HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL - WEEK 3 WILDCATS 3-0 AFTER 54-26 SHOOTOUT WIN

Publication: THE CHARLESTON GAZETTE
Published: 09/10/2005
Page: 1C
Headline: HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL - WEEK 3 WILDCATS 3-0 AFTER 54-26 SHOOTOUT WIN
Byline: LEE FRANCE

For the Saturday Gazette-Mail

It has been a long time since the Battle for the Bridge between Nitro and St. Albans meant something.

In fact, Nitro coach Scott Tinsley doesn't remember a time in his tenure when there was so much at stake. Unlike in recent years, both teams entered Friday's game undefeated.

"That's a credit to [St. Albans coach] Derek [Christian]," Tinsley said. "He's doing the right things with that program, and his squad has beaten two pretty good teams, so it's no fluke that he has that team competing like that."

But at Underwood Field in Nitro Friday, the Wildcats stayed unbeaten, defeating the Red Dragons 54-26.

Leading the way was Nitro's Josh Culbertson, who scored six touchdowns, including a 71-yard run, and finished with 307 yards on 25 carries.

"It's nice to give the ball to him and just let him run," Tinsley said.

"We just couldn't tackle him," St. Albans' Jeremy James said of Culbertson's elusiveness. "We felt pretty good going in at the half, but we just couldn't contain him."

St. Albans (2-1) took the first possession and methodically moved the ball down the field. Thirteen plays and 80 yards later, James scampered nine yards into the end zone for a 6-0 lead.

Nitro's first possession, like all of the rest, was quick and to the point.

Culbertson scored on a 7-yard bolt to the end zone. The Red Dragons' next possession resulted in a three-and-out, and that seemed to give the Wildcats the momentum they needed.

Once again, Culbertson capped a three-play drive with a 71-yard touchdown burst, giving Nitro a 13-7 lead.

St. Albans showed signs of life and tied the game with 3:41 to play in the first half when James collected his second touchdown on a 3-yard plunge.

But, Culbertson again retaliated, this time on a 5-yard TD run. Nitro (3-0) led by just 20-13 at intermission.

But in the second half, the Wildcats outscored the Red Dragons 34-13 with Culbertson adding TD runs of 3, 46, and 35 yards.

"I want to mention the play of our quarterback, Michael Scott," said Tinsley. "I thought he did an outstanding job of hitting his receivers in key situations."

In fact, Scott threw for 108 yards on 4-of-4 completions.

Although St. Albans won the time-of-possession battle, Nitro needed just 13 minutes, 10 seconds of possession to do the damage.

"We got beat by two words tonight," Christian said. "Josh and Culbertson. He's a phenomenal back and a playmaker. We tried to hold onto the ball and keep it out of his hands, but it just didn't work out."

Christian said that even though his defense gave up 54 points, there were some bright spots.

"Our kids played hard and we had a couple of big drives," he said. "They blew the game open in the second half and that wound up being the difference."

"We just have to put this game behind us," James added. "We have Ripley in a couple of weeks, so we have to stay focused and pick up some more wins."