DeSimone leads Wheeler rout

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UNION TWP. -- "I saw guys open and zinged it in there," said Wheeler quarterback Mike DeSimone describing his four TD passes Friday night.

The senior had his best game this season in a 66-6 rout of South Central, completing 7-of-8 passes for 132 yards. He had a pair of 17-yard TD tosses to Sam O'Shea in the first half. O'Shea, at QB late, burst up the middle for a 51-yard TD.

Wheeler's first play was a 24-yard TD pass to James Schaffer.

DeSimone found a wide-open Josh Holmes for a 36-yard score in the third and even scrambled 25 yards for another TD.

The 5-foot-6, 160-pounder had just three TD passes coming into his "breakout game."

"I connected well with all my receivers," DeSimone said. "Plays are called based on the defense. I like the combo of passing and running; it keeps the defense guessing."

He smiled when told his five TDs ties Clay Duarte for the team high this fall. Duarte got five in each of the last two games for an area-best 14 TDs. But his first Friday was Wheeler's sixth. And it came on defense, a 27-yard interception return.

"Yeah, I took it from him (SC receiver)," Duarte said. "I wanted to hit him and saw the ball." The 5-7 senior added a 6-yard TD run for 16 on the season. He ended with a quiet 117 yards on 18 carries.

Coach Dan Klimczak said "we take what the defense gives us. They were loading up in the box to stop Clay. He and Mike both can run (DeSimone ran 10 times for 117 yards). But I thought we could exploit their pass coverage."

His diminutive QB hit 6-of-7 the first half; it was 28-0 at the break.

Wheeler (5-0, 3-0 Greater South Shore) outgained SC (1-4, 1-2) with 261 yards to 25 in the half; it was 14-3 in first downs with one of SC's by penalty.

The Bearcats' lone problem was six penalties for 80 yards in the half.

"A total team effort, our kids played tough both ways," Klimczak said. The defense added the final TD, its second, on sophomore sub Josh Holmes' 47-yard fumble return with 1:33 left.

The Satellites' longest play of the game was a 34-yard TD pass from Bryant Hoover to fellow sophomore Devin Wiltse, capping an 8-play, 68-yard drive. Hoover (5-of-14 for 75) is the QB since 6-2 senior Mike Catalano is off the team. Matt Walker returned kickoffs for 30 and 32 yards late.