Wilmington begins its 3A series in much the same way it did in 2A with a dominant win – Shaw Local News Network

WILMINGTON – When Wilmington wasn’t given a chance to defend its Class 2A title from a year ago because it was moved to the Class 3A draw, some wondered if the Wildcats would be ready and willing to make that jump up the rankings.

Ryan Kettman and his Wilmington teammates didn’t see what the problem was.

“We wanted to be 3A,” Kettman said after Wilmington throttled Stillman Valley 42-7 in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs Saturday night. “We wanted to prove a bunch of people wrong. People who don’t think we can do it. We want to go out and show that we can play football. We are a 3A team. We’re not a 2A team.”

The win advances Wilmington (10-0) to the second round, where it will host Eureka (9-1) next Saturday at 5 p.m. Eureka defeated Peotone 29-22 in the first round game.

Wilmington wasted no time demonstrating that its defensive unit would be no joke. The Wildcats forced an immediate three-and-out, and the Wildcats began a painstaking 10-play drive that Kettman finished by getting to the edge and racing 45 yards for a score.

Stillman had one of his few slightly productive drives on the next possession, but the defense picked up again around midfield. Wilmington’s offense went on another drive from there that was capped by a 5-yard touchdown run, this time by Kyle Farrell.

Wilmington’s defense promptly forced another three-and-out, giving the Wildcats plenty of time to put together another score when Farrell broke loose for a 32-yard touchdown as Wilmington went into the half with a 21-0 lead.

While Wilmington’s offense did what it does and continues to do, it was Wilmington’s defense that set the tone. Stillman Valley had just two first downs in the first half, one of which was aided by a penalty and one play from a scramble that went more than four yards, a 20-yard punt by Michael Orlando.

“Our defense really answered the bell,” Wilmington coach Jeff Rients said. “We kind of had to work on things earlier in the year and after our first two or three games we really solidified. I think we have as much speed as possible right now and we’re flying around.”

It took just three plays in the second half for Kettman to break free for a 35-yard touchdown, finishing with 182 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. Kettman often uses an interesting technique of catching his jersey with lead blockers and letting his blockers clear the way before bursting into the world.

“Yeah, I like to hold it and if I can follow it and if I can, I’ll see a guy and just throw it out there and just try to find an open crease,” Kettman said.

It was a brutally effective plan of attack. Kettman almost always seemed to get to the second level of Stillman’s defense, and that combined with the bruising running style of Farrell, who also eclipsed the century mark by over 100 yards, made Wilmington nearly impossible to stop.

Other wrinkles in Wilmington’s offense led to more goals. Fullback Hunter Osipavichus did a yeoman’s job blocking for most of the game, but he also managed to take the only carry he would get all night, right up the middle for a 53-yard touchdown in the third quarter.

Sean James capped Wilmington’s scoring with a 21-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter.

Stillman Valley, which closed the season at 5-5, capped Wilmington’s field goal attempt with a 5-yard touchdown run by Jackson Barrett with 11 minutes left in the game.