J.R.'S AIR SHOW DOOMS HOOVER

Publication: THE CHARLESTON GAZETTE
Published: 11/01/1997
Page: P1B
Headline: J.R.'S AIR SHOW DOOMS HOOVER
Byline: TOMMY R. ATKINSON

Junior quarterback J.R. House broke his own single-game state passing
yardage record, throwing for 466 yards as Nitro closed out its regular
season with a 51-28 pounding of Herbert Hoover at Underwood Field on
Friday night.

An estimated crowd of 1,000 attended the Mountain State Athletic
Conference Gold Division matchup. State-ranked Nitro improved to 8-1
overall and 5-1 in the conference, while the Huskies fell to 4-5 and
2-3 and out of playoff contention.

House set the record of 463 yards last year in a 45-20 loss at Herbert
Hoover. On Friday, the Nitro quarterback completed 27-of-38 passes
with six touchdowns and no interceptions.

"The only thing I can really say about House is he's good every
week,' Nitro coach Robert Burdette said.

"He's spectacular.'

The Wildcats also had three receivers top the 100-yard mark.

Junior Chris Martin caught nine passes for 183 yards, senior Isaac
Eastwood hauled in 10 for 108 and freshman Clarence Joyner had three
for 106. Eastwood caught three TDs, Martin two and Joyner one.

"They've done a good job this season,' House said of his receiving
corps.

"We knew we would have talent at the skill positions.'

Nitro was without leading rusher Zack Collins, who sat out because of
a sprained ankle he sustained in last week's win over DuPont. The
Wildcats, ranked fourth in Class AAA before Friday's game, are off
next week before the start of the playoffs.

"Right now I think it's going to be to our advantage [being off]
because we have some bumps and sprains,' Burdette said.

"We told them [the players] to go home and we'll see them Tuesday.'

With the loss, Hoover appears to be eliminated from gaining its sixth
straight playoff berth. The Huskies, in a tie for 20th coming into
Friday's game, needed to win their remaining two games to have a shot
at postseason play.

Early on, it looked as if Hoover might stage one of its second-half
comebacks against Nitro. The Huskies had overcome large halftime defi
cits the past two seasons to beat the Wildcats.

Junior running back Ryan Stevens galloped 26 yards to put the Huskies
on top 20-17 with 8:04 remaining in the third quarter.

"Hoover's Hoover,' said Burdette. "They're always well-coached,
well-prepared.'

House marched the Wildcats 82 yards in two plays, culminating in
Eastwood's 16-yard scoring run to give Nitro the lead for good at
24-20 with 7:37 left in the third. The Wildcats tacked on four more
TDs to pull away.

Nitro outgained Hoover 535-400 in total yards.

The Huskies outrushed the Wildcats 293-69, but threw three
interceptions and lost two fumbles.

For Hoover, Stevens gained 86 yards on 15 carries with two TDs. Senior
running back Bo Weese picked up 78 yards on 10 rushes and junior
quarterback Nic Porta added 70 yards on 15 totes for the Huskies.

Porta completed 4-of-10 passes for 82 yards with no TDs and two
interceptions.

Junior wide receiver Ben Shamblin caught three passes for 54 yards for
the Huskies.