Nolan Fugate of Dorr was the leading rusher for the Division 4 state champion Grand Rapids Catholic Central football team.
Fugate picked up 1,431 yards on 224 carries during the season and 14 touchdowns. His rushing total was fourth best in the school’s history, which covers 106 years, according to Jim Martin, who also happens to be Dorr Township Treasurer and Catholic Central‘s statistician.
The Cougars won the state title last Friday night with a 10-7 victory over Detroit Country Day at Ford Field.
Even with only one season under his belt he is now seventh in career rushing yardage. He needs 967 yards to become Catholic Central’s all-time rushing leader.
Fugate started out the season a bit slow because he was hampered with an injury and during the five games of the playoffs he amassed 604 yards. He is a junior and is listed as 6’1” 205 in the program. His best game was against Hudsonville Unity Christian, when he gained 274 yards on 23 carries and tallied three touchdowns, including an 87-yarder on the first play from scrimmage.
His mother, Diane Martin Fugate, originally was from Wayland.
