Fuller goes the distance to lead Boys’ Latin over Edison

Terron Fuller lives near Broad and Godfrey in East Oak Lane, and must take a bus, the subway and the El while going back and forth every day to Boys' Latin Charter at 55th and Cedar in West Philadelphia.

Phew, it was tiring just to write that sentence, so imagine how Fuller feels every day.

Surely, early in his 4-year stint at BL, he muttered to himself, "Do I really want to keep doing this?"

"Actually, I did. Sometimes," Fuller said. "But I always told myself, 'Just do it. It's going to help me later in my work life.' My mom was a little concerned with the travel. She always told me to just make sure to watch my surroundings.

"I love the curriculum at Boys' Latin. And how they teach you to be a man. Without the distraction of girls, you can concentrate on doing the work you need for college. I'm proud to be a member of the first graduating class."

As for football . . .

OK, so the Warriors are still feeling their way in Year No. 1 as a Public League member. Bad thing: They're 3-7 overall. Good thing: They've won three of their last four.

Thursday, in a nonleague affair played in rain and mud, the visiting Warriors edged Thomas Edison, 20-12, in overtime. The 5-6, 150-pound Fuller, who plays everywhere from halfback to fullback to safety to return man, provided the highlight by running back a first quarter kickoff for a 78-yard touchdown.

Edison had just gone ahead on Dom Boseman's 4-yard run.

"I was surprised to go all the way, considering the field conditions," Fuller said. "I came up and the ball took one bounce right into my hands. One guy grabbed my jersey early, but it was like he wasn't really trying to tackle me. Just slow me down.

"Then I used a spin move and it was just field in front of me. I kept going and going and going."

Right through the slop?

"Nah, along our sideline," he said. "The coaches emphasized that right away. 'Run to the grass! Get to where the grass is!' "

Fuller also carried 11 times for 56 yards. Alas, he lost an 18-yard TD to a holding call.

"I didn't know that until after I scored," he said. "I turned and heard them talking about a flag. I was kind of upset."

Ben Coulibaly, a soph, posted 93 yards and two TDs on 15 carries for BL. His second score started the OT session and then he added the conversion run. The game ended on Edison's second play, when James Long recovered a botched pitchout. Carlos Collado (14-45) scored the Owls' other TD.

Fuller, who has applied to Penn State and Kutztown, hopes to become a pediatrician.

"I like helping kids," he said, simply.