PREP GAME OF THE WEEK

Publication: CHARLESTON DAILY MAIL
Published: 09/05/1997
Page: P1B
Headline: PREP GAME OF THE WEEK
Byline: NOT AVAIALBLE

Key Players

Nitro running back Zack Collins had a career day in the Wildcats,
24-14 victory over Winfield last week. The junior rushed for 130 yards
and caught 14 passes for 130 more. Included in his rushing total was a
94-yard TD run. Nitro's freshman QB, Jason Ward, had an auspicious
debut, connecting on 19-of-39 passes for 261 yards and a TD. Former
Wildcat QB and last year's Kennedy Award winner, J.R. House, completed
8-of-18 passes for 175 yards and one TD in his ninth-grade debut at
Nitro in 1995. House went on to throw for over 2,000 yards that
season.

Hurricane took advantage of five Herbert Hoover turnovers to thump the
Huskies 33-6 last week. Senior Sam Baldasano caught a TD pass from QB
Matt Tidd and returned an interception 35 yards for another score.
Leif Walroth and Zac Pettit also had TDs for the Redskins, who posted
their second consecutive victory over Hoover.

Nitro leads its series with Hurricane, 31-19-2. The Wildcats won last
year, 24-9, as House completed 24-of-44 passes for 338 yards. Nitro
has a winning record against all four Putnam County schools. The Cats
are 38-28-6 against Poca, 14-7-1 against Winfield and 6-4 against
Buffalo. In Kanawha County, Nitro has a losing record against every
school except Sissonville. The Cats are 26-13-2 against the Indians.
After tonight, Hurricane plays four straight home games against Cabell
Midland, Ripley, George Washington and East Bank. WQBE (950 AM) radio
will broadcast tonight's game.