NITRO LINE PROUD OF SUCCESS , WILDCATS HAVE GIVEN UP TWO SACKS ON 300-PLUS PASS PLAYS

Publication: CHARLESTON DAILY MAIL
Published: 11/01/1997
Page: P1B
Headline: NITRO LINE PROUD OF SUCCESS , WILDCATS HAVE GIVEN UP TWO SACKS ON 300-PLUS PASS PLAYS
Byline: JACOB MESSER

FOR THE DAILY MAIL

The Nitro offensive line is not quite as big as a house, but it does
one heck of a job protecting one.

While the offensive line dominated the line of scrimmage and held the
Herbert Hoover defenders at bay, Nitro quarterback J.R. House threw
six touchdowns and broke his own state record for passing yards in a
game with 471 in a 51-28 win over the Huskies at Underwood Field
Friday evening. House's previous mark for passing yards in a game was
463, set against the same Huskies last year.

Entering the game, Nitro (8-1) was ranked No. 4 in the Class AAA
ratings and guaranteed a spot in the playoffs, while Herbert Hoover
(4-5) was No. 20 and trying to creep into the picture.

House, who completed 26-of-36 passes, attributed his success to the
offensive line, which has allowed only two sacks in more than 300 pass
plays this season.

"These guys have done a great job for us," said House, who has comple
ted 137-of-209 passes for 1,945 yards and 22 touchdowns in only five
games this season. "They deserve all the credit. With the offensive
line I have, I don't have to look at who the other team is bringing. I
know they'll pick them up and give me enough time to pass."

Fullback David Kessler and seven offensive linemen - Jesse Wisnewski,
Justin Valleau, James Cash, Doug Null, Josh Raines, Matt Brewer and
Rob Henson - form the heart and soul of the Nitro blocking corps.

Giving House time to pass is what they do best. And they take pride in
what they do.

Raines, a 6-foot, 220-pound senior tackle, summarized a mutual feeling
among the Nitro linemen.

"I'm going to do my best to not let anyone touch my House," Raines
said. "If I keep my guy away from him, he has time to do his job and
the receivers have time to get open."

Kessler agreed.

"No one gets in and no one touches our quarterback," said Kessler, a
6-1, 180 senior. "I get mad whenever anyone touches J.R. I don't care
if it's a sack or whatever. If someone hits him, I want to hit them
harder."

Null, a 5-11, 260 senior guard, added, "Coach (Robert) Burdette always
says, 'You have 48 minutes to play and the rest of your lives to think
about it.' "

The Nitro linemen are so good they seem to be daring people to blitz,
House said.

"They have really stepped up and their level of play is unreal," House
said. "It's gotten to the point where the linemen are saying, 'You're
not going to get back there no matter what you do.' "

Nitro Offensive Coordinator Scott Tinsley said the offensive line is
the most important part of the Wildcat offense.

"It's like the old cliche," Tinsley said. "The game is won or lost in
the trenches. If we can't protect the quarterback, give him enough
time to throw or make his reads, then we wouldn't be able to have any
success at all. They're extremely good."

Wildcat Coach Robert "Little" Burdette agreed.

"They're pretty good, but the numbers speak for themselves."

House concurred.

"Without these guys we are just a bunch of guys out there playing
sandlot. Without them, we're nothing."

Although they do not receive much recognition in the media, the Nitro
linemen said they receive all the recognition they need from their
teammates and coaches.

"The coaches and players always encourage us and give us credit," said
Henson, a sophomore guard.

"We never feel overshadowed," said Wisnewski, a 6-1, 210 junior guard
who suffered a season-ending injury in a win over DuPont last week.
"We know we're responsible for the records and awards our skill
players get. If we weren't there, they wouldn't be getting the records
and awards."

The linemen are not jealous of the record-setting and award-winning
skill players because they could not shatter records or gain yards
without the line, Valleau said.

"Every team has one marquee player who brings recognition to the
team," said Valleau, a 6-1, 230 senior center. "But without the other
10 players, that marquee player would go unnoticed. Our skill players
are exceptional, perhaps the best in the state, but they couldn't do
any of this without us up front."

Brewer, a 5-11, 220 junior guard, agreed.

"If the line does bad, the skill players do bad."

Having outstanding skill players makes their job easier, Wisnewski
said.

"When you have quality skill players like we do, you want to block
that much harder because you know things are going to happen,"
Wisnewski said.