MIDKIFF'S BIG HALF NOT ENOUGH FOR WILDCATS

Publication: CHARLESTON DAILY MAIL
Published: 09/29/2001
Page: P6B
Headline: MIDKIFF'S BIG HALF NOT ENOUGH FOR WILDCATS
Byline: PATRICK DAY

FOR THE DAILY MAIL

Quarterback Derek Midkiff threw for 315 yards in the first half but
turnovers ultimately decided Nitro's fate in a home loss to
Parkersburg South.

The 13th-rated Patriots (4-1) returned an interception and a fumble
for touchdowns in their 35-27 victory Friday before about 2,000 fans
at Underwood Field.

Nitro dropped to 1-5.

"Derek played great but when you turn the ball over it just really
hurts,' Nitro Coach Robert "Little' Burdette said.

What really hurt the Wildcats was the play of South tailback Matt
Shamblin. After being held to six yards last week by rival
Parkersburg, Shamblin rushed for 105 yards on 20 carries against
Nitro.

The junior scored on runs of 16, 27 and 12 yards. And he was equally
dangerous on defense, returning an interception 20 yards for a TD and
romping with a fumble 40 yards for another score.

"This was by far may best all around game,' Shamblin said. "I have to
give credit to the offensive line.'

Shamblin's play was especially important to a South team looking to
get back on track following last week's 32-0 loss to the eighth-rated
Big Reds in which the Patriots were overwhelmed.

"It seems like the past couple years our season has gone into a
tailspin after losing to Parkersburg and that was something we wanted
to avoid tonight,' Shamblin said.

"Tonight we wanted to prove that there is more than one good school in
Parkersburg and that there will be more than one in the playoffs,'
Shamblin added.

South, which led Nitro 20-12 at the half, limited Midkiff to 62 yards
passing in the second half.

"We really didn't make too many adjustments at halftime we just had to
tighten up and that is what we did,' South Coach Mike Devol said. "I
am really proud of the kids tonight. They played a full 60 minutes.

"We are a young team and we went a long way in learning how to win
tonight.'

With South leading 35-12 early in the fourth quarter and seemingly
driving for another score, Nitro defensive lineman Toby Buel scooped
up a Patriot fumble and returned it 95 yards for a touchdown that
seemed to breathe new life into the Cats.

The Nitro defense then stiffened and got the ball back. A Midkiff
23-yard touchdown strike to Ryan Meadows, though, would be the
Wildcats' final points.

"Tonight we had to finish out a game and that is exactly what we did,"
Devol said.

"We just didn't have a productive third quarter and just ran out of
time," Nitro's Burdette said.