COUGARS ERUPT,ROLL
PAST NITRO
Publication: THE
Published: 09/12/1992
Page: P 1B
Headline: COUGARS ERUPT,ROLL PAST NITRO
Byline: ANTHONY HANSHEW FOR THE GAZETTE+
Nitro coach Greg Cyrus knew it was going to happen, but he hoped
it would wait one more week. Instead, the top-ranked Capital Cougars
awoke from sluggish start to the season to hammer the Wildcats 41-12
at Nitro Friday night.
"They had been real conservative,' Cyrus said. "I knew they
were going to open it up, I just hoped it wouldn't be tonight.'
It was. Quarterback Varian Cunningham led a wide open attack
that produced 253 total yards and looked much different than the
Cougar team that had struggled in its first two victories.
Cunningham & Co. first struck at the 9:41 mark of the first
quarter when Jonathan Ford capped a five-play, 43-yard drive with a
6-yard touchdown run.
The underdog Wildcats answered quickly, however, and began a
drive of their own behind a power running game and a trick play.
After being stopped on its first three plays, Cyrus called for a
fake punt on fourth-and-11. Nitro converted the fourth down when
upback Daniel Taylor took the snap and found Dwight
Patton for the
first down.
The Wildcats' impressive drive, which lasted more than half of
the first quarter, continued downfield to the Capital 19 until Ford
picked off a Jeff Javins' pass and returned it 30
yards to the Nitro
40. Ford's second big play of the night deflated a spirited Nitro
team and gave the Cougars a much needed boost.
Three plays later, Cunningham connected with Donald Cunningham
on a slant route for a 40-yard score and a 14-0 lead.
Capital again converted a Wildcat turnover into a touchdown when
Buster Bishop recovered a Dwight Patton fumble on the Nitro 19.
Junior tailback Brian Berry put the Cougars up 21-0 three plays later
with a 9-yard run.
Cunningham ended a productive first half with 105 yards on
4-of-11 passing. The junior said the new-look offense was a pleasant
surprise.
"I've been waiting all year for him |FCoach
Roger Jefferson|G
to open the offense a little more. This was great,' Cunningham said
in part because of his team's improved hustle.
"We played with a little more enthusiasm tonight,'
said. "We had good practices this week |Fand|G
I've always believed
that if you practice well you're going to play well.'
. Capital rolled up 41 points against a Nitro squad that had allowed
only three points combined in its first two games. Defensively, the
Wildcats' potent running game was held to only 93 yards. Quarterback
Jeff Javins was hounded all game and finished with
minus-17 yards on
the ground.
The romp over the previously unbeaten Wildcats was the perfect
shot in the arm for the Cougars (3-0), who travel to powerhouse
Brooke Saturday afternoon for a Class AAA showdown.
"This makes us feel a whole lot better about ourselves, and we
need that for next week,' said Cunningham, who completed seven of 16
passes for 150 yards.
Nitro (2-1) also had a bright spot that should carry over to
next week in the form of junior fullback Josh Bailey. He entered the
game in the third quarter and led the Wildcats with 74 yards rushing
and a touchdown on only nine carries. Bailey and the Wildcats travel
to Poca next Friday night.