MORE THAN RAINDROPS HITTING SC'S FOES

Publication: CHARLESTON DAILY MAIL
Published: 01/01/1990
Page: P1B
Headline: MORE THAN RAINDROPS HITTING SC'S FOES
Byline: TOM ALUISE

Two of South Charleston's favorite things are playing in the
rain and butting heads with opposing teams.
The Black Eagles did both Friday in a Kanawha Valley Conference
football game at Nitro.
South Charleston made convincing strides toward becoming the
county's hardest-hitting team. And, for the second straight week,
the Black Eagles prospered amid less than ideal conditions.
In the end, South Charleston had a 26-0 victory over Nitro,
improving its record to a solid 4-1. The Wildcats, who haven't scored
a point in nine quarters, dropped to 2-3.
"This is the second week in a row that we have played pretty
decent football in the rain,' said Black Eagles' head coach Bryce
Casto, whose club defeated Milton last week in monsoon-like weather
"We get a lot of practice in the rain around here,' Casto
added. "But I don't think the kids would care if it snowed three
inches.'
A steady rain throughout last night's game soaked Nitro's field
and made for unstable footing.
But it never really got muddy and South Charleston was able to
use its superior speed to its advantage.
Nitro's offense, meanwhile, moved the ball well against the
Black Eagles in the first half but was virtually non-existent in the
second half, totaling only eight yards.
South Charleston quarterback Mark Terry scored second quarter
touchdowns on runs of 38 and 5 yards and threw a 30-yard TD pass
to Will Patterson in the third period to lead the Black Eagles'
offense.
Fullback David Leeber got South Charleston's final score with an
11-yard TD run at the 2:23 mark of the third quarter.
"The field never did get real sloppy,' said Nitro head coach
Greg Cyrus. "I didn't think it (weather) was much of a factor.'
Yet, South Charleston linebacker Benji Moore, one of the Black
Eagles' leaders on defense, said his team thrives in the rain. He
said more than half of South Charleston's games last season were
played in wet conditions.
"It (rain) was a big boost for our defense,' Moore said.
"This team is used to playing in the rain. I kind of like it.
It's just a psychological advantage I guess.'
The Black Eagles' head-cracking defense limited Nitro to 134
yards of total offense, 126 in the first half.
The Wildcats did show some spark in the first two quarters,
mounting two drives to within the Black Eagles' 20-yard line.
Both drives stalled, however, on fourth-down incomplete,
although catchable passes.
Nitro receivers, in fact, dropped several passes on the night,
including a few which were jarred loose by crunching South Charleston
tackles.
"Their secondary hits real well,' said Cyrus. "That might be
why we dropped some passes.'
"Basically our whole defense will hit you,' said Moore. "Our
practices are real intense. They have to be for us to be hard-nosed
in the game.'
Tailback Andre Howard led South Charleston with 70 yards on 18
carries. The Black Eagles had 275 total yards.
Boom McKinney picked up 36 yards _ all in the first half _
to lead Nitro.
The Wildcats have gone 12 quarters without a touchdown.
"The kids moved the ball well tonight,' Cyrus said, "we
should have scored. They need a little more mental toughness but
that comes with experience.'
"I don't think the kids would care if it snowed three inches
.' Bryce Casto
CHET HAWESDAILY MAIL TD TERRY: South Charleston quarterback Mark
Terry breaks loose for a 38-yard touchdown run in the Black Eagles'
26-0 victory over Nitro Friday at the Wildcats' field. In pursuit
are Nitro's Chad Hemmings (24), Jeremy Casebolt (14) and Pete Hinton
(49). Terry scored another TD on a 5-yard run and threw a 30-yard TD
pass.