EVEN AT 5-5, NITRO STILL ALIVE WILDCATS COACHES BELIEVE FINAL PLAYOFF BERTH A POSSIBILITY PREP FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK

Publication: THE CHARLESTON GAZETTE
Published: 11/05/2002
Page: 3B
Headline: EVEN AT 5-5, NITRO STILL ALIVE WILDCATS COACHES BELIEVE FINAL PLAYOFF BERTH A POSSIBILITY PREP FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK
Byline: RICK RYAN

rickryan@wvgazette.com

A couple of weeks ago, Nitro's players and coaches felt that their playoff chances had evaporated with an agonizing 49-45 loss to Riverside that left the Wildcats with a 3-5 record.

But hold the phone. The playoffs might still come calling for Nitro.

Owing to a wild jumble of Class AAA teams around the .500 mark, the Wildcats are still alive after completing their regular season 5-5.

Four teams that, along with Nitro, were chasing a spot at the bottom of the 16-team playoff field lost over the weekend - Capital, Woodrow Wilson, Huntington and Parkersburg.

That leaves only 15 Class AAA teams in the state with winning records, and apparently leaves the Wildcats dueling with Woodrow for perhaps the 16th seed. The SSAC released its updated playoff ratings today.

"The way our coaches had it figured out," said Nitro coach Scott Tinsley, "is that if Oak Hill beats Beckley [Woodrow Wilson] this week, we're in. If they don't, then it comes down to bonus points between us and Beckley. We can't find any other 5-5 teams that would [have a rating] as good as ours."

Only a smattering of games will be held around the state this weekend, the 11th and final week of the regular season.

Woodrow can finish 5-5 with a win over Oak Hill and has three defeated opponents that can furnish a bonus point - Ballou (D.C.), Graham (Va.) and Greenbrier East, which plays Jefferson.

Only two defeated opponents can supply a bonus point for Nitro - Herbert Hoover against Hurricane and Logan against Wayne.

Nitro beat both Hoover and Hurricane, but since the Huskies have fallen to Class AA, only their victory against a team from a higher classification would benefit the Wildcats, and not the reverse.

Woodrow Wilson hasn't lost to Oak Hill since 1976, so it may be a long shot for the Wildcats to pick up that final playoff berth and an expected trip to Morgantown to face the unbeaten and top-ranked Mohigans.

But Tinsley said a slim chance is better than no chance.

"I've had people tell me it wouldn't be much of a prize if we get in, because we'd have to go to Morgantown," Tinsley said. "But anything's better than sitting at home. There's no chance to win [the playoffs] if you're not in. I just hope and pray we get in somehow."

Nitro's five losses have all come to top 10 teams - Riverside, Parkersburg South, Ripley, George Washington and University have a combined record of 42-7.

Despite the uncertain playoff future, Tinsley said his team will hold near-regular workouts this week, practicing today, Wednesday and Thursday.

He said he will contact Laidley Field officials about practicing there this week, since Nitro's overworked home base at Underwood Field "doesn't have a blade of grass on it - it's all mud."

Also, Morgantown plays its home games on the artificial surface of Pony Lewis Field.

"The way I look at it," Tinsley said, "it's another three practices for the kids who return next year. Even if we don't get in, there's really no down side."