GAME WITH RIVERSIDE LIKELY TO BE SIGNIFICANT PREP FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK

Publication: THE CHARLESTON GAZETTE
Published: 10/15/2002
Page: 3B
Headline: GAME WITH RIVERSIDE LIKELY TO BE SIGNIFICANT PREP FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK
Byline: RICK RYAN

rickryan@wvgazette.com

The high school football playoffs don't begin until Nov. 15 in West Virginia, but you can't tell that to Nitro coach Scott Tinsley. He thinks his team's postseason chances hinge on Friday's game at Riverside.

The Wildcats (3-4), who lost four straight games to teams ranked in the top 10 of Class AAA, don't have much margin for error if they want to make the playoffs for the first time since 1998.

Of course, beating the Warriors on their home field will be a most difficult task. Riverside (6-1) was ranked No. 6 in last week's Class AAA ratings.

"I think we've got to run the table - and that means we've got a big one next week," Tinsley said after Nitro blanked Logan 51-0. "Next week is our playoff game."

Tinsley doubts that Nitro would be able to slip into one of the 16 available playoff berths with a 5-5 record, making a win against Riverside even more imperative.

"If we would beat Riverside and go 5-5, that kind of 5-5 might get us in," Tinsley said. "Otherwise, I don't think so."

The Wildcats finish up against South Charleston and St. Albans, who have just one win between them.

Last year, offense was the name of the game as Riverside swamped Nitro 56-28 after leading just 21-13 at halftime.

"They've got tremendous players like Chiefy [Ealey] and Josh [Hughes]," Tinsley said. "I don't know if we can play with them or not. We'll find out.

"If our offense plays well like we did [against Logan], we can score some points. The key will be if we can get another defensive effort like we did [against Logan]."