Bruising back could be problem for Wildcats

MORGANTOWN -- University Coach John Kelley acknowledges that his star player doesn't have statistics that "jump off the page at you."

Running back Cory Jackson has shoulders, size and strength that will run you over.

That's the challenge presented to Nitro when the Wildcats (11-1) battle the Hawks (9-3) tonight in the Class AAA state semifinals at University of Charleston Stadium at 7:30.

Coach Scott Tinsley's Wildcats haven't faced a bruising running back like Jackson, a 6-foot-1, 241-pound senior.

"He punishes people," said Kelley of Jackson, who has rushed for 1,209 yards in 12 games. "He'll get 4 yards and you'll need three or four guys to get him down. When he hits you in the chest going forward, it's awful hard. It's demoralizing because you think you have him stopped."

Jackson, who has given the University of Maryland a verbal commitment and plans to visit the school after the playoffs, has been the catalyst for University's surprising run through the playoffs.

A less-than-spectacular 7-3 regular season sent No. 10 University on the road in the playoffs, where it promptly upset No. 7 Bridgeport (28-24) and No. 2 Jefferson (27-19) in successive weeks.

Jackson, a linebacker on defense, rushed for only 942 yards in 10 regular season games, but has 267 in two playoff contests.

Defensively, he leads the Hawks with more than 100 tackles and had 20 in the regular season finale against Morgantown.

That may be where he's needed the most against Nitro's high-powered offense.

Nitro running back Josh Culbertson, the state's all-time leading rusher with 7,367 career yards, hasn't been held under 150 yards in a game this season.

"He's pretty fun to watch," Jackson admits. "Our job is to stop him and I think we'll be able to do it."

Kelley insists Culbertson's numbers don't lie.

"I don't have an answer for Culbertson and nobody else does either," Kelley said. "Everybody is making a big deal about me saying he's the best ever, but I've got news for you folks ... statistically he's the best ever. Now, you can argue whether Curt Warner, Quincy Wilson, Chris Yura or whoever is better, but the numbers say he's the best running back to play high school football in West Virginia."

Does that mean he surrenders coverage on Chris Fulmer -- the nation's all-time receptions leader with 319 catches -- to contain Culbertson?

Not necessarily. Last week, Parkersburg attempted to single-cover Fulmer with defensive back Jeremy Rhodes and it proved fatal to the Big Reds' chances. Kelley saw the film of Fulmer's seven-catch, 203-yard, three-touchdown performance.

University's answer will start with defensive back Charles "L.C." Jefferson, who owns 10 of University's 25 interceptions this season. But, it's not expected to end there.

"You can't single cover him (Fulmer) because he's too good," Kelley said. "Also, if you put two or three guys on his side or try to do something to his side, they have other receivers to do something and the quarterback (Michael Scott) is smart enough to find them.

"I don't have an answer. I've been frustrated all week and so have my defensive people."

Nitro's defense relies on speed to the ball. However, the Wildcats haven't faced a Jackson-type running back. Combine that with quarterback Justin Hostetler's ability to throw the ball, and there's some frustration on Nitro's side as well.

Hostetler's numbers, like Jackson's, don't jump off the page, but he's still managed to throw for more than 1,700 yards and 13 touchdowns. He's thrown TD passes to five different receivers and two of those -- Jefferson and Cory Hess -- have combined for 81 catches and 1,357 yards.