REDSKINS LACING UP SKATES FOR NITRO
AIR ATTACK
Publication:
Published: 09/04/1996
Page: P1B
Headline: REDSKINS LACING UP SKATES FOR NITRO AIR ATTACK
Byline: TOM ALUISE
Matt Tidd,
Sam Baldasano, Jason Freeman, Travis Carrier. Sleep
well,
guys. And whatever you do, count sheep, not footballs.
By late Friday evening, the
last thing you'll want to see is an oblong
hunk of leather.
Tidd, Baldasano,
Freeman and Carrier man the secondary for
And Friday, the foursome
will be asked to pull the plug on Nitro's
electrifying passing attack. The Redskins and Wildcats play a
teams are 1-0.
Hurricane Coach Gary Eggleton, known for his defensive wizardry, wants
to start the game at 7 - before Nitro gets on the field.
"Hopefully we can
score 30 or 40 points before they get going,' he
said.
In a season-opening 52-6
rout of Winfield last week, Nitro rolled up
569 yards of offense, 457 through the skies.
In just over three quarters
of action, sophomore quarterback J.R.
House completed 25-of-35 passes for 409 yards and four touchdowns. He
threw one interception.
Eggleton said House, who passed for over
2,000 yards last year, has
improved this season.
"He's much better,' Eggleton said. "His arm
strength is a lot better.
They're running the same patterns but the football is getting there
quicker. It's like watching a college passing game.'
Unfortunately, Eggleton doesn't have a college QB to mimic Nitro's
passing attack in practice this week. Preparing for the Wildcats'
aerial circus is not easy.
Unless
you're willing to use espionage. What was that helicopter doing
flying so low over Nitro's practice Monday?
"It presents a
problem. I'm trying to find Brian Bennett to get him to
come down here and practice with us,' Eggleton said
of the Redskins'
talented QB of a season ago.
Sophomores Zack Collins and
Chris Martin were House's chief targets
last week. Collins caught nine balls for 118 yards and one TD. Martin
pulled in eight passes for 193 yards and two TDs.
Nitro's top two receivers
from last year transferred.
"I was hoping with
those two guys transferring that they would have
one or two players at best who could catch it,' Eggleton
said. "But
they've got three or four guys.'
Hurricane beat Nitro last
year, 27-14. House completed 22 of 41 passes
for 271 yards.
"We were solid,' Eggleton said. "We mixed our coverages up a little
bit. But they're so much better with him this year.
"They do an
exceptional job reading. They just don't go back there and
throw the ball.'
Eggleton said the Redskins, who downed
Herbert Hoover 27-20 in their
opener, will gamble Friday on defense.
"Sometimes you do some
things that either look good or get you
killed,' he said. "We'll roll some dice and see
what happens.'
Tidd, a 6-foot, 170-pound junior, will
start at QB for Hurricane in
addition to his defensive duties. Carrier, who rushed for 67 yards
last week, also starts on offense at tailback.
Eggleton is hoping those guys play more
offense than defense Friday.
"We've got to control
the football,' he said. "You're not going to
stop them totally.'