Oregon's big plays halt Wilmington run

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In a game between two unbeaten high school football teams, turnovers and big plays would probably determine the outcome.

Despite gaining 352 yards, Wilmington's undefeated season came to an end Saturday as the Wildcats fell 21-14 to Oregon in Class 3A state quarterfinal play.

The Wildcats (11-1), seeded No. 3, lost two fumbles and were intercepted twice. A No. 2 seed, Oregon (12-0) scored on runs of 69, 76 and 46 yards.

"This was like two heavyweight fighters going at it," Wilmington coach Jeff Reents said. "What it came down to is which team would commit the fewest errors. But a game like this is what the playoffs are all about.

"Oregon's a fine team, but Wilmington represented the Interstate Eight Conference very well. I want our juniors to see what it took to get this far and to start building for next year right away."

Cort Scheel's 38-yard run for a touchdown put Wilmington ahead in the first quarter. Senior John Van Duyne, who led all rushers with 110 yards on 13 carries, intercepted a Ryan McWethy pass to set up Scheel's TD.

The Wildcats looked to being going in for a second touchdown in the second quarter. But the Hawks recovered a fumble at the 1.

McWethy broke a 69-yard run for a touchdown to cap a 99-yard scoring drive with 8:04 remaining in first-half action.

McWethy rushed for 104 yards on 12 carries, while Nick McKeown added 99 yards on 11 tries. Scheel rushed for 75 on 10 carries for the Wildcats.

"Fumbles are part of the game," Reents said, referring to the potential score which would have put his team ahead 14-0. "The runner was trying his hardest to get into the end zone on that particular play."

The game was tied 7-7 at halftime. With 6:13 remaining in the third quarter, McKeown busted a 76-yard run for a TD. That score was set up by a Wilmington fumble.

Then with 9:43 left in the game, Nick Snyder added a 46-yard touchdown run to put Oregon up 21-7.

The Hawks ran the wishbone.

"When you face most high school teams, you have to prepare for one or two good runners," Reents said. "But Oregon has three very good runners. They ran the wishbone very well."

A hook-and-ladder play help set the stage for the Wildcats' final score -- a 5-yard run by junior quarterback Colin Webb with 2:38 left in the game. Webb (133 yards passing) completed a 5-yard pass to Andy Crutchfield, who lateraled to a streaking Van Duyne. Van Duyne rambled 70 yards to the 5.

"You put any good adjective about a fooball player, and that describes John Van Duyne," said Reents, talking about the 5-foot-9, 158-pound senior. "He is a coach's dream."