'CATS PUSH 'SKINS AROUND NITRO'S
MCGHEE RUSHES FOR 273 YARDS IN VICTORY
Publication:
Published: 09/01/2001
Page: P1B
Headline: 'CATS PUSH 'SKINS AROUND NITRO'S MCGHEE RUSHES FOR 273 YARDS IN
VICTORY
Byline: JOSH HAFENBRACK
DAILY MAIL STAFF
HURRICANE - You won't see
Nitro High fullback Greg Eads in the
highlight reels. The 6-foot-3, 270-pound junior didn't score any
touchdowns, catch any passes or break any big runs.
But as Nitro's star halfback Chris McGhee slashed and dashed around a
soggy Redskin Stadium for 273 yards on 36 carries Friday, it was Eads
and the Wildcats' imposing offensive line that was opening gaping
holes against a Hurricane defense that looked like a brick wall in its
opening-week win over Capital.
"Those guys up front just did a tremendous job," Nitro Coach Little
Burdette said after his Wildcats' 27-14 victory. "There's no question
we controlled the line on both sides of the ball, and that makes a big
difference. With a fullback like Greg Eads ... He really puts a hit on
some people and gives us a big surge.
"Any time you see one guy with that many yards, it means six or seven
others are in there opening up holes."
McGhee, 5-8, 155 pounds, took advantage of the good blocking. He ran
the ball early and often, accounting for all of Nitro's four
touchdowns - three on the ground and one on a 4-yard pass from
quarterback Derek Midkiff.
And despite an all-around effort that included 157 yards in the air
and 38 yards on the ground, Hurricane's senior quarterback Jared
Stephens couldn't overcome McGhee's ground game that led to the Nitro
victory.
"The line was opening holes left and right," said McGhee, who rumbled
for 180 yards in Nitro's first game, a losing effort against Herbert
Hoover. "I just try to run where they're not. I know I'm not a big
guy, but if I've got to, I'll put my shoulder down and go to it."
McGhee did just that on the final, clock-guzzling drive that sealed
the game for Nitro. He mounted a one-man, 75-yard touchdown drive that
left only 1:37 left and ended the Redskins' hopes.
With a 24-yard first quarter touchdown run and the scoring catch in
the second by McGhee, Nitro took a 14-0 advantage into the locker room
at halftime. But Hurricane mounted a second-half comeback on the
strength of Stephens' two touchdown passes - one a 4-yard toss to
receiver Josh Smith in the third quarter and another 10-yard throw to
Smith on the second play of the final quarter.
Down 21-14 and threatening to score again, Hurricane had the ball on
the Wildcat 25-yard line and faced a crucial fourth down.
Needing three yards to move the chains, Stephens lofted a pass toward
receiver Josh Sholock in the right corner of the end
zone, but the
wideout couldn't pull it in.
McGhee made sure Hurricane wouldn't get another chance.
He ran the ball though the middle of Hurricane's defense on 10
consecutive plays, including runs of 23, 11 and 18 yards, before
capping off the drive with a final 10-yard touchdown jaunt.
The mud-caked field played right into the hands of the bigger,
run-oriented Wildcats. Nitro's Midkiff threw
only 15 passes,
completing 10 mostly short-range throws for 100 yards.
Hurricane Coach Gary Eggleton said the field
conditions didn't do his
team any favors, but the real reason for his team's lackluster
performance may have been the accolades it received after last week's
43-14 thrashing of Capital.
"If I had to vote on it, I'd pick dry conditions," Eggleton said. "But
it was more Nitro's effort and Nitro's execution. It was wet out there
for them, too.
"A lot of people were patting us on the back after that win at
Capital. I think they patted for too long."