STOTTS HELPS RIPLEY RUN OVER
WILDCATS
Publication: THE
Published: 09/15/2001
Page: 1B
Headline: STOTTS HELPS RIPLEY RUN OVER WILDCATS
Byline: TOMMY R. ATKINSON
tatkinson@wvgazette.com
Ripley tailback Brock Stotts had his coming-out party
Friday night.
The senior accounted for 519 all-purpose yards, including 388 rushing, and
scored all seven of the Vikings' touchdowns in a 43-29 victory over host Nitro
in a Mountain State Athletic Conference battle at Underwood Field.
An estimated crowd of 1,100 left the stands 10 minutes before the start of the
game to form a circle around the football field for a moment of silence in
remembrance of Tuesday's terrorist attacks. Players from both teams formed a
smaller circle in the center around the American flag as the Nitro band played
the national anthem.
Stotts finished with 388 yards on 27 carries and
scored on runs of 47, 5, 7, 75, 80 and 3. He picked up 230 yards after
halftime.
The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder also returned the opening second-half kickoff 77
yards for a TDs.
"It's pride," Stotts said. "We as
seniors have won five games. Last year the leadership wasn't there. We wanted
to prove to people we can play. We're stepping up this year. The offensive line
did an incredible job."
Despite Stotts' performance, Nitro (1-3) was in
striking distance most of the night. Ripley led 13-7 at halftime and 25-14
after three quarters.
Stotts broke the game open in the fourth when he
scored on back-to-back runs of 75 and 80 yards after Nitro pulled within 24-21
with 10:59 left in the game. Both scoring drives were one play each.
Stotts finished with 800 yards rushing last season
for a Vikings squad that was 2-8.
He entered Friday's game as the second-leading ground gainer in the MSAC and
has already eclipsed last year's ground total through four games (883 yards).
He's also helped Ripley (3-1) to a No. 14 ranking in the Secondary School
Activities Commission computer playoff ratings.
"He's a rare find," said Ripley coach Frank Marino. "His dad
didn't think he was a back. His dad was a great back at
"He said, 'coach, are you sure Brock can be a back?'" Marino said.
"I said yeah he can be a back. Brock is a Division I prospect. He's got
4.5 speed and he's a complete player."
The Vikings finished with 577 total yards, including 481 yards rushing. Ripley
committed 11 penalties for 102 yards, but turned the ball over only once.
"This is a great group of kids and they're all very young except for
Brock," Marino said. "You almost have to fight to win. I thought the
key would be the offensive line and Brock and it was.
"We've just got some good athletes that play hard. Whether we win another
game, I love them. They're going to be tough for a couple of years to
come."
Ripley junior quarterback Corey Isner completed
5-of-9 passes for 96 yards with no scores and an interception. Jeff McCoy, a
junior, grabbed three passes for 64 yards and two interceptions.
For Nitro, which racked up 432 total yards, junior quarterback Derek Midkiff threw for 281 yards completing 20-of-40 passes with
three TDs and three interceptions. Senior wideout Jon Lowe hauled in nine passes for 142 yards and
two scores and tailback Chris McGhee, who entered Friday as the MSAC's leading rusher, finished with 143 yards on 29
carries with an 8-yard score.
"We knew he was good," said Nitro coach Robert "Little"
Burdette of Stotts. "He is really good. Once he
got past the line, he was gone. I know one time a bunch of us had him and he
just stopped and came out of there.
"I don't want to sound like I'm taking anything away from him because I'm
not, but sooner or later we've got to tackle somebody. There's
a lot of times when they wouldn't be down in a game of one-hand touch. We've
got people reaching and I don't know if you can teach courage or the desire to
tackle."