DUPONT
Publication: THE
Published: 10/21/1995
Page: 04C
Headline: DUPONT DOWNS NITRO TO END SKID
Byline: JIM WORKMAN
One would expect DuPont's Panthers
to enter Friday's game dragging
their tails, having lost six straight games. Instead, the Panthers
roared to a 24-14 win over Nitro at DuPont's H.B. Douglas Field.
DuPont didn't look like a
team that had not tasted a win since Labor Day
weekend and improved to 2-6.
Controlling the ball and
the clock, DuPont used a potent ground attack
led by senior runner Chris Robinson's 215 yards on 14 carries to hand
the Wildcats their fifth loss. Nitro moves to 3-5.
"We put together our
best game offensively,' said Panther coach Dick
Whitman. "We kept the ball away from House. He'll
hurt you if you give
him enough chances.'
Nitro freshman quarterback
J. R. House completed 13 of 23 passes for 206
yards and two touchdowns.
House got the Wildcats
on the scoreboard first on the game's opening
drive.
Moving the ball from his
own 35, House threw three consecutive passes to
junior receiver Jason Redman for 35, 9, and 22 yards to put Nitro ahead
early.
Robinson evened the score
on DuPont's first drive. Robinson bounced off
left tackle and rambled 19 yards for the TD.
DuPont scored with 8:48
left in the second quarter as quarterback Jay
Jones scrambled in from 8 yards out.
The seven-play, 86-yard
drive allowed the Panthers to lead 14-7 at
intermission.
DuPont threatened to score
just before halftime, however. A 95-yard
drive stalled at the Nitro 1 when the Wildcats thwarted Panther fullback
Lewis Tose on two carries inside the 2.
"We did a good job on
defense, except for some big plays. The goal-line
stand was big,' said Nitro coach Greg Cyrus.
Scott Duernberger's
27-yard field goal, and Jonathan Chic's 7-yard
touchdown run in the fourth quarter put the Panthers ahead 24-7 with
just 46 seconds left in the game.
Nitro didn't give up,
however.
House faded back and threw
a 59-yard strike to Jason Redman on the
Wildcats' next play from scrimmage. The score cut the lead to 24-14.
"We're tickled to get
a win,' said Whitman. "Our defense bent but it
didn't break.'
Each team faces a tough
schedule ahead the next two games. DuPont faces
East Bank and Hurricane, while Nitro must tackle Herbert Hoover and
Poca.