GROVE CITY - The Grove City High School football team was in a must-win situation Friday night.

Unfortunately for the Eagles, the Wilmington Greyhounds were not sympathetic to Grove City's wishes.

With nearly 300 yards of rushing offense, Wilmington knocked off Grove City, 20-13, and severely hindered the Eagles' chances for a playoff berth.

"I don't know what to say to them after the game," Grove City coach Jeff Bell said. "We were prepared, they just made a couple more big plays than us."

Greyhounds coach Terry Verrelli said he expected the game to be tough.

"Any game when you get late in the season is going to be tough," Verrelli said. "This was the major opportunity for us to get closer to the playoffs."

The 33 points scored in the game were all put up in the first half, as both defenses stalled the offensive play in the second half.

"If you want to win the big game, you have to play well on defense, and we did," Verrelli said.

Matt Wagner's 5-yard reception turned out to be the winning score for Wilmington, putting the Greyhounds (6-0, 5-0) up 20-13 with 2:37 remaining in the first half. It was Wagner's only reception of the game.

The Eagles (3-3, 2-3) had a chance to get closer in the final two minutes of the first half. Trailing 20-13 and inside the Wilmington 25-yard line, Grove City quarterback Jesse Alfreno threw an interception to Wilmington's Shane Wagner that ended a possible tying drive. That would be as close as the Grove City offense would get to tying it.

Bell said that although Alfreno had the interception, he had a strong game overall. Alfreno finished the night 11-for-19 with 155 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

"Although we got stopped on the goal line, he did a great job," Bell said. "He's a winner."

Grove City took a 6-0 lead on its opening possession when Alfreno connected with Drew Bestwick on a quick slant over the middle for a 14-yard touchdown that culminated a nine-play, 80-yard drive. Gordon Craig missed the extra point attempt.

Bestwick was the Eagles' leading receiver with five receptions for 82 yards and the touchdown.

Wilmington struck back on the ensuing possession when David Bruno sprinted 81 yards down the left sideline to tie the game at 6 after Nick Riggall missed the extra-point attempt.

Verrelli said Bruno, who led Wilmington with 110 yards on 13 carries, used his tremendous speed on the play.

"We have some speed and we have several backs in the backfield to use it," Verrelli said.

The Greyhounds took a 13-6 lead from Grove City at the end of the first quarter when quarterback Jake Reiber scored on a quarterback sneak from a yard out. Reiber finished off an eight-play drive that included a 61-yard run by the multi-threat quarterback.

Reiber rushed for 107 yards on 13 carries while completing 3-of-6 for 46 yards and a touchdown.

Grove City tied the game for a second time when Justin Spencer scored on a 2-yard run, knotting the score at 13 with 4:10 remaining before halftime.

A 69-yard run by Alfreno that put the Eagles inside the Greyhound 10-yard line set up that score.