UNIVERSITY DEFENSE THROTTLES NITRO AGAIN HAWKS LIMIT WILDCATS TO 127 TOTAL YARDS

Publication: THE CHARLESTON GAZETTE
Published: 09/28/2002
Page: 1B
Headline: UNIVERSITY DEFENSE THROTTLES NITRO AGAIN HAWKS LIMIT WILDCATS TO 127 TOTAL YARDS
Byline: JIM WORKMAN

jworkman@wvspn.com

It was a matchup between a great defense against a great offense. You knew something had to give.

No. 1-ranked University of Morgantown used its dominating defense to knock off Nitro 27-7 on the muddy turf at Underwood Field on Friday night. The Hawks raise their record to 4-0, and Nitro drops to 2-2.

The usually high-powered Wildcats offensive attack was held to 127 total yards.

"When a Nitro defense gives up 27 points, we're supposed to win," said Wildcats coach Scott Tinsley. "I'm proud of them. But our offense is 0-5 this year. In my 18 years of coaching, I have never had an offense that can't score. We just can't put points on the board."

UHS senior running back Brady Jackson scored two touchdowns - an 80-yarder and a 28-yarder, gaining 177 yards on 16 carries.

"Their players were turning average plays into big plays," said Tinsley. "We're just not having the same thing happen on offense."

Tinsley credited University's defense for limiting Nitro's effectiveness.

"They're a sound football team and a really good defense," he said. "They run to the ball well. Everyone talks about their linebacker [Marc Magro], but Brady Jackson is a great safety too."

University has had much success the past two seasons, holding Nitro scoreless last season also.

"In two years, [Derek] Midkiff hasn't thrown a touchdown on us," University coach John Kelley said of the Nitro quarterback. "Not too many people can say that about him. Seven points in two years isn't too bad against this offense. That's a real tribute to our defense. They bent but they didn't break."

Jackson got the Hawks on the scoreboard first from his tailback position, with a spectacular 80-yard touchdown run with 4:02 left in the first quarter.

Jackson took the handoff, bounced off the line going up the middle, and darted left. He found daylight going down the left sideline, outrunning two Nitro defenders to the end zone. Bryan Phillips' extra-point kick gave UHS a 7-0 lead.

"That was a straight dive," explained Kelley. "He's terrific. You have to have a running back that can do that in these muddy conditions. He had a big night."

University turned to its passing attack for its next two scores in the second quarter. Quarterback Eric Bacaj found Matt Clawges and connected for a 64-yard TD. Phillips made it 14-0 with his PAT boot at the 9:13 mark.

Bacaj threw a 9-yard strike to Patrick Betoney with 1:39 left in the first half to give the Hawks a 20-0 advantage. Phillips' extra-point kick sailed wide left, however, and University took a 20-0 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Nitro held a huge advantage of time of possession in the first two quarters, running 33 offensive plays that ran off 17 minutes, 24 seconds. University ran 20 plays that took just 6:36. Almost five minutes of the Hawks' time came on the third TD, a nine-play 49-yard drive.

Following a scoreless third quarter, Jackson scampered in from 28 yards away to give UHS another TD with 6:21 left in the fourth. Phillips' PAT upped the Hawks lead to 27-0.

The Wildcats weren't through yet. Chris McGhee returned the kickoff 63 yards to the Hawks 45. Nitro took the ball the distance on six plays, as McGhee ran in from 10 yards away for a TD. Chris Myers' PAT kick made it 27-7.

Nitro's defense allowed 287 yards total offense and just seven points in the second half.

After starting the season 2-0, Nitro has lost three straight to playoff contenders George Washington, Ripley and University. It doesn't get any easier, as Nitro travels to Parkersburg South, which is fresh off its win over cross-town rival Parkersburg next Friday. On the same day, University will entertain Elkins.