SOPH MCNEEL LEADS NITRO
Publication:
Published: 10/03/1987
Page: P2B
Headline: SOPH MCNEEL LEADS NITRO
Byline: DOUG HOUBBS
Sophomore Matt McNeel came up with three big plays to
help the
Nitro Wildcats defeat the George Washington Patriots 17-14 at
Underwood Field in Nitro on Friday night.
Nitro entered the game with only one win (in 1983) over George
Washington in 12 seasons, and a fumble at the Patriots' five-yard
line on the Wildcats' first possession didn't brighten the picture
But the 6-4, 186-pound McNeel came to the rescue on
Nitro's next
offensive play. On a first-and-15 from the Wildcats' 18-yard line,
McNeel pulled in a pass from Scott Dixon and raced
untouched for 82
yards and a 6-0 lead.
"Once I got into the open, I knew nobody could catch me,'
McNeel said.
Shawn Shamblin's drop kick attempt for the extra
point was wide
. Last week, he made four straight as he returned the drop kick to
the local football scene for the first time in decades.
George Washington answered Nitro's score with a 6-play, 70-yard
drive, capped by Robert Hall's one-yard run. Mike Grady's kick gave
the Patriots a 7-6 lead with 10:45 left in the half.
Hall, playing for the first time since injurying an
ankle in the
season-opening contest, gained 103 yards on 21 carries.
"Having Hall back gave us an added boost,' said GW coach Jay
Folden. "He is a big asset to the team.'
Nitro regained the lead when Ray Shamblin picked off
a GW pass
and returned it 40 yards to the Patriots' two-yard line. From there,
and passed to Kevin Dye for a 14-7 lead.
George Washington had the first two scoring opportunities of the
second half. Andrew Thompson forced a Nitro fumble and Mike Jarrett
recovered. Failing to move the ball, the Patriots were forced to try
a 34-yard field goal, but it was short.
On their next possession, the Pats drove 49 yards in 9 plays for
a 14-14 tie. Rusty Ryan passed 16 yards to Hall for the score. Grady
added the extra point.
"Our team showed its character when the score was tied and it
drove the ball down the field,' said Nitro coach Pat Vance of the
Wildcats' marches late in the game.
Nitro drove to the GW 42, but Thompson blocked a field goal try
.Then, with 7:26 to play, the Wildcats marched from their 20 to the
game-winning 23-yard field goal by McNeel. Greg Bibbee had a 22-yard
run, and Bret Caldwell a 26-yard dash.
"The line had extra incentive to block harder because we were
unable to throw the ball because of an injury to
of the first half,' Vance said.
Of his big field goal, which boosted the Wildcats' record to
4-2, McNeel said, "I felt a little pressure
because they had blocked
my earlier attempt.'
As GW marched for a tying field goal or winning touchdown,
McNeel popped up again to bedevil the Patriots,
intercepting a pass
"This is the best game I've had,' he said.
Folden was not displeased with his 1-4 team's play. "If we
keep the same attitude we had tonight, we will definitely win some
more games,' he said.
George Washington hosts DuPont next Friday while Nitro travels
to