NITRO'S TAYLOR RUNNING QB

Publication: CHARLESTON DAILY MAIL
Published: 09/16/1994
Page: P 1B
Headline: NITRO'S TAYLOR RUNNING QB
Byline: TOM ALUISE

If you're the primary receiver on a pass play called for Nitro
High School quarterback Dan Taylor, you'd better get open in a jiffy
Taylor would just as soon stick the football under his arm and
bang heads with wild-eyed linebackers and defensive backs.
The 5-11, 180-pound senior is not about to pitch a tent behind
the line of srimmage and patiently scan the field for uncovered
receivers.
He'd much prefer to run. It's no wonder Taylor is a QB. He can
get his paws on the football first. And once it's in his grasp,
Taylor is content to keep it until somebody can bring him down.
"I'm pretty much another running back,' he said.
Taylor isn't just any running, oops, quarterback. He's Nitro's
best ball carrier and a major reason the surprising Wildcats are
purring at 3-0 going into tonight's 7:30 battle at next-door neighbor
Poca (2-1).
"He's our best athlete,' said Nitro coach Greg Cyrus, who,
with a triumph tonight, would equal his win total from the past two
seasons combined.
The Wildcats were 2-8 in both 1992 and '93.
Taylor's leadership _ he's a three-year starter at QB _ and
effective running have helped Nitro down Winfield, Hurricane and
George Washington in its first three games.
Taylor, in fact, goes into tonight's meeting at Poca tied for
third in the Mountain State Athletic Conference Gold Division rushing
race. He's the only QB among the leaders.
A first-team, all-Kanawha County basketball player last year and
the county scoring champ (22.1 points a game), Taylor has rushed for
223 yards on 43 carries (5.1 yards per pop) with two touchdowns.
In his team's season-opening 21-15 victory over Winfield, Taylor
chewed up 122 yards on 13 carries and scored two TDs, including a
46-yard, tackle-breaking gem.
Taylor had 106 yards on 19 carries two weeks ago against
Hurricane.
Don't bother looking up his passing numbers. Taylor has thrown
12 times this year for 55 yards.
"We realize we're going to have to throw more if we're going to
win games,' Cyrus said. "But we've never been forced to pass this
year.'
Most of Nitro's pass plays are sprint-outs, which Taylor often
turns into runs.
Cyrus said allowing Taylor to roll out eliminates the problem of
him seeing over an offensive line that averages 6-3.
"We tell him when he rolls out that if he sees green grass, run
with it,' Cyrus said. "He's going to get five (yards). He's very
hard to tackle,'
Taylor is one of Nitro's strongest players. How many QBs out
there can bench 340 pounds? Add Taylor's name to the list. He's
also run a 4.4 40, Cyrus said.
"He'll surprise you,' Cyrus said. "He doesn't look that fast
.'
Taylor also starts on defense.
"It can get tiring sometimes,' he said. "But once you start
playing, you don't think about it too much. It's pretty tiring after
the game.'
Taylor said he's not surprised by Nitro's quick start.
"We've got more experience,' he said. "And we're getting
breaks this year. Last year, we found ways to lose. This year,
we're finding ways to win.'
Like putting the football in Taylor's hands.