PRINCETON HURTING FOR BATTLE WITH NITRO GAME OF THE WEEK

Publication: THE CHARLESTON GAZETTE
Published: 09/30/2005
Page: 1B
Headline: PRINCETON HURTING FOR BATTLE WITH NITRO GAME OF THE WEEK
Byline: RICK RYAN

Notebook, statistics, 4B

rickryan@wvgazette.com

It may not be the right time for Princeton to run up against Nitro's high-scoring offense and Kennedy Award favorite Josh Culbertson.

The Tigers could be limited on offense when they play host to unbeaten Nitro at 7:30 tonight in a key Class AAA matchup at Anne S. Hunnicutt Stadium. The Wildcats (5-0) come into the game tied for second in the playoff ratings.

Princeton (4-1), tied for 13th in the ratings, expects to be without its top two running backs. Senior William Gardner and junior Marcus Hayes are both nursing injuries, leaving 210-pound fullback Brandon Croy to shoulder the load.

"We've been hit with a few injuries here and there and it's slowed us down," said Princeton coach Ted Spadaro. "The kids we have left will have to do what they do well, because there's no use for them trying to do some things they're not capable of doing."

Junior halfback James Johnson, subbing for Hayes last week, ran for 67 yards on 13 carries in a 21-14 loss at George Washington.

"He'll be doing his part out there," Spadaro said, "as will Croy and [Phillip] Finley. But it's nothing like the experience we had back there [with Gardner and Hayes]. But we're not crying the blues. We're going to play."

Gardner leads the Tigers with 583 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground, averaging better than 11 yards a carry. Hayes, who's missed the last two games, has run for 284 yards and four scores. Spadaro said they could both return for the Oct. 14 game at Greenbrier East. Croy, meanwhile, has gained 431 yards with three TDs.

"It means they're probably going to get into their power game more and try and control the clock," said Nitro coach Scott Tinsley. "We'll probably see their power sets a little more."

Tinsley was concerned about stopping Princeton's best lineman, junior Keith Taylor (6-foot-2, 300 pounds). Taylor had five tackles for lost yardage last week at GW and his size and speed present a mismatch for most of the Wildcats' linemen.

"He's good on both sides of the ball," Tinsley said. "Obviously it presents a problem for our defense because they run behind him so much - they pull him out of the wing-T [formation] and for power sets, they move him into the backfield. I'm really concerned about being able to stop their power game."

Across the field, Spadaro will worry about containing Culbertson, who leads the state with 1,452 yards and 21 TDs, along with senior wideout Chris Fulmer and sophomore quarterback Michael Scott.

"We'll just have to be aware of what side [Culbertson's] on and what formation they're in," Spadaro said. "Everybody thinks you just have to stop him or stop Fulmer, but that's not the way it is. Those kids have great team chemistry there. The timing on all their pass routes is great and, of course, the more [Scott] throws, the more comfortable he's going to get. He's going to have a great year there.

"But I think they're excellent on both sides of the ball. After watching film of them, it surprised me a little bit that they come after you so well on defense. They seem much more quicker on defense than I remember."

Princeton and Nitro should remember each other pretty well, as they've scrimmaged each other in the preseason the past several years, even before the Tigers joined the Mountain State Athletic Conference.

Tinsley thinks that might help his team weather the long trip to Mercer County, where Princeton traditionally plays much better. Dating back to last season, the Tigers have won four of their last five at home and have lost three of four on the road.

"Maybe that's an advantage for us," Tinsley said. "I hope it is. Our kids are familiar with the surroundings down there, even though we've never been there for a real game."

Nitro expects to be near full strength. Lineman Ross Martin returns from an injury, but one of his replacements, Gary Neil, suffered a broken wrist against Capital. Neil has been fitted with a soft cast and could still play.

To contact assistant sports editor Rick Ryan, use e-mail or call 348-5175.