HAMILTON LEADS HUSKIES TO WIN

Publication: CHARLESTON DAILY MAIL
Published: 09/16/1989
Page: P1B
Headline: HAMILTON LEADS HUSKIES TO WIN
Byline: DON HILL

For Herbert Hoover's Chris Hamilton, it has been an emotional
and trying football season.
- RFirst, the Huskies' senior defensive end was declared
ineligible by the Secondary School Activities Commission for having
repeated the ninth grade. Then, Hamilton was told by the state
Supreme Court that he could play this season until the high court
heard his appeal on the matter.
On Friday night, Hamilton showed his endurance by leading the
Huskies to a 13-0 win at Nitro. The 6-5, 210-pounder, who has.
endured commissions and courts, added a drenching rain to his list of
headaches.
But he overcame it all by scoring both touchdowns for Hoover.
"I'm relieved that it's over,' said Hamilton, who has played
in each of Hoover's four games this year. Last night was his second
appearance since the Supreme Court's ruling.
"I hope we win the case,' he said. "I feel the rule is
totally wrong. All I wanted to do was play.'
And play he did.
Hamilton blocked and recovered a Nitro punt for Hoover's first
touchdown and caught a 14-yard scoring pass for the second. In
between, Hamilton added a fumble recovery and continually harassed
Nitro's offense.
"Hamilton played extremely well on both sides of the ball,'
said Hoover coach Joe Cowley. "He's a good one.'
After Hoover held Nitro on the Wildcats' 19-yard line on its
.
first series, Hamilton broke through, blocked the punt, scooped it up
at the five and took it into the end zone. Richard Drennen's kick
made it 7-0.
"It wasn't planned,' said Hamilton. "I was just rushing as
hard as possible.'
Nitro threatened later in the opening quarter when Pete Hinton
blocked a Hoover punt and Eric White recovered at the Huskies' 25.
Hinton ran twice for a first down at the 14 but the Wildcats' only
scoring threat of the game died when Phil Vickers intercepted a pass
in the end zone.
"Our defense played hard the whole game,' said Cowley. Nitro
managed seven first downs and 110 total yards to 10 firsts and 187
yards for Hoover.
The game's other score came in the second quarter when Hoover
marched 71 yards in seven plays. Joe Mullins raced 45 yards to
Nitro's 12. After a penalty, Steve Stoffel hooked up with a leaping
Hamilton for the score.
"Stoffel gave us a fine game tonight,' said Cowley, "although
I was disappointed we didn't get a couple of more scores. The mud
makes it a three-ring circus on a night like this.'
Nitro didn't cross the 50 in the second half until the last
minute of play.
Mullins slogged for 128 yards on 33 carries for his fourth
consecutive 100-yard game. Donnie Withrow had 32 on nine tries for
Nitro.
Hoover, 2-2, is home to Scott of Madison next Friday. Nitro,
1-3, plays at South Charleston.