WILDCATS, RED DRAGONS CLOSE HISTORICALLY DISMAL SEASONS

Publication: CHARLESTON DAILY MAIL
Published: 10/26/2001
Page: 1B
Headline: WILDCATS, RED DRAGONS CLOSE HISTORICALLY DISMAL SEASONS
Byline: JASON MARTIN

DAILY MAIL SPORTSWRITER

The expected congestion on the Dick Henderson Memorial Bridge tonight can be credited to a bottleneck traffic pattern and not a mad rush to scamper into Nitro for the annual Battle of the Bridge.

Separated only by the Kanawha River and an intense dislike, St. Albans and Nitro high schools are just one pair of rivals who this evening complete their regular seasons in rather unimpressive fashion.

Coach Bart Hillenbrand's Red Dragons are 1-8 and are allowing 40.1 points per game. They have never lost nine games in their 87-year history. St. Albans' worst mark ever was a 1-8-1 finish under Claude Dent in 1958.

The Wildcats are 2-7 and allow 39.6 points per game. They are on track for their worst season since a 2-8 campaign under Greg Cyrus in 1993.

"It hasn't been the best season, but it's always better when you win your last one," said Nitro Coach Little Burdette. "Especially against St. Albans."

The 'Cats can end the season on a two-game win streak and lay claim to the title of best team in the worst season in memory for western Kanawha County. Nitro dispatched 1-8 South Charleston 48-6 last week.

Among those returning from a potent offense include quarterback Derek Midkiff (2,393 yards, 17 touchdowns); tailback Chris McGhee (1,034 yards, eight TDs); fullback Greg Eads (six rushing TDs); and receivers Marshall Casto, Ryan Meadows and Lance Ervin.

"This team has done a great job of sticking together," Burdette said. "A lot of times when teams have losing records, they start pointing fingers."

"They start having infighting," he continued. "Players start talking bad about coaches, and coaches give up on players. But we haven't had that. The outcome hasn't torn us apart."

Tonight, all they want to do is tear apart the Dragons together.