NITRO'S AERIAL CIRCUS EDGES PATRIOTS
Publication:
Published: 09/14/1996
Page: P1B
Headline: NITRO'S AERIAL CIRCUS EDGES PATRIOTS
Byline: MIKE DAILEY
FOR THE DAILY MAIL
If your idea of
entertaining high school football involves a rushing
attack, you'll want to stay far away from Nitro Wildcat games.
However, if you enjoy
watching a team pass, pass and pass some more,
and you have three or four hours available on Friday evenings, you may
want to invest in Wildcat season tickets.
The Wildcats didn't
disappoint their pass-happy fans in Friday's
surprisingly hard-fought 28-26 victory over the George Washington
Patriots at Laidley Field.
The Wildcats' aerial
assault was led by sophomore quarterback J.R.
House, who connected on 28-of-56 passes for 391 yards and four
touchdowns.
The game started off
ominously for the Wildcats, ranked 10th in Class
AAA in the Daily Mail Poll.
On the game's fourth play
from scrimmage, GW junior safety Rob Wilson
(two interceptions and two fumble recoveries) picked off a misfired
House pass. Senior Aric Fulks
(18 rushes for 103 yards) capped the
ensuing drive with a 10-yard-run, giving the Pats a 6-0 lead.
On the Patriots' next
possession, senior Ryan Blake (22 carries for
110 yards) scored from the 1 to give GW a 12-0 lead.
"On paper, we thought
we were better than they were," House said. "But
they came right at us. They really played a good game."
Nitro first-year Coach
Robert "Little" Burdette agreed with House's
assessment.
"I think our kids
believed what they were hearing a little too much,"
Burdette said. "But you have to give GW's kids
and Steve Edwards
and his staff a lot of credit. They really gave us problems with our
pass protection early in the game. They were really prepared."
After minor adjustments to
its pass protection, Nitro's offense
finally got on the board early in second quarter when House hit
sophomore Zack Collins (7 catches, 67 yards, two touchdowns) from 8
yards out. A two-point conversion cut the GW lead to 12-8.
Moments later, House
connected with senior Robbie Sigman for a 28-yard
scoring strike to give the Wildcats their first lead at 14-12.
GW scored on its first
possession of the second half. Quarterback
Hollis Lewis (6-of-18, 67 yards) connected with
out to give the Patriots a 20-14 lead.
The Wildcats quickly
tied the score at 20 on a 2-yard-pass from House
to junior David Kessler.
Midway through the fourth
quarter, House and Collins connected for
their second TD, giving the Wildcats a 28-20 lead.
After a 15 yard run by
Blake cut the Nitro lead to 28-26, the Patriots
lined up for a 2-point conversion. However, a delay of game penalty
pushed the attempt back to the 8-yard-line and Lewis was stopped well
short of the end zone on a roll out around the left end.
"We had our
chances," said Patriots' first year Coach Steve Edwards.
"we just kept shooting ourselves in the
foot."
The loss spoiled Edwards'
home debut, but he was satisfied with his
team's effort.
"Certainly I'm
disappointed," Edwards said. "We want to win every game
we play. But we have improved tremendously since last week and if we
continue to improve, this team will win some games."
The Patriots (0-2) will
host
(3-0) host