Charleston Gazette, Saturday, October 13, 2007

Cabell-Midland Outguns Nitro

Wildcats come up just short in 56-48 shootout

Cabell Midland beat Nitro at its own game Friday night.

The Knights rolled up 564 yards of total offense to spoil the Wildcats’ homecoming with a topsy-turvy 56-48 victory at Underwood Field. A crowd of about 3,500 attended the Mountain State Athletic Conference matchup.

Junior quarterback Tyler Bartley passed for 239 yards and three touchdowns and added 247 yards on the ground and two more scores to pace Midland’s spread attack. The 6-foot, 170-pounder also led the Knights’ comeback in the fourth quarter.

Midland began the final period trailing 42-35 before outscoring 21-6. Junior running back Bryce Paul scored from 5 yards out as the Knights pulled within 42-41 with 10:09 left in the game. Midland senior kicker Patrick Stapleton, who had made all five of his extra-point kicks, missed wide left.

The Knights (3-5) forced No. 13 Nitro (4-3) to punt and capped off an 11-play, 54-yard drive with Bartley’s 19-yard TD run to grab a 47-42 advantage with 3:35 remaining. Midland senior wideout Jordan Marcum, who made a one-handed catch on fourth-and-6 to keep the drive alive, followed with a one-handed, diving catch on the 2-point conversion pass to forge a 49-42 lead.

Nitro answered when senior quarterback Michael Scott hit senior wideout Brett McClanahan in the back of the end zone to slice its deficit to 49-48 with 1:57 to go. McClanahan had to use every inch of his 6-foot-4 frame to come down with the leaping catch.

The Wildcats, who have been without kicker Mikie Wright for the past three weeks, went for the 2-point conversion and the lead like they had all night. Scott hit junior Andrew Frazier at the 4-yard line, but he could not shake the Midland defender and was tackled immediately.

Nitro attempted an onside kick and Stapleton came up with the ball with 1:53 remaining. On the second play, the Wildcats allowed Bartley to score from 47 yards on a run up the middle to preserve time and a last-ditch comeback attempt. The Knights were set to go for a 2-point conversion, but the last of their 13 penalties for 118 yards forced Stapleton’s extra-point kick and a 56-48 edge with 57 seconds left.

Wildcats senior Marcos Valentine returned the kickoff to his own 35, but a 15-yard personal foul penalty on Nitro pushed it back to the 21. Scott found Valentine for a 19-yard gain to the Wildcats 40. After an incomplete pass, Stapleton stepped in front of a pass intended for McClanahan to finally secure the victory for Midland. Stapleton also added four catches for 111 yards and two scores in the first half.

Scott finished 15-of-39 for 237 yards with a pair of TDs and three picks as Nitro’s offense sputtered to 285 total yards. Valentine had eight receptions for 140 yards and a score.

To contact staff writer Tommy R. Atkinson, use e-mail or call 348-4811.