GW TOPS NITRO IN DEFENSIVE
Publication: THE
Published: 09/14/2002
Page: 1B
Headline: GW TOPS NITRO IN DEFENSIVE
Byline: JIM WORKMAN
jworkman@wvspn.com
About the last thing you might have expected from Friday's George
Washington-Nitro matchup was a strong defensive
effort, given each school's offensive exploits of late.
But that is exactly what happened as the Patriots held off the host Wildcats
21-14 at Underwood Field.
George Washington raised its record to 2-1, while Nitro fell to 2-1.
"Our defense played well, and our offense played just well enough to
win," said GW coach Steve Edwards Jr. "Our big boys really did a good
job up front. They really wanted it tonight."
GW senior running back Cortez Lacy was pounded by the Nitro defensive line all
night, but still managed 89 yards on 23 carries and three touchdowns. Nitro
held the Patriots' running attack in check for the most part, giving up 192 yards
on 51 tries.
But key plays by senior quarterback Doug Foster pulled GW through. Foster
connected on 10-of-18 passes for 107 yards, including seven passes that went
for crucial first downs.
"He came through with some big plays for us," Edwards said of Foster.
"He's a good athlete that makes things happen."
Even in defeat, Nitro coach Scott Tinsley saw the strong effort of his Wildcats
in the proper light.
"If you would have told me before the game that we hold GW to just 21
points, I would have said, 'Congratulations, we win the game.' But you have to
give their coaching staff credit for holding us to 14." Tinsley said.
"I just can't say enough about our defense. They've kept us in our ballgames,
because our offense hasn't been hitting on all cylinders. We have to fix
that."
George Washington caught a break on its first drive that led to the game's
first score. Nitro's defense held the Patriots, but a penalty on GW's fourth-down punt gave the Pats enough for a first
down.
GW took advantage of the new life as Lacy ran in from 3 yards out, scoring with
5:15 left in the first quarter. Don Supcoe's
extra-point kick gave GW a 7-0 lead.
On Nitro's first play from scrimmage, senior quarterback Derek Midkiff's pass was picked off by GW safety Shannon Edwards.
The Patriots' drive stalled at the Wildcat 24, however, as Nitro escaped
unscathed.
Shannon Edwards was instrumental in the Patriots' next scoring drive,
intercepting another Midkiff pass in the GW end zone.
The pass was tipped by Nitro receiver Marshall Casto.
It took GW 10 plays to march 80 yards, and Lacy capped the drive when he
scampered in from 6 yards. Lacy, a 5-foot-10, 210-pound senior, dragged six
Wildcat defenders into the end zone on the play. The point-after attempt was
wide left, and the Patriots held a 13-0 advantage with 4:54 left in the first
half.
Nitro's potent offense awakened as Midkiff directed a
seven-play, 65-yard drive that ended with Chris McGhee bolting in from a yard
out. John Evans brought Nitro to within six, nailing the PAT to make it 13-7
with 2:47 remaining in the second quarter.
The Wildcats got a break of their own as safety Mitch Casto intercepted a Foster screen pass intended for Lacy at
the GW 40 and ran it back to the 7.
On the second play, Midkiff threw a 7-yard strike to
Chris Fulmer to tie it at 13-all with 1:15 left in the first half. Evans' extra
point kick gave Nitro a 14-13 lead.
Following a scoreless third quarter, Lacy rambled in for a 24-yard TD, his
third of the night, to lift GW to a 19-14 lead. On the two-point conversion,
Foster scrambled in, leaping over two Nitro defenders into the end zone to make
it 21-14 with 8:29 left in the contest.
GW was successful on the ensuing kickoff, recovering an onside kick at the
Nitro 47. Alex Grady scooped it up for the Patriots.
Nitro defensive back Ryan Meadows recovered a fumble to give the Wildcats
the ball back, but McGhee coughed up a handoff that was promptly recovered by
the Patriots with 6:40 left.
GW ate up the clock with a 12-play drive before facing a fourth-and-7 with 1:26
remaining. McGhee mishandled the ball on the punt, however, and GW senior
defensive back Marty Barnes jumped on it, essentially saving the game for the
Patriots.
GW ran out the remaining 1:17 to seal the victory.
"We didn't line up with our punt return team, so it was probably my
fault," explained Tinsley. "We thought they might try to just run out
the clock by running the ball, so we went with our regular defense. Chris told
me he'd line up as the free safety, and if they punted it he said he would
break it. It sounded good to me."
"He's a great athlete and a kid who was trying to make a play,"
Edwards said of McGhee. "We were trying to kick it away from him, because
he's a threat to go the distance any time he touches the ball. Things just went
our way for once."
Nitro plays at Ripley next Saturday night, while George Washington takes on
Hurricane at Laidley Field the same evening.