Pontius kick)
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