NITRO'S FULMER HAS HAPPY MEMORIES OF CATCHING PASSES ON RIVERSIDE'S FIELD CLASS AAA PLAYOFFS

Publication: THE CHARLESTON GAZETTE
Published: 11/10/2005
Page: 4B
Headline: NITRO'S FULMER HAS HAPPY MEMORIES OF CATCHING PASSES ON RIVERSIDE'S FIELD CLASS AAA PLAYOFFS
Byline: RICK RYAN

rickryan@wvgazette.com

Not everybody on the Nitro sideline will grumble about having to play Friday's first-round home playoff game against Capital at Riverside.

Wildcats senior receiver Chris Fulmer carries some pretty good memories about his last game at Warriors Stadium in Quincy.

Late in his freshman season of 2002, Fulmer turned in his first breakthrough game, catching 18 passes for 266 yards and three touchdowns as Riverside held off Nitro 49-45 in a back-and-forth pointfest.

"I remember they kept the same coverages the whole game," Fulmer said. "They didn't change up anything and we just kept doing what we were doing."

That Riverside team would advance to the Class AAA playoff semifinals before losing to Morgantown, while Nitro missed out on the postseason at 5-5. The Wildcats haven't missed since, matching Capital's streak of three straight as the longest in Kanawha County.

Capital (6-4), the 14th seed, stands as the opponent for the No. 3 Wildcats (9-1) Friday in a game that was moved from Underwood Field in Nitro to Memorial Stadium in Ripley, then to Riverside. Capital protested the use of Nitro's home site on Sunday because of poor field conditions and cramped dressing quarters.

After the SSAC upheld Capital's protest on Monday, Nitro opted for the artificial turf field in Ripley, but Kanawha County Schools Superintendent Ron Duerring mandated that the game remain in his county and switched it to the grass field at Riverside.

An escape clause was added to the situation when Laidley Field was instructed to hold open a Saturday evening slot for the game in case Riverside's field became deluged by rain.

Nitro coach Scott Tinsley, however, was told by county officials Wednesday morning that if a rainstorm hits Riverside's field between now and Friday, the game could be postponed a day and played at Warrior Stadium on Saturday.

"We've got to make sure to put the field concerns behind us," Tinsley said. "There are bigger concerns right now. You know high school kids can be distracted, so we've got to make sure Capital is our focus, and not the field."

Fulmer, though, should feel plenty at home playing at Riverside. His big night three years ago served to jump-start his career, one that now includes a national high school-record 311 career receptions.

"I think [that game] did have an impact," Fulmer said. "It showed Coach Tinsley and the rest of the team that they could trust me a little more to catch the football.

"But that happened a good [three] years ago. It shouldn't play a part in our game Friday. We need to come out with a win and that's our focus."

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