Culbertson, Fulmer: Nitro’s dynamic Duo
Wildcats have state’s top rusher, receiver coming back
By John Raby
The Associated Press
The only non-seniors on last year’s Class AAA all-state offensive first team happened to be teammates.
To Nitro wide receiver Chris Fulmer, running back Josh Culbertson has the power to bull over opponents and the speed to run around them.
To Culbertson, Fulmer is “so quick’’ and can change directions in a heartbeat.
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To the rest of the state, the two players are double trouble. Culbertson and Fulmer are closing in on individual acclaim and will be locked in a battle for the Kennedy Award as the state’s top player.
First, the seniors will try to return Nitro to the glory of two other record-setting players. Quarterback J.R. House and wide receiver Chris Martin led the Wildcats to the 1998 state championship.
But the state’s sixth-smallest Class AAA school,
which lost in the second round of the last year’s playoffs to eventual champion
Opposing defenses will have to gamble often.
If they double team Fulmer and lean toward defending the arm of sophomore quarterback Michael Scott, who started three games last year, then that leaves the possibility of Culbertson getting big yardage.
“That’s just the way it’s worked here,’’ Fulmer said. “If he does well, they move in. Or if me and the receivers do well, they spread back out. They give it to Josh. He scores from 90 yards.’’
The stocky Culbertson has led Class AAA in rushing the past two seasons, including 2,602 yards a year ago.
He needs 1,912 yards to surpass the state career rushing
record of 6,161 set by Weir’s Quincy Wilson from 1995-98.
Culbertson finished third in the Kennedy voting a year ago.
The 6-foot-2 Fulmer set a state record with 99 receptions during
the 2003 regular season. He needs 59 catches to surpass the national mark of 302
set by Abram Booty of
Fulmer predicts he’ll break the record by midseason. Whether he’s considered the state’s best player by the end of the season isn’t on his mind.
“The Kennedy is not real important right now,’’ he said.
At first, Culbertson said he really hadn’t thought about the Kennedy. Asked about it again later, he said it became a goal after the 2003 season, when he became the first sophomore in the Mountain State Athletic Conference to surpass 1,000 yards.
“Who doesn’t want to get all that stuff?’’ Culbertson said. “I guess we’ll see how things go.’’
Neither star player is concerned about getting the ball enough, although Fulmer is eager to rebound from last season when his output dropped after quarterback Michael Williams broke his leg.
“I think Chris will still get his 60 catches because Josh, if you give him the ball, you never know what he’s going to do,’’ said Scott, Williams’ replacement. “He could break it 50 yards or just get like five. But he’ll get the yards he’ll need to get.’’
Several other marquee players could get plenty of attention in the Kennedy race, including quarterbacks Heath Thomas of Huntington, Charlie Russell of Morgantown and J.J. Mayer of Robert C. Byrd; running backs Ryland Newman of Jefferson, Joey Lindamood of Parkersburg, Josh Twyman of Martinsburg and Tommy Spurlock of South Charleston; and Morgantown fullback Max Anderson.
“If he stays healthy, he’s going to be the state’s all-time leading rusher. I would venture to say anybody that ever got that was the Kennedy Award winner that year,’’ said Nitro coach Scott Tinsley. “But at the same time, Chris Fulmer is going to be the national record holder if he stays healthy in career receptions.
“I would say both of them are deserving of getting votes for the Kennedy Award. But both of them also realize that in order to get individual success, we have to have team success first.’’
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