HERMITAGE _ If there were any question as to who was the better team prior to Friday night's Sharon-Wilmington playoff clash, it was answered in resounding fashion by the Greyhounds.

Wilmington (11-0) exploded for 28 first-half points en route to a convincing 42-0 victory over Sharon (8- 3) before some 4,500 rain-soaked fans at Hickory High Stadium to capture its fourth consecutive District 10 Class AA championship.

``It's a wonderful feeling,'' Wilmington coach Terry Verrelli said. ``I think those kids certainly deserve the credit. They've done a wonderful job for four years competing in District 10. It's a great honor to be able to have four titles.''

It was also the Greyhounds' fourth straight win over Sharon in the last three seasons. And this one was as dominating as the score might indicate, as the Greyhounds finished with a huge edge in total yards (463-85) and first downs (21-3).

``We were definitely focused,'' said Verrelli. ``You never really know that until you get into a game and see what's going to happen. Yeah, tonight they certainly came to play, offensively and defensively.''

Offensively it was Doug Dudash and Jon Tekac, who apparently felt no ill-effects from the muddy conditions by running for 238 and 150 yards, respectively, while combining for five touchdowns. Both surpassed the 1,000-yard plateau for the season.

``You never know in weather like this; you certainly don't expect to score too many points when you're playing in the mud,'' Verrelli said. ``And it kind of hurts your speed a little bit, but you just have to play whatever the conditions are.''

It was those conditions, on the other hand, that appeared to have a debilitating effect on the Tigers, who struggled to move the ball the entire game. The 'Hounds Hammer also had a little something to do with that. That unit held Sharon standout T.J. Phillips to a season-low 51 yards on 26 carries, which left the junior running back 22 yards shy of 2,000 for the season.

``They blocked, they tackled, they executed and we didn't,'' said Tigers coach Jim Wildman. ``I was just real sorry they didn't get 50. I was hoping they could have gotten that last one in. They're a great football team. I hope they go all the way. I don't see anybody beating them.''

In their first meeting two weeks ago at Youngstown State University _ a 26-12 'Hounds victory _ Sharon dominated the first two quarters statistically, yet led only 6-0 at the half.

This time it was Wilmington's turn to take control early, and take control they did, although in the game's opening moments things didn't look so promising for the 'Hounds.

A 40-yard Demetrious Rich punt return preceded Wilmington's first possession, which was marked by the absence of star quarterback Todd Smargiasso who reportedly suffered an injury to a hip on the punt return, forcing him to the sideline for a couple of minutes.

Then to make things worse, Dudash fumbled on the 'Hounds' first play from scrimmage and Jeff Valentino's recovery put the Tigers in business at their own 42.

It was all downhill from there, however, for Sharon.

On second down, Wilmington linebacker Kevin McGinnis picked off a Valentino pass, giving the 'Hounds the ball at their 48. Smargiasso returned to action three plays later, helping to spark an 8-play scoring drive that was capped by his 9-yard pass to Rich, putting Wilmington ahead 6-0 at the 3:57 mark of the first frame. It was Smargiasso's 20th touchdown pass of the season.

Tekac's 3-yard burst closed a 4- play, 32-yard drive at 8:46 of the second quarter and Dudash's conversion run made it 14-0. Dudash was just beginning an impressive run that would see him score 22 consecutive points over a 9-minute span that eventually helped pushed the Greyhounds' lead to 36-0 after three quarters.

His first touchdown came on a 45- yard interception return of a Valentino pass. He then added, consecutively, a 22-yard scoring run, a 2-point conversion and a 67-yard run to effectively put the game away. Then for good measure Dudash, who carried 15 times, added a 63-yard touchdown dash in the fourth quarter to close the scoring.

``They didn't do anything different than what we expected,'' Wildman concluded. ``We just did not block anybody in the first half and we didn't make a tackle. It was plain and simple. My hat's off to them, they're a great football team.''

Notes: Wilmington will face District 9 champion Karns City (10-0), a 13-7 winner over Port Allegany Friday, in the first round of the state playoffs. ... Dudash improved his numbers to 1,204 yards on 107 carries, while Tekac moved his season totals to 1,024 yards on 89 carries. Dudash has 23 touchdowns, Tekac 14. ... With four catches for 49 yards, Rich upped his season marks to 33 for 903 yards and 17 TDs. ... Wilmington has now outscored three opponents at Hickory this year by an aggregate margin of 146-0 (49-0 over Hickory, 55-0 over Ft. LeBoeuf and 42-0 over Sharon), prompting Verrelli to quip, ``I guess I'm kind of getting to like this field.'' ... Sharon's Phillips finished the year with 1,978 yards on 299 carries and now has 3,957 career yards, which moved him past Hubbard's Frank Harris (3,952) into fourth in The Herald record books. ... The 42- point margin of defeat was the fourth- worst for a Jim Wildman team since he began coaching in 1977 (Beaver 54-6 in 1979, Brookfield 46-0 in 1977 and Meadville 43-0 in 1986). It was also the biggest loss ever by Sharon to an MCAC foe. Reynolds' 28-7 win in 1986 was the previous high.

D-10 AA Championship
 SHARON     0  0 0 0  0
 WILMINGTON 6 22 8 6 42
Scoring plays

W _ Rich 9 pass from Smargiasso (kick failed)

W _ Tekac 3 run (Dudash run)

W _ Dudash 45 interception return (kick blocked)

W _ Dudash 22 run (Dudash run)

W _ Dudash 67 run (Tekac run)

W _ Dudash 63 run (run failed)
Team stats 
SHARON WILMINGTON
 3......First downs......21
 56......Rushing yards......411
 29......Passing yards......52
 12-6-2......Att-comp-int......9-5-0
 0-0......Sacks-yards lost......1-3
 85......Total yards......463
 2-1......Fumbles-lost......2-2
 5-42......Penalties-yards lost......5-39
 
INDIVIDUAL STATS
Rushing: SHARON _ Phillips 26-51, Valentino 2-3, 
Bodien 1-2; WILMINGTON _ Dudash 15-238, Tekac 16-150, 
McGinnis 4-30, Smargiasso 4-0, Stewart 1-(-3), M. Robison 3- (-4).

Passing: SHARON _ Valentino 12-6-2- 29; 
WILMINGTON _ Smargiasso 9-5-0-52, A. Robison 0-0-0-0, 
M. Robison 0-0-0-0.

Receiving: SHARON _ Odem 3-19, Barnett 1-5, Dovutovich 1-5, 
Murray 1-0; WILMINGTON _ Rich 4-49, Dudash 1-3.