A PASSING FANCY ? NITRO AIR ASSAULT WILL BE TESTED BY GWTWO OF THE STATE'S TOP QBS WILL FACE OFF TONIGHT IN MOUNDSVILLE PREP FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK

Publication: THE CHARLESTON GAZETTE
Published: 09/07/2001
Page: 3B
Headline: A PASSING FANCY ? NITRO AIR ASSAULT WILL BE TESTED BY GWTWO OF THE STATE'S TOP QBS WILL FACE OFF TONIGHT IN MOUNDSVILLE PREP FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK
Byline: RICK RYAN

rickryan@wvgazette.com

When you pass as much as Nitro does, you tend to notice things like great pass defense. And that's what George Washington poses to the Wildcats for tonight's game at Laidley Field.

Since 1999, when the Patriots earned their way back to the Class AAA playoffs after an 11-year absence, opponents have found trouble passing time in GW's secondary.

Over the last 24 games, GW has allowed just 13 touchdown passes while picking off 44 interceptions. Opponents average just 74 yards per game and a 36 percent completion rate against the Patriots.

The highlights last year for GW were holding the high-flying attacks of both Hurricane (106 yards) and Nitro (31 yards) to season-lows in passing yards.

"It's no secret that when one program does something well, it's the coaching," said Nitro coach Robert "Little" Burdette. "They've got a good system that they run up there and they're very well-coached. It's [a combination of] having great athletes and the coaches doing a great job of putting the kids in position to be successful - utilizing the strength of their personnel."

Even though record-setting quarterback J.R. House left the Nitro program in 1998, the Wildcats still put the ball in the air as much as any team. Over the past three seasons, they've averaged 164 yards passing per game and have thrown for 43 TDs in those 22 games.

Junior Derek Midkiff has completed 28-of-49 attempts this season for 350 yards and four scores. But with the advent of tailback Chris McGhee (441 yards, five TDs rushing) and the lead blocking of 250-pound fullback Greg Eads, Nitro has run the ball 62 percent of the time thus far.

"Whatever makes us successful," Burdette said. "A lot of it has to do with our opponent. We're just like anybody else in America; if we can fire off and block you with a real good fullback and run a real good tailback, we'll do it. At the same time, we've got a lot of confidence in our passing game. It just depends on who we're playing and what they're trying to take away."