Wilmington rolls to easy victory
Wilmington (47) vs. Titusville (0)
Written: Sep 21, 2013
By Ron Poniewasz Jr.
New Castle News
The familiar recipe for success worked to perfection last night for the Wilmington High football team.
The ground game was rolling up yards in chunks and the defense rose up and pitched a shutout.
It all added up to a convincing 47-0 District 10, Region 3-AA win over visiting Titusville.
The victory snapped a two-game losing streak for the Greyhounds (1-2 region, 2-2 overall). Wilmington hasn’t lost three straight since the 2003 season, but the team still reached the D-10 playoffs that season.
“What we were trying to do was get back to the basics,” Greyhounds coach Terry Verrelli said. “We wanted to get our offense going a little bit and get the running game going. That’s what’s really been lacking from the first three games.
“We’re happy with the way we played tonight. With this young of a team, we’re still looking for the right people in the right spots.”
Wilmington lost a 17-13 heartbreaker to Grove City in Week 2 before dropping a 42-6 decision against Hickory last week.
Verrelli acknowledged the team may have felt a sense of urgency.
“I think that they felt some panic tonight,” Verrelli said. “We talked to them before they came out tonight and we told them they can’t look at it that way.
“They have to play the way they were taught and play the best you can. Don’t start worrying about losing. If you’re prepared, you’ll win.”
Titusville’s best scoring chance came in the first quarter. Wilmington was kicking off after scoring a touchdown on a 2-yard run by Riley Kollar and the conversion kick by James Gardner for a 7-0 lead with 5:44 to go in the opening quarter.
The Rockets returned the kick to the Greyhounds’ 22. But on the first play, Rockets quarterback Todd Brown was sacked and fumbled. Wilmington junior Mitchell Whiting scooped up the loose ball and dashed 63 yards for a touchdown and a 13-0 lead.
“We had hard pursuit on the quarterback,” Whiting said of the play. “Brendan Monstwil was able to knock the ball out and I just came along and picked it up.
“That play was just instincts. It was something that happened.”
Wilmington was able to coast the rest of the way.
The Greyhounds’ vaunted “hammer” defense allowed just six first downs and 101 yards of total offense to the Rockets (0-3, 0-4).
“We were able to shut down their offense,” Whiting said. “We practiced hard all week to prepare for this team. We had a couple of tough weeks. That just made us better is all it did.”
Spencer DeMedal paced Wilmington with 81 yards rushing on eight carries, including a 50-yard scoring scamper in the third quarter that initiated the mercy rule. Jacob Sotter was next with 69 yards rushing on seven carries and a score, while Dwight Scott contributed a 68-yard touchdown run on his lone carry.
Josiah Bloise rushed for two touchdowns as well.
(Email: rponiewasz@ncnewsonline.com)
TITUSVILLE WILMINGTON
6 First downs 17
114 Yards Rushing 338
38 Yards Lost 11
76 Net Rushing 327
18 Passes Attempted 5
6 Passes Completed 3
2 Passes Intercepted 0
25 Yards Passing 50
101 Total Yards 377
2-1 Fumbles-Lost 5-2
6-30 Punts-Average 0-0
4-39 Penalties-Yards 3-15
TITUSVILLE 0 0 0 0 — 0
WILMINGTON 13 20 14 0 — 47
Scoring plays
WILMINGTON — Riley Kollar, 2-yard run (James Gardner kick).
WILMINGTON — Mitchell Whiting, 63-yard fumble return (kick failed).
WILMINGTON — Josiah Bloise, 3-yard run (run failed).
WILMINGTON — Bloise, 5-yard run (Gardner kick).
WILMINGTON — Jacob Sotter, 2-yard run Gardner kick).
WILMINGTON — Spencer DeMedal, 50-yard run (Kyler Lum kick).
WILMINGTON — Dwight Scott, 68-yard run (Lum kick).
|