Published Friday, Nov. 14, 1997
BACK TO HERALD...
Last time, it was mud; this time it'll be the white stuff
By Brad Isles
Herald Sports Writer
One thing Wilmington High head football coach Terry Verrelli knows is the field conditions _ at least in the form of mud _ won't be a problem for his Greyhounds when they take on Karns City Saturday in PIAA interdistrict play.
So there won't be a replay of the quagmire at Hickory High School that occurred in last week's Wilmington-Sharon District 10 championship game.
Saturday's game kicks off at 7 p.m. at Erie Veterans Stadium, which sports a turf field.
There could, however, be a significant amount of snow with winter weather expected through Saturday.
``You never know if the conditions favor you or not,'' Verrelli said. ``Last week I thought they favored Sharon, going into the game. Our speed did a good job in the mud.''
The Greyhounds (11-0) will look to use that speed against the District 9 Class AA champion Gremlins (10-0). And the speed comes from more than one source.
There is wide-out Demetrious Rich, who has caught 34 passes for 903 yards and 17 TDs. In the backfield, both Doug Dudash and Jon Tekac eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in last week's victory. Dudash has 1,202 yards on 107 carries and is averaging 109.5 yards/game and 11.3 yards/carry and has 23 TDs. Tekac has 1,024 yards on 89 carries and is averaging 93.1 yards/game and 11.5 yards/carry with 14 scores.
And there is quarterback Todd Smargiasso, who is 59 of 87 for 1,385 yards with 20 TDs and only one interception.
Team speed is magnified on a turf field, but Verrelli is taking nothing for granted.
``I don't know if it's a real advantage,'' Verrelli said of the turf. ``There are so many other factors _ fumbles, bad snaps. You don't like those to be factors, but they are.''
Wilmington's defense, which allows an area-low 118.3 yards/game, will have its work cut out against the Gremlins.
Verrelli said Karns City is very similar to his own team in that it doesn't have one dominant player.
``We use three or four people,'' he said. ``They're that way.''
Led by 6-foot-6, 210-pound quarterback Doug Rodgers, Karns City rolled through the Keystone Shortway Conference. Rodgers is 93 of 154 for 1,370 yards with 20 TDs and 3 interceptions.
``That's a compliment to them,'' Verrelli said of the big quarterback. ``It's easier to see over the line and get the ball to where it's supposed to be. It's harder to stop a quarterback like that, than it is a short one.''
Out of the backfield, the Gremlins sport 1,000-yard rusher J.J. Scherer (149-1,209), who has found the end zone 17 times. Josh Bly is a 2-way threat, rushing for nearly 500 yards and catching 28 passes for 297 yards, with 6 TDs.
Rodgers' target on the outside is wide receiver Dave Hilderbrand, who has hauled in 31 receptions for 459 yards and 5 scores.
``They have a good quarterback and several good receivers. ... A lot of skill people,'' Verrelli said. ``They're similar to us in that respect.''
Note: The winner will play either Westmont Hilltop or Tyrone. Should the Greyhounds and Tyrone both win, it will be the third consecutive year the two have played in the state quarterfinals. Tyrone won the previous two meetings.
Wilmington-Karns City at a glance
Probable starting lineups
WILMINGTON
Offense
No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr.
75 Artie Rayner...........OT 6-4 225 10
53 Ryan Gargasz...........OG 6-6 252 12
72 Jay Ferrese...........C 6-1 200 12
51 Justin Koi...........OG 6-1 220 12
78 Jamie Hake...........OT 6-2 265 12
84 Mike Copper...........TE 6-3 183 10
3 Todd Smargiasso...........QB 6-3 190 12
25 Doug Dudash...........FB 6-0 196 12
4 Jon Tekac...........TB 6-2 196 12
2 Kevin McGinnis...........WB 5-10 183 11
21 Demetrious Rich...........WR 5-10 170 12
46 Judd Campbell...........PK 5-9 150 12
Defense
53 Ryan Gargasz...........DE 6-6 252 12
51 Justin Koi...........DT 6-1 220 12
57 Brian Meese...........DT 5-11 275 12
55 Willie White...........DE 6-0 220 11
20 Shawn Bauer...........OLB 6-0 170 12
32 Adam Stewart...........ILB 6-2 165 11
2 Kevin McGinnis...........ILB 5-10 183 11
25 Doug Dudash...........OLB 6-0 196 12
21 Demetrious Rich...........CB 5-10 170 12
4 Jon Tekac...........CB 6-2 196 12
3 Todd Smargiasso...........S 6-3 190 12
18 Matt Robison...........P 6-3 183 10
KARNS CITY
Offense
No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr.
