TWO RECEIVERS PLAN TO KEEP NITRO ON CENTER STAGE

Publication: CHARLESTON DAILY MAIL
Published: 08/20/1999
Page: P1B
Headline: TWO RECEIVERS PLAN TO KEEP NITRO ON CENTER STAGE
Byline: JASON MARTIN

Last year at Nitro sizzled like a Broadway blockbuster.

Lights! Action! J.R.! Showtime!

But when the Wildcats struck the set and closed the curtains on their
14-0 Class AAA state championship season, interest faded in a New York
minute.

When the House lights dimmed, attention drifted to other teams like
reviewers flocking to see Nicole Kidman in the nude in "The Blue
Room.".

But wide receivers Jeff Clark and Clarence Joyner are back like the
peripheral characters who find themselves thrust into the starring
roles. Same script, slightly different cast.

"We need some leadership and we need someone to step it up," said
Coach Little Burdette, who lost 476 yards per game of offense from
last year. "Jeff and Clarence are going to have to be the ones to lead
and make plays."

Clark, a 6-4, 185-pound senior, was probably the best player in the
state who didn't start last year. He caught 64 passes for 1,047 yards
and 14 touchdowns - including two in Nitro's 69-52 championship win
over Morgantown. Not bad for a third option.

Joyner, a 6-0, 175-pound junior, added 57 catches for 732 yards and
eight touchdowns.

Both are pointing to the other to fill the gaping hole left by
playmakers J.R. House, Chris Martin and Zack Collins.

"Of all the people I've played with, Clark is the one I look up to,"
Joyner said. "He just does everything right. He's going to be the main
leader of team."

Not so fast, Clarence.

"I don't see myself as a leader," Clark said. "We haven't found one
yet. But (Joyner) has been around and they treat him like he's a
senior."

Burdette said both players have the experience and talent to absorb a
small part of the impact of the loss of House's 5,526 passing yards,
Martin's 2,056 receiving yards and Collins' more than 2,000 yards
total offense.

"They're OK with it," he said. "If we can get them the ball."

Burdette said he's looking for his offensive line to step up and give
the new quarterback time to run the offense.

Junior Jason Ward, a former Nitro starter who transferred back from
Capital, and freshman Derek Midkiff are trading reps in a derby to
assume the most unenviable title in West Virginia high school sports:
House's replacement.

Ward, who went 3-1 at the Nitro helm two years ago, has the stronger
arm. Midkiff has displayed superior touch on his throws. Either one
would love to throw to a receiving corps that also includes 6-1
wideout Steve Jones, another Capital transfer, in the slot.

Burdette said he has no clear starter right now, but will know more
after watching film of Saturday's scrimmage at Tolsia. He said whoever
wins the job will be called on more inside the huddle instead of the
locker room.

"We don't really expect one of the quarterbacks to be that leader
right now," he said.

Clark and Joyner just want to continue Nitro's three-year streak of
playoff appearances.

"We don't want to be seen as a joke," Joyner said. "Not like we were
about five years ago, going 2-8 every year. We just want to go out and
win."

At Nitro, the Showtime must go on.