PREP FOOTBALL NITRO-HOOVER RIVALRY LIVES ON PREP FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK

Publication: THE CHARLESTON GAZETTE
Published: 08/22/2001
Page: 4B
Headline: PREP FOOTBALL NITRO-HOOVER RIVALRY LIVES ON PREP FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK
Byline: RICK RYAN

rickryan@wvgazette.com

Nitro and Herbert Hoover don't have to play each other any more.

When Hoover left the Mountain State Athletic Conference following the 2000 football season, the Huskies didn't have to continue to line up against teams in the state's toughest Class AAA league.

But the Wildcats and Huskies are still playing each other ... just because they want to.

Herbert Hoover visits Underwood Field Friday night to kick off its season against Nitro at 7:30.

"We think Nitro-Hoover is a good game for both schools and for both communities," said Wildcats coach Robert "Little" Burdette.

"A lot of it is because Pat Vance and Steve Stoffel are longtime friends and both were athletic directors when this [current contract] was done. We've always enjoyed playing Hoover since I've been here. Most of the games have been good."

The series has been marked by entertaining and high-scoring games.

Nitro has won the last four meetings by scores of 28-14 (last year), 43-24, 45-21 and 51-28. Prior to that, Hoover won in 1995 and '96 by respective scores of 35-28 and 45-20.