HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL - WEEK 6 CULBERTSON SHEDS JERSEY, SHREDS PRINCETON NITRO BACK RUSHES FOR 308 YARDS IN 35-14 WIN

Publication: THE CHARLESTON GAZETTE
Published: 10/01/2005
Page: 1D
Headline: HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL - WEEK 6 CULBERTSON SHEDS JERSEY, SHREDS PRINCETON NITRO BACK RUSHES FOR 308 YARDS IN 35-14 WIN
Byline: TOMMY R. ATKINSON

tatkinson@wvgazette.com

PRINCETON - Princeton's defense couldn't slow down Nitro's Josh Culbertson - even when the Tigers took his jersey.

After getting his No. 33 jersey ripped off his back early in the second quarter, the 5-foot-9, 192-pound tailback switched to No. 8 and continued gashing Princeton, finishing with 308 yards on 30 carries and three touchdowns to lead the Wildcats to a 35-14 victory.

A crowd of about 2,500 attended the Class AAA matchup featuring state-ranked teams at Anne S. Hunnicutt Stadium.

After Nitro (6-0, ranked second in the state playoff ratings) called timeout, Culbertson went to the sidelines and changed into the jersey normally used by injured senior wide receiver-defensive back Jordan Rusin. Culbertson rang up 118 yards and a TD in his No. 33 jersey.

"It's the second time that happened," said Culbertson, who averaged 10.3-yard per carry despite battling a sore knee. "I got my home jersey ripped last year.

"I'm going to start wearing [No.] 8 to away games. It's all those guys up front. We had great blocking. When they're doing their job, it makes it easy on me. We've got a lot of weapons."

Culbertson, who needs just 146 yards to break Quincy Wilson's state career yardage record, was held to minus yardage on only two plays and ripped off runs of 63, 46, 27, 32 and 25 yards. For good measure, he hauled in a 9-yard scoring pass in the third quarter and recovered an on-side kick late in the fourth.

Nitro quarterback Michael Scott completed 10-of-17 passes for 138 yards with three TDs and no interceptions. Wildcats senior wideout Chris Fulmer hauled in six passes for 106 yards, including scoring passes covering 25 and 16 yards. Fulmer is 12 catches shy of breaking Chris Martin's state career mark.

"I thought that was a great performance against a really good Princeton team," said Nitro coach Scott Tinsley, whose team chewed up 441 yards of total offense.

"They really will hit you. They've played great defense all season. I thought the performance was even more outstanding because of the caliber of competition. I think balance on the offensive side was key."

Nitro's defense, which forced two turnovers, held Princeton to 136 yards on 36 rushing attempts and 208 total yards. The Wildcats also held the Tigers to their lowest scoring output this season.

"If our defense keeps playing like that," Tinsley said, "we're going to be pretty good."

For No. 13 Princeton (4-2), senior running back William Gardner led the ground attack with 49 yards on 16 carries and a pair of late TDs. Gardner, who entered the game fifth in the Mountain State Athletic Conference with 583 yards and 10 scores, and junior back Marcus Hayes, who came into the game with 284 yards and four TDs, were just cleared to play Thursday after nursing injuries all week.

Tigers junior quarterback Chris Belcher threw for just 66 yards on 8-of-15 passing with an interception.

"I think the difference was they're just a better football team than we were," said Princeton coach Ted Spadaro. "I thought they controlled that offensive line of scrimmage at times."

It didn't take Culbertson long to get his engine revved up. He went off right tackle on the second play of Nitro's second drive for a 63-yard TD and a 7-0 lead with 4:34 left in the opening quarter.

Two possessions later, he took off for a 46-yard TD, breaking several tackles along the way, for a 14-0 edge with 2:40 remaining before halftime.

Princeton sophomore Patrick Thornton fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Nitro junior Josh Page recovered at the Tigers' 26-yard line. Six plays later, Scott found Fulmer on a 25-yard slant for 21-0 advantage at the break.

Scott found Fulmer again for a 16-yard TD on Nitro's opening possession of the second half to stake the Wildcats to a 28-0 lead with 6:21 to go. Fulmer made a twisting 40-yard grab on third-and-10 to keep the drive going.

After a Princeton punt, Scott hit Culbertson from 9 yards out for the Wildcats' final points and a 35-0 edge with 1:20 left in the third period. Culbertson gained all 80 yards on the drive (71 rushing, 9 receiving).

To contact staff writer Tommy R. Atkinson, use e-mail or call 348-4811.