-- The District 10 Class AA showdown that people have been talking about since before the season is set to take place. It's just happening a little sooner than some anticipated.

General McLane will face Wilmington in the Class AA semifinals next week at a site and time to be determined. Since the preseason, many had expected McLane and Wilmington to meet in the Class AA title game. However, when McLane finished second to North East in Region 4, the Lancers and Greyhounds were placed in the same side of the AA bracket. As a result, they'll meet in the semis.

Fans have eagerly awaited this matchup because both teams have been D-10 powerhouses in recent years.

McLane, which dropped to Class AA in the offseason, had won three of the previous six District 10 Class AAA titles and had won the 2006 PIAA title.

Since 1994, Wilmington has won eight District 10 titles (six in Class AA and two in Class AAA), including the past two Class AA crowns.

-- The Wilmington-McLane matchup caused plenty of debate among readers on our Saturday live blog. On our blog poll, 77 percent of readers said that Wilmington would win the matchup.

Now, however, the Greyhounds and Lancers will get to settle the matter on the field.

Wilmington advanced with an impressive 41-0 victory over Girard on Saturday. The Greyhounds (10-1), who won Region 3, have a potent, diverse offense that can lean on any number of players, depending on the opponent and the circumstances. Quarterback Shane Wagner threw two touchdown passes and Sutton Whiting scored on a pair of TD runs as Wilmington outgained Girard 403-104. Derrick Burns ran for 119 yards and a TD.

Wilmington's defense was especially tough, limiting Girard's solid running attack to less than two yards per carry -- 47 rushes for 92 yards.

McLane rushed for an amazing 569 yards on 56 carries -- 10 yards per pop -- in a 42-28 victory over Greenville on Saturday. As usual, quarterback Kellen O'Neill led the way, rushing for 226 yards on 19 carries and scoring on runs of 43, 40 and 3 yards. Cory Lee added 192 yards on 27 carries and Sam McCaughtry added 119 yards on eight rushes.

-- Wilmington would seem to have a defensive edge. McLane has allowed 18.5 points per game this season and on four occasions has allowed at least 27 points in a game. McLane has struggled at times in stopping the run. On Saturday night, the Lancers allowed Greenville to rush for 330 yards on 44 carries. Dylan Zuschlag alone rushed for 255 yards on 27 carries.

Wilmington, meanwhile, has allowed 7 points per game while scoring 41.6 per outing. Only twice this season have the Greyhounds allowed more than seven points in a game. They allowed a season-high 22 points in a 22-21 loss to Karns City (10-1) in their regular-season finale.

-- General McLane and Wilmington have played two common opponents this season. Wilmington beat Greenville 49-13 and Girard 41-0. McLane beat Greenville 42-28 and Girard 42-28.

-- The clear question is: Will McLane be able to run the ball effectively against Wilmington's rugged defense? Led by quarterback Kellen O'Neill -- he went over the 1,600-yard mark Saturday -- the Lancers have run wild against each of their past nine opponents -- all wins. The only teams to slow down the GM ground game were Class AAA power Strong Vincent and Region 4 champion North East in the first two games of the season.

-- Mercer County teams had a great weekend in the Class AA and Class A quarterfinals. Mercer County teams went 3-1 in AA and 2-1 in Class A. Wilmington, Slippery Rock and Sharon each won in Double-A, while Greenville lost. In Class A, Mercer and Farrell won, while Sharpsville lost.

Erie County did not fare as well, going 1-3 in Class AA and 0-2 in Class A. McLane was the only winner from Erie County in six games.

Erie County's biggest success came in Class AAA on Friday, where Strong Vincent beat Meadville 35-14 and Cathedral Prep beat Grove City 45-21.

-- Fairview had a rough time Saturday in a 35-7 loss to Sharon. Tood Rearick passed for 324 yards and five TDs, and Mike Tomko added seven receptions for 187 yards and three TDs for Sharon.

One bright spot for Fairview was a strong finish from junior running back Jared Lane, who rushed for 136 yards on 22 rushes. Lane broke an 83-yard TD run in the fourth quarter for Fairview's only score.

-- Slippery Rock's defense had a big night against a potent, diversified North East offense. The Rockets limited the Grapepickers to 156 total yards and held them to just two completed passes for 40 yards. Jeff Carniewski led North East with 71 yards on 18 rushes before leaving the game with an apparent injury early in the fourth quarter.

-- Join us later today for the announcement of next week's District 10 sites and times ...