Published Friday, Oct. 24, 1997
BACK TO HERALD...
Thursday's preview story on other games
Who's `AA' king?
Jeff Greenburg
Herald Assistant Sports Editor
Some might say Sharon and Wilmington are both going to the District 10 Class AA playoffs regardless of which team wins Saturday, so the game doesn't mean that much.
Don't tell the coaches, players or fans that.
This game, set for a 1 p.m. kickoff at Youngstown State University's Stambaugh Stadium, has become the Super Bowl of Mercer County.
On the line in what has become the Mercer County Athletic Conference's biggest rivalry is a Class AA crown, which the 'Hounds wrestled from Sharon last season, snapping an 8-year Tiger reign.
Also at stake, and perhaps even more important than the title itself based on the District 10's decision, is pride.
Before Wilmington landed in the MCAC and District 10 in 1994, the Tigers ruled the roost. Since 1982, Wildman's teams have posted an 84-6-1 league mark, winning 11 league and six District 10 crowns.
But the Hounds sent a message they would have to be reckoned with their first season in the league, dropping a hardfought 23-13 decision at Tiger Stadium to a team that eventually advanced to the PIAA Class AAA championship game.
Wilmington hasn't lost since to Sharon.
``It's a big rivalry,'' said Sharon coach Jim Wildman. ``It's not something that I certainly would share with the kids, but when you've been around the block 21 times and somebody's beaten your team twice in a row, certainly you'd like to start to even things up.''
With a 7-0 victory in 1995 and a 27-7 win before some 8,000 fans a year ago in what many called the ``Game of the Decade,'' the Hounds became one of only two teams in the league to own more than one win over a Wildman-coached squad in the last 15 years. The Tigers dropped back-to-back games to Ron Park-led Reynolds squads in 1986 (28-7) and 1987 (9-6).
``I don't think there's any doubt that we've had two great games with Sharon,'' Verrelli said. ``We have never really played Sharon until we got into District 10, so the rivalry is a new one. But it's also great to have a program that can compete at the level Sharon is at.''
Wilmington brought with it a fine tradition of its own, including a pair of WPIAL titles and a berth in the 1988 PIAA AA state championship game, and has continued to improve on it. Three consecutive District 10 AA titles would attest to that.
``As far as the lustre is concerned, it's still for a AA championship,'' Wildman said. ``If we put paws on the wall of our stadium that say something about our accomplishments, we don't put a paw up there that says `AA runner-up' or `District 10 qualifier.' You either win a championship or you don't.''
Wilmington (3-0, 8-0), ranked No. 1 in the state, has been impressive on both sides of the ball thus far.
Also deserving credit is quarterback Todd Smargiasso, who continues to put up pass efficiency numbers (44-of-68 for 1,043 yards, 15 TDs, 1 INT) never-before-seen in this area. He, however, is by no means a one-man gang.
The backfield tandem of Doug Dudash (68-727, 17 TDs) and Jon Tekac (48-694, 11 TDs) average a combined 12.3 yards per carry, while a slightly dinged up wideout Demetrious Rich (bruised shin) has 23 catches for 604 yards (26.3 average, 13 TDs). That foursome has enabled the Hounds to average nearly 45 points per game.
``Wilmington is a big-play team and those are the kind of plays, with Tekac, Smargiasso, Dudash and Rich, that you just can't allow,'' Wildman said. ``You know they're going to get some yardage and you know they might get some points, but you can't let them get a lot of it all at one time.''
Although the Hounds Hammer hasn't matched the impressive shutout streak of a year ago, it is allowing an area-low 102 yards and 6.9 points (second-best) per game.
``We are a better defense in a lot of ways,'' Verrelli said. ``We made the comment several times last year that to be unscored upon 8 games in a row takes luck. We are playing as well defensively this year as last year. People have scored on us, but it's only natural. Our first team is only playing half a game. I think my kids have done a good job. Technically we have played definitely as well, and maybe even more sound, than last year.''
Sharon's numbers are equally sound, especially offensively behind the 1-2 punch of tailback T.J. Phillips and quarterback Jeff Valentino, who have enabled the Tigers (3-0, 7-1) to average an area-best 384.6 yards per game.
``They're game is still definitely Phillips and there's no reason for it not to be, but they have certainly included a lot more pass offense than they've had in the past,'' Verrelli said. ``We've got to prepare for more things as they do a good job with the pass. We have to play sound defense. Obviously you've got to stop the big play, which is the key for both teams.''
And the big-play guy for the Tigers is Phillips, who has four consecutive 200-yard games to improve his season total to an area-high 1,568 yards (23 TDs). Valentino has posted solid numbers, hitting 58-of-106 passes for 912 yards, with 10 TDs and 6 INTs. His top targets are Marty Barnett (18-323) and Bear Shimrack (16-177).
It is that passing game, improved from a year ago, that could be a key for the Tigers.
``I don't think there's any question that Jeffrey Valentino, a much improved corps of receivers and an offensive line that has gotten better each week in terms of protecting the passer has made us more than just the classic one-dimensional, run-the-football, pound 'em, play-physical, throw-it-once-in-awhile football team.'' Wildman said. ``We threw it more in the first four games this year than we threw it in all nine last year.''
Teams have had success throwing on the Tigers' defense, allowing 117.3 a game through the air.
