WIN OVER SA KEEPS NITRO'S HOPES ALIVE

Publication: THE CHARLESTON GAZETTE
Published: 11/02/2002
Page: 1B
Headline: WIN OVER SA KEEPS NITRO'S HOPES ALIVE
Byline: SCOTT KAMINSKI

For the Gazette

Nitro won the "Battle of the Bridge" Friday night as cross-river rivals met at Crawford Field in St. Albans.

The Wildcats won in convincing fashion 49-16 on four Derek Midkiff touchdown passes, giving them a final regular-season record of 5-5. St. Albans ends the year at 0-10.

The win keeps Nitro's playoff hopes alive. Wildcat coach Scott Tinsley said postseason play is his team's "No. 1 objective" and said he remains optimistic.

The Wildcats entered the game tied with Huntington for No. 18. The Highlanders lost Friday, as did Capital and Woodrow Wilson, which were tied for No. 16. No. 20 Parkersburg also lost.

So, while Nitro awaits its fate, St. Albans regroups for next year. Coach Bart Hillenbrand said he hopes his players "keep their heads up and continue to work hard."

After two early fumbles, Nitro scored two touchdowns midway through the second quarter. The first came on a 9-yard run by Chris McGhee and the second on a 9-yard pass from Midkiff to Lance Ervin.

With under three minutes to go in the first half, the desperation of a winless team showed. With a fourth-and-43 from their own 3, St. Albans called for a fake punt. The pass fell incomplete, and Nitro converted two plays later on McGhee's second touchdown of the game, a 3-yard run.

On the ensuing kick, Nitro tried a little trickery of its own. The Wildcats tried an onside kick and recovered at the St. Albans 46. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Red Dragons moved the ball to the 31, and Nitro scored its fourth touchdown of the second quarter four plays later when Midkiff connected with Ryan Meadows on a 15-yard pass with 17 seconds left before halftime.

Nitro led at the half 28-0, but St. Albans achieved a glimmer of hope early in the third quarter. Faced with fourth-and-22 from its own 1, Nitro lined up in punt formation. However, the snap was fumbled and rolled out of the end zone for a safety.

St. Albans' Zach Miles returned the ensuing free kick 55 yards, moving the ball to the Nitro 10. The Red Dragons' momentum turned, however, after two penalties pushed them back to the 26. Quarterback Josh Titlow was then intercepted by Nitro's Joe Farry, his second pick of the game.

Nitro added to its lead with another McGhee touchdown in the third quarter, the Wildcat runner's third of the game.

Nitro kicker Chris Myers was perfect on his seven extra-point attempts.