PATRIOTS SLIP BY WILDCATS
Publication:
Published: 09/14/2002
Page: 1B
Headline: PATRIOTS SLIP BY WILDCATS
Byline: MIKE CONNOLLY
DAILY MAIL SPORTSWRITER
While his Nitro High
counterpart made critical errors and tossed interceptions, George Washington
quarterback Doug Foster used accurate passing and timely scrambling to lead his
team to a hard-fought victory.
Foster was a modest 10-of-18 for 109 yards passing but made the difference in a
tight game with his scrambling ability. Three times when the Patriots (2-1)
faced third down, Foster turned a broken play into a first down.
On the night the senior picked up 45 yards on five carries to go along with a two-point
conversion run in the second half in the seventh-ranked Patriots' 21-14 victory
at Underwood Field.
"It was about time for Doug. He hadn't had too many big games for us and
finally he came through," said GW Coach Steve Edwards, Jr. "That
busted extra point play was big. He got a couple of first downs for us on
draws. He is a good athlete and I am glad he is on my side."
The biggest reason for Foster's success was the element of surprise he brought
to the game, according to Nitro (2-1) Coach Scott Tinsley. The Nitro defense
was prepared to stop tailback Cortez Lacy and GW's
stable of wide receivers.
But Foster was a wildcard Nitro didn't expect.
"We couldn't figure it out. For the first two games he has been kind of
non-existent," Tinsley said about watching tape of GW's
first two games. "They haven't really used him much at all. We knew he was
capable of it but they have so many weapons you have to defend the other guys.
He could just take off like he did. That caused us some problems."
With the exception of Foster, Nitro pretty much bottled up GW's
offense. Lacy had 25 carries for 125 yards but was stopped for less than three
yards on 13 of those carries. Nitro's defense has been a pleasant surprise so
far for the Wildcats. Tinsley said his defense is swarming to the ball
better this year.
"One person cannot bring down Cortez Lacy by himself," he said.
"You have to have good pursuit and we had that tonight."
What Nitro didn't have was the high-powered offense it has been known for in the
past. Star quarterback Derek Midkiff threw two
interceptions in the first half as the offense never really seemed to get on
track. The Wildcats had one long scoring drive.
"The offense just isn't firing on all cylinders right now," Tinsley
said.
Nitro's offense sputtered on its very first possession. After GW scored on its
opening possession, the Wildcats gave the Patriots the ball right back.
The Wildcats tried a reverse flea-flicker on their first snap. Patriot
defensive back Shannon Edwards grabbed his first interception of the game when
he stepped in front of the intended receiver.
Early in the second quarter, the Wildcats had third and goal from the
Patriot five-yard line when Edwards snagged another of Midkiff's
passes. The Wildcats ended up with five turnovers on the night.
"Anytime you get turnovers in a game like this against a good team in a
hostile environment, it's big," coach Edwards
said.
Nitro's final two turnovers were the most costly. Trailing 21-14 with 6:51 left
in the game, tailback Chris McGhee was stripped of the ball at the GW 24.
"They were more takeaways," Tinsley said about his team's five
turnovers.
"They just ripped the ball out of our hands."
Even after the McGhee fumble, Nitro had one last shot. After eating up five
minutes of the clock, George Washington punted the ball back to Nitro. McGhee
waited for the punt at his own 12-yard line.
He tried to field the kick but muffed it and the Patriots recovered.