Saturday, September 22, 2001
Two Greyhounds accounted for six touchdowns and 283 yards rushing.
By BILL ALBRIGHT
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MERCER, Pa. -- The Wilmington High football team scored early and often Friday to blast Mercer, 47-7, in the showdown between Mercer County Athletic Conference teams.
The game was over early as the Greyhounds bolted to a 27-0 first-quarter lead.
Highlighting the Greyhounds' victory on offense were two runners with more than 100 yards.
Matt Krawchyk, who scored three touchdowns on runs of 62, 53 and 21 yards, piled up 137 yards on just four carries.
Brandon Whiting also passed the century mark, totaling 146 yards on 10 carries. Whiting's scores came on runs of 5 and 52 yards.
"They are both good backs and I think that is what is making us strong," Wilmington coach Terry Verrelli said. "And hey, the fullback [Brandon Boron] can run and we hope to get him going, too."
Balanced: The Greyhounds scored seven touchdowns, but they also succeeded on defense and special teams.
Boron returned an interception 42 yards for a score, and Krawchyk added a punt return of 54 yards to give him a four-touchdown night.
"That makes us feel good to have scored that many ways," Verrelli said. "But the most important thing to me when you are playing a team that is struggling is that you stay sharp. That is the way we coach them, and they stayed sharp, so I am not complaining."
Although his team was completely outmanned, Mercer coach Tom Phillips was satisfied that his young players hung in for the entire game.
"We know every week that we are going to be the underdog, and all we ask of them is that they play hard and never quit," Phillips said.
"We have a very young program with inexperienced players and all I ask of the kids is to play with pride for themselves, their family, the school and to go 48 minutes."
Mercer touchdown: Avoiding a shutout, the Mustangs got on the board when quarterback Justin Brennesholtz hit running back Luke Erdos with a 49-yard scoring pass.
"He is only a sophomore and he is also playing defensive end as well as halfback," Phillips said. "It is going to be nice to see him in another year.
"And our senior quarterback, Justin Brennesholtz, never played football before this year, and he threw a great ball."
Next week: Both teams will hit the road next Friday as Wilmington (4-0) travels to Hermitage to battle Hickory, while Mercer (0-4) travels to Sharon for a meeting with the Tigers.
"I think sometimes when you have a good football team, you are going to play teams that are struggling a little bit," Verrelli said. "My feeling on that is that you have to be prepared to play the game and respect everybody as a good football team."