IS NITRO GOING CONSERVATIVE? PREP FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK
Publication: THE
Published: 09/02/2005
Page: 4B
Headline: IS NITRO GOING CONSERVATIVE? PREP FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK
Byline: RICK RYAN
rickryan@wvgazette.com
What in the name of J.R. House is going on here? Nitro throws the ball only 12
times?
That's the number of passes the normally high-flying Wildcats attempted in
their opener last week, a 46-21 conquest at Musselman.
It's a far cry from the previous 10 seasons with Scott Tinsley serving
as either offensive coordinator or head coach, the position he now holds.
Sophomore Michael Scott, in his first full season as Nitro's starting
quarterback, hit on 9-of-12 attempts for 110 yards last week. Senior tailback
Josh Culbertson, meanwhile, helped the Wildcats control the game by carrying 24
times for 339 yards and five touchdowns.
Tinsley expects Scott's workload to increase as the season goes along,
perhaps tonight when Nitro invades Laidley Field to
take on George Washington.
"It was a thing where our defense got us a score early," Tinsley
said, "and we were in control. We threw the ball 10 times by the half, then threw a couple more on our first drive of the second
half and it was 26-0. Then there just wasn't the need to throw any more.
"Our plan was to get Josh about 20, 25 carries and throw the ball 20
times. But when you get a lead like we did, then the number of passes kind of
went down."
Tinsley said the coaching staff has great confidence in Scott, who
started three times last year when Michael Williams broke his leg in midseason.
"We thought he did a great job last week," Tinsley said.
"He threw no interceptions last week and did not get sacked. That's a
pretty good night. He scrambled out of the pocket and made a nice play for us
on a screen."