Bitter pill on bitter night for SR
SLIPPERY ROCK — Jono Powell slowly walked off the frozen Slippery Rock University field, the suddenness of his situation displayed in his dampened eyes.
After playing heavily favored Wilmington to the brink in overtime, the Slippery Rock High quarterback’s football season and career were over.
Just like that. As quick as a Derrick Burns run. As fast as a 5-yard touchdown pass from cousin to cousin, it was over in a 21-14 overtime loss in the District 10 Class AA title game on a frigid Saturday night.
“It hurts,” said Slippery Rock coach Clyde Conti. “I don’t know if we could have played any better than we did.”
In many respects, Slippery Rock (9-4) dominated Wilmington (12-1).
The Rockets had 16 first downs to only six for the Greyhounds, who ran a mere 37 offensive plays.
But it was three plays from scrimmage that keyed the Wilmington win.
Burns rumbled 56 yards to the Slippery Rock 4 to set up a short touchdown run by Sutton Whiting, then scampered 73 yards for a touchdown late in the third quarter to give the Greyhounds a 14-7 lead.
In overtime, quarterback Shane Wagner found cousin Matt Wagner in heavy coverage in the end zone for the decisive TD.
On Slippery Rock’s overtime possession, Powell threw an interception in the end zone to give the Greyhounds the district crown.
Wilmington had 269 total yards, but 171 of them came on three plays.
“Slippery Rock played a great football game,” said Wilmington coach Terry Verrelli. “No doubt about that.”
The last time the two teams played in October, Wilmington won 42-6. Slippery Rock managed a mere 99 yards in that contest.
Saturday night, the Rockets surpassed that number by midway through the second quarter.
The offensive line of Ben Miller, Kevin Rummel, Ty Pryor, Tony Papley, Brent Ayers, tight end Zack Smith and wingback Ayron Gallagher opened holes again for Powell, Isaac Osborne and Justin Angerett.
Osborne rushed for 93 yards and a 2-yard score late in the fourth quarter that tied the game at 14.
After not completing a pass last week against Sharon, Powell was 6-of-9 for 68 yards and a 5-yard touchdown to Derrick Orloski with 17 seconds left in the first half that sent the two teams into the warmth of the locker room tied at 7.“I never felt coming in that we were going to walk away with anything,” Verrelli said. “They did a good job moving the football and keeping our offense off the field. It’s a championship game and they have a good football team, too.”It was the final game for several standout seniors for the Rockets: Powell, who passed and rushed for 1,000 yards this season and won the Butler Eagle Scoring Trophy, Papley, Osborne, who played only one year, Orloski, kicker/punter/defensive end Mike Ramirez, Smith, Miller and Doug Upton.“They all played great tonight,” Conti said.Not many thought Slippery Rock would reach the district title game, but the Rockets kept finding ways to win this season.They almost did it one more time.“These kids, I think they played their hearts out,” Conti said. “We were just a nickel short.”<B>Wilmington 21,Slippery Rock 14 (OT)Slippery Rock 0 7 0 7 0—21Wilmington 0 7 7 0 7—14SR W</B>16 First Downs 649-185 Rushes-Yards 27-23668 Passing Yards 336-9-1 Passes (Comp.-Att.-Int.) 5-10-1253 Total Yards 2692-1 Fumbles/Lost 1-02-10 Penalties-Yards 10-105<B>Second Quarter</B>W — Sutton Whiting 4 run (Bryce Wilson kick), 10:09SR — Derrick Orloski 5 pass from Jono Powell (Mike Ramirez kick), :17<B>Third Quarter</B>W — Derrick Burns 73 run (Wilson kick), 4:45<B>Fourth Quarter</B>SR — Isaac Osborne 2 run (Ramirez kick), 3:10<B>Overtime</B>W — Matt Wagner 5 pass from Shane Wagner (Wilson kick)<B>Individual Statistics</B>Passing: Slippery Rock, Jono Powell 6-9-68-1. Wilmington, Shane Wagner 5-10-33-1.<B>Rushing:</B> Slippery Rock, Isaac Osborne 17-93, Jono Powell 21-52, Justin Angerett 9-37, Ayron Gallagher 2-3, Team 1-(-7). Wilmington, Derrick Burns 9-140, Sutton Whiting 9-62, Jake DeMedal 5-22, Shane Wagner 3-8, Luke Yohman 1-4.<B>Receiving:</B> Slippery Rock, Derrick Orloski 4-64, Ethan Geisler 1-5, Justin Angerett 1-(-1). Wilmington, Carson Sharbaugh 2-19, Matt Wagner 2-9, Derrick Burns 1-5
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