FRESHMEN PLAY KEY ROLES FOR NITRO
Publication:
Published: 08/25/1995
Page: P1B
Headline: FRESHMEN PLAY KEY ROLES FOR NITRO
Byline: CHRIS DICKERSON
NINTH-GRADERS TO START AT
QUARTERBACK, WIDE RECEIVER FOR
WILDCATS
You see ninth-grader to ninth-grader touchdown passes all the
time _ on junior high football fields.
It's a rare happening on the high school level, although don't
be surprised if two Nitro freshmen hook up for a few scores this
season.
Ninth-grader J.R. House will start at quarterback for the
Wildcats on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. when they open the '95 season at
Winfield. And one of his chief targets will be fellow freshman and
backup, receiver Chris Martin.
The precocious pair has already teamed for a score this year.
House hit Martin with a TD pass in Nitro's recent scrimmage against
Cabell Midland.
"I kind of like the thought,' Martin said of two freshmen
combining talents in Nitro's high-powered offense. "You don't
normally see that.'
The 6-0, 180-pound House handled the signal-calling chores at
Hayes Junior High last year, while the 5-8, 140-pound Martin
quarterbacked Andrew Jackson Junior to an unbeaten season.
Martin knew the strong-armed House, an exceptional all-around
athlete whose best sport might be baseball, was headed to Nitro.
Martin was not caught up in waging a battle for the QB spot.
Instead, he set his sights on the Wildcats' receiving corps.
"I knew he was coming and he turned out to be good,' Martin
said of House. "I feel confident with him at the quarterback spot
. And I don't mind backing him up.'
Martin will be one of several receivers employed in Nitro's
newfangled, pass-happy offense. Former West Virginia State coach
Scott Tinsley, now a Wildcat assistant, installed Nitro's new look
Head coach Greg Cyrus said the 'Cats will throw between 30 and
40 times per game, operating frequently out of the shotgun formation
"If you're not the quarterback, it's (receiver) the next best
thing,' Martin said. "If you're not throwing them, you're catching
them.'
"It will be an exciting brand of football to watch,' said
Cyrus, who is gambling that a ninth-grader can step in at QB, learn a
whole new system, handle the pressure and begin turning around
Nitro's program.
The Wildcats haven't posted a winning season since 1983. They
were 4-6 last year.
"He's (House) poised,' Cyrus said. "He knows he's going to
be protected well so he stays in the pocket.'
Against Cabell Midland, House completed 19 of 37 passes for 270
yards. He didn't appear overwhelmed by his surroundings.
"I was pretty happy the way I threw the ball and made my
reads,' said House. "I've just got to do the best I can. If that's
not good enough, somebody else can do it.'
Cyrus said House has the backing of his teammates, despite his
inexperience.
"It's either him or another freshman,' Cyrus said. "They
don't have a choice.'
"Now that they've gotten to know me,' House said, "I think
they're glad I'm here. I think they've got some confidence in me.'
Prep notebook 4B
Tonight's schedule 4B
NITRO4B Nitro 1B