55 Brad Miller...........OT 6-1 240 12
70 Derek O'Donnell...........OG 5-10 185 12
64 C. Herschberger...........C 6-2 220 12
79 Ron Jones...........OG 6-1 215 12
57 Matt Craig...........OT 6-0 215 12
4 Dustin Robinson...........TE 6-0 210 12
7 Doug Rodgers...........QB 6-6 210 12
8 Josh Bly...........TB 5-9 165 11
10 J.J Scherer...........RB 5-11 190 12
38 Josh Bishop...........WR 5-9 170 12
22 Dave Hilderbrand...........WR 6-2 185 11
Defense
57 Matt Craig...........DT 6-0 215 12
79 Ron Jones...........NG 6-1 215 12
55 Brad Miller...........LB 6-1 240 12
4 Dustin Robinson...........LB 6-0 210 12
10 J.J Scherer...........LB 5-11 190 12
70 Derek O'Donnell...........LB 5-10 185 12
35 Tony Ryan...........LB 5-11 185 10
2 Dustin Appel...........DB 5-9 175 10
38 Josh Bishop...........DB 5-9 170 12
22 Dave Hilderbrand...........DB 6-2 185 11
8 Josh Bly...........DB 5-9 165 11
Statistics
TEAM
WILMINGTON KARNS CITY
OFFENSE
2685...........Rushing yards...........2040
244.1...........Per game...........204.0
1409...........Passing yards...........1420
128.1...........Per game...........142.0
98-63-1...........Att-comp-int...........160-98-3
4104...........Total yards...........3460
373.1...........Per game...........346.0
481...........Points scored...........341
43.7...........Per game...........34.1
DEFENSE
879...........Rushing yards allowed...........477
80.0...........Per game...........47.7
667...........Passing yards allowed...........671
60.6...........Per game...........67.1
123-53-12...........Opp. Att-comp-int...........N/A
1301...........Total yards allowed...........1148
118.3...........Per game...........114.8
67...........Points allowed...........71
6.1...........Per game...........7.1
INDIVIDUAL
Rushing
WILMINGTON _ Doug Dudash 107-1207; Jon Tekac 89-1024.
KARNS CITY _ J.J. Scherer 149-1209, Josh Bly 80-446.
Passing
WILMINGTON _ Todd Smargiasso 87-59-1-1385, 20 TDs.
KARNS CITY _ Doug Rodgers 154-93-3-1370, 20 TDs.
Receiving
WILMINGTON _ Demetrious Rich 34-903; Dudash 9-149.
KARNS CITY _ Dave Hilderbrand 31-459, Bly 28-297.
Scoring
WILMINGTON _ Dudash 23 TDs; Rich 17 TDs; Tekac 14 TDs;
Judd Campbell 47 PATs.
KARNS CITY _ Scherer 17 TDs, Bly 6 TDs, Hilderbrand 5 TDs.
Game-by-game scores
WILMINGTON (11-0)
28...........Laurel............6
45.......West Middlesex.......10
55...........Slippery Rock.....0
49...........Hickory...........0
13...........Sharpsville (OT)..7
56...........Grove City........0
56...........Mercer...........19
56...........Reynolds.........13
26...........Sharon...........12
DISTRICT 10 AA PLAYOFFS
55...........Ft. LeBoeuf.......0
42...........Sharon............0
KARNS CITY (10-0)
36...........Keystone.........12
28...........Clarion..........14
41...........Brockway.........14
43...........Shannock Valley...0
23...........A-C Valley........6
33...........Redbank..........12
54.........Union-Rimersburg...18
44........larion Limestone.....7
39...........Moniteau..........0
DISTRICT 9 AA PLAYOFFS
13...........Port Allegany.....6
