NITRO TOO MUCH FOR
Publication:
Published: 10/02/1999
Page: P1B
Headline: NITRO TOO MUCH FOR
Byline: J.T. SIMMS
DAILY MAIL SPORTSWRITER
Don't be fooled by the
final tally of Nitro's 43-24 win over Herbert
Hoover.
It wasn't really that
close.
The host Wildcats'
slumbering passing attack awoke with a vengeance
Friday, as quarterbacks Jason Ward and Derek Midkiff
combined to
complete 18-of passes for 326 yards and four touchdowns.
Nitro took a 43-0 lead into
the final four minutes of the contest
before the Huskies' Matt Wehrle scored on two long
runs and Jeff
Currie turned a "jump ball" pass into a 41-yard touchdown reception.
All came against Wildcat third-teamers.
Nitro outgained
452 yards. It was the first time the Wildcats had broken the 40-point
barrier this season after averaging over 44 a game a year ago.
Chris Creamer, the leading
rusher in the Mountain State Athletic
Conference, had another strong showing on the ground for Nitro with 96
yards on only 13 carries.
Jeff Clark caught seven
passes for 127 yards and Clarence Joyner
pulled in five for 134 yards.
Nitro is now averaging 351
yards a game after picking up only 122 in a
season-opening loss to George Washington.
The passing output was
welcomed with open arms by Offensive
Coordinator Scott Tinsley.
"We think it gives us
a chance to compete with the premier teams in
the state," Tinsley said of the system that brought the Wildcats an
undefeated season and state title a year ago.
"If we line up
toe-to-toe with (the premier teams), I don't know."
Ward nearly doubled his
season passing output with 224 yards and
Midkiff turned in another solid game.
The duo continued to
alternate at the position with Ward drawing the
starting assignment.
"We flipped a
coin," said Tinsley. "Ward won, so he got to go first."
"We let them alternate
and see who's hot," said Nitro Coach Robert
"Little" Burdette.
As for opening up the
attack, Burdette and Tinsley both see it as
simply taking advantage of what is available.
"That first week we
went in trying to be Nitro," said Tinsley. "The
next two (teams) didn't think we'd run.
"As teams start to
cover the run more we can open it up some."
Wehrle led the Huskies with 109 yards on
11 rushes as they fell to 1-5
on the season.
Big Reds next week.
The 16th-rated Wildcats
improved to 4-2 and face
homecoming game next