NITRO FOE NOT USUAL 3-3 TEAM
Publication: THE
Published: 10/17/1997
Page: P1C
Headline: NITRO FOE NOT USUAL 3-3 TEAM
Byline: RICK RYAN
That won't be just any 3-3 team pulling into Underwood Field tonight
for a date with explosive Nitro. That's defending state Class AAA
champion John Marshall.
Nitro coach Robert Burdette
certainly isn't making the mistake of
taking the Monarchs lightly, despite their mundane record. And he
doesn't want his Wildcats peering down the line toward upcoming games
against conference rivals DuPont and Herbert Hoover.
"These guys are the
champs until someone proves otherwise,' Burdette
said. "We've got a ton of respect for John
Marshall.'
Nitro (5-1) enters the game
ranked No. 6 in the latest state playoff
ratings, while the Monarchs pulled into the 20th position following
last week's 26-8 conquest of powerful University.
Tonight is Nitro's
Homecoming game, but Burdette would rather focus on
what happens between the yard lines.
"I hope we have a big
crowd,' he said, "not because it's Homecoming,
but because John Marshall's coming in. There's been a lot of playoff
talk around here and I know we got in last year, but this game should
serve as a measuring stick for us to see how we match up. We'll find
out a lot more this week.'
The Monarchs have played
four state-ranked teams thus far this fall,
going 1-3 in those games. Besides the win over University, J.M. has
fallen to Brooke 48-27, North Marion 55-21 and
overtime. The combined record of those three opponents is 16-3.
"You look at their
program with the seniors they have now,' Burdette
said, "and these guys have been where we want to be. We're excited
about playing them. We know their backs are against the wall and we
know they really need a win. So we expect to catch them at their
best.'
J.M. coach Mike Linsky said the current season has been one of
unwanted surprises for his team.
"All the things that
didn't happen to us last year have happened this
year,' Linsky said. "We're
battling some injuries, we've had some
kids hurt and we haven't been as lucky.'
As evidence, Linsky mentioned the leg injury suffered by offensive
lineman and place-kicker Jerry Drake against
game went into OT and the Monarchs needed an extra point kick, they
missed, allowing the Big Reds to escape with a one-point win.
"But we're not in a
position where there's any pressure on us,'
Linsky said. "We've
battled back to 500 now and we'll take this one as
just the next game. I'm sure our kids will play hard - that's been a
constant. Maybe it's bad sometimes, but they always
play hard.'
The Monarchs, with a trio
of key skill players returning from last
year, have had little trouble scoring points and average 34.2 per
game. But stopping the other team is another matter - J.M. is allowing
34.8 points per game.
The Monarchs' top rusher is
Eric Inclan, with 99 carries for 400 yards
and nine touchdowns. He ran for over 100 yards and two TDs
against
Quarterback Josh Rine has completed 46-of-105 passes for 918 yards and
10 touchdowns with five interceptions. His favorite target is shifty
Chris Butler, whose first four receptions of the season went for TDs.
Butler's average per catch is a whopping 33.3 yards on 19 receptions
for 633 yards and eight scores.
"It might be a
high-scoring game,' Linsky said.
"We've got some
weapons of our own. It's not just going to be the J.R. House show.'
House, the Wildcats' junior
quarterback and Kennedy Award winner, will
be making his third start since returning from
48-of-74 attempts for 679 yards and nine touchdowns while rushing for
another.
"It's like J.R. never
left,' Burdette said. "Around here things are
better than ever.'
Linsky said his team should be prepared
for the Wildcats' all-out
passing attack.
"Over the past few
years, we've played some teams that used the
run-and-shoot like
"South tried it without the huddle. This particular group of kids
hasn't seen that, but we as coaches have had to prepare for that
before.
"The big thing we've
got to sell our kids on is that we're playing
Nitro and not J.R. House. It's in his hands, but we know where he is -
back there getting the snap. We've got to be concerned with the other
10 kids.
"The chances of
sacking him out of that shotgun [formation] are
basically nil. But we still can't give him all the time he wants to
throw. We'll do our best in practice to assimilate [Nitro's offense]
and we might even have to use our first team to do it. I don't like
doing that, but we have to get someone who throws the ball well.'
The X factor tonight could
be
defensive back and picked off 11 interceptions last season. Linsky
said
to one catch.
"And that was just a
little hitch pass,' Linsky said.
"We put the
challenge to [
state. And he put a blanket on him.'
who has 21 receptions for 444 yards and five TDs.
Also for the Wildcats,
Zack Collins has carried the ball 122 times for
623 yards and four touchdowns.