The Greyhounds’ ground game gobbles up yards and minutes — playing keep-away with anxious opposing offenses — then finishes drives with scores and wins.
Cameron Marett scored twice and Jack Patton accounted for another while the “Hounds Hammer” defense shut out Sharon during the secondhalf en route to a 21-7 season-opening nonconference win Friday night.
At Tiger Stadium, defending District 10 champion Wilmington was dominant during the game’s final 24 minutes.
“ ... We told our kids at halftime that it was a 24-minute game, and Wilmington won the 24-minute game, it was that simple,” Sharon coach Jim Wildman said.
Patton produced a game-high 16-carry, 114-yard rushing performance that included a 10-yard TD run in the final frame. Marett manufactured another 54 yards, Robert Pontius 48, and Bryson Verrelli 41, giving the Greyhounds 257 yards rushing.
“To be honest with you, I just feel like I can’t put together a good team if one guy has to do the work,” ‘Hounds’ coach Terry Verrelli said. “The three backs earn their share, do what they’re supposed to do and, to me, that’s what makes the wing-T dangerous.”
“They just beat us up front,” Wildman said.
Sharon sophomore signal-caller Lane Voytik vaulted the Tigers to a 7-0 margin at intermission. He tossed a 26-yard TD to Jordan Wilson on a screen with 77 seconds left for the first half’s lone score. Though his first pair of passes were picked off, Voytik completed 6 of 10 tosses for 80 yards.
During the second half, however, Voytik was victimized by pressure and some drops by his receivers. He connected on 11-of-26 second-half attempts for another 80 yards, though his final throw was intercepted by his QB counterpart, Pontius — the latter’s second of the game.
“I’d say (Voytik) played better than average, but too many drops,” Wildman noted. “I guess that’s part of the game, but you can’t make too many mistakes when you’re playing’ a good football team.
“We stubbed our toe in the first half. It was 7-0, but I think it could have been more,” Wildman continued. “You let a team stick around like that — which we did ... “
In addition to the trio of Tigers’ turnovers, Sharon short-circuited itself with a half-dozen major penalties either on holding calls or personal fouls. Voytik was sacked once and twice center snaps out of the shotgun to him were off-target.
“We played against Shenango in a scrimmage and (the ‘Hounds) were very aggressive, which is nice to see. But, could they play that way in a real game, too?” Verrelli said. “They did, and that was the key, I believe. Defensively, they did a great job, and special teams, too.”
During the first quarter, Pontius had a pair of passes picked off, and he finished just 2 for 7 for 36 yards; however, he carried for a trio of drive-sustaining second-half runs of 11, 11 and 15 yards. And he did not have to throw, owing to the Greyhounds’ ground game. Conversely, Wilson was Sharon’s leading rusher with 15 carries for 45 yards.
“Pontius is a pretty cool cucumber in there, he doesn’t get rattled,” Verrelli praised. “He does a great job. He didn’t play that much last year, but he got enough playing time so that he’s not really a rookie in there.”
The game featured two of the most successful scholastic coaches in Mercer County-area annals. Verrelli (301-124-3) is commencing his 40th campaign at the Hounds’ helm, while Wildman (238-95-6) is in his 31st at his alma mater.
Wilmington has won 12 of the last 15 games with the Tigers, and now leads the all-time series 19-9. Also, The ‘Hounds have claimed 10 consecutive season openers, which surprised Verrelli.
“I didn’t know that ... it’s nice to know,” Verrelli said with a smile. “You know, we work hard. We work hard in the summer, and I think that’s the key. The kids are willing to show up and they’re willing to work, because they want to be successful.”
The Tigers lost to Wilmington in last year’s lidlifter, but won eight games and competed for the District 10 Class 3A crown.
Faced again with that scenario, Wildman said, “That’s what senior leadership is. You find out. Yo... Click here to read full article
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