The Wildcats (9-0, 3-0) used a relentless running attack and an explosive second half to trample Manchester Essex, 30-16, and take control of the Commonwealth Large race.

“We knew we had a very good running game,’’ said Whittier coach Kevin Bradley. “The running backs and the line did such a great job of eating up the clock.’’

The Hornets (7-2, 3-1) had no answers for the dual threat of Nick Ferreira and Donald Leighton. Ferreira ate up most of the yardage, running for 182 yards on 20 carries, while Leighton (12 for 79) scored twice.

“It was fine with me,’’ said Ferreira. “As long as we all work together and get a win, that’s all we want.’’

The defending Division 4 champion Hornets were forced to try to generate offense without a healthy Brian Ciccone, who suffered a left ankle injury on his first carry that severely limited his effectiveness. Coming into the game, Ciccone was second in the division in scoring with 17 touchdowns and 125 points.

Whittier, which came into the game boasting the division’s leading passer in Dillon Ryan, seemed to catch Manchester Essex off guard with its dominant rushing performance.

“All the guys pitched in today,’’ said Ryan, who has thrown for 19 scores for a team that has scored 30 or more points in every game. “We knew it was a big win that we needed to get, and we got it.’’

After a scoreless first quarter, the Wildcats broke through in the second - thanks to the Wildcat. Running almost entirely out of that formation, Whittier drove 71 yards in more than seven minutes to get to the goal line. The Hornets put together a stand and stopped the 183-pound Ferreira twice for no gain. Bradley called for the 225-pound Nate Allen to get the ball next, and he slammed through the line for a touchdown. Allen also ran for the ensuing 2-point conversion, his first of three.

Whittier was ahead, 8-0, in the third quarter when Ferreira fumbled at the 15 after a 46-yard run. The ball squirted out from under a Hornet, rolling into the end zone where Whittier recovered for a touchdown.

Leighton gave Whittier a 24-0 fourth-quarter lead with his first touchdown run, a 5-yard jaunt. But Manchester Essex’s Ben Kekeisen returned the ensuing kickoff 76 yards up the middle to get his team on the board.

The team’s then exchanged the two final touchdowns, with Leighton running it in from the 19, followed by Alex Carr’s 4-yard pass to Jake Brown for Manchester’s final score.

Whittier has Greater Lowell and Greater Lawrence remaining on the schedule and can clinch the Commonwealth Large next week with a win over Greater Lowell and a Greater Lawrence loss to Lynn Tech. If both teams win, then the Thanksgiving contest between Whittier and Greater Lawrence will decide the league champion.