OUR VIEW: The biggest sporting event in a decade

Staff Report
Published: August 28, 2008

» SUMMARY: Everyone who attended last week’s “Battle of Culpeper” football game had to come away impressed with Eastern View’s effort — on and off the field.

Last Friday’s inaugural football game between Culpeper and Eastern View was unlike anything this community has seen in nearly a decade. It just might have been the biggest sporting event in Culpeper since the Blue Devils marched to the state championship in 1999.

From the get-go, you could tell there was something special in the air. WJMA greeted fans with a live broadcast before kickoff, cars filled the massive parking lot at the adjacent community complex, and fans on both sides walked through the gate with bright school colors and “Game On!” T-shirts.

Once inside, a renewed sense of pride permeated the sparkling Cyclone Stadium, as an estimated 5,000 fans packed the bleachers and stood two- and three-deep around the track. An electric atmosphere put a smile on everyone’s face, and you got the feeling that people truly recognized they were part of an historic occasion.

Apart from the bathrooms malfunctioning and the public address system losing power, everything went off without a hitch — thanks to the tireless behind-the-scenes efforts of dozens of EVHS staff and volunteers. The fireworks were an especially nice touch.

And while Eastern View dominated the scrimmage from the outset, taking the Cannonball Classic trophy with a 41-7 victory, the score didn’t matter as much as everything the event represented.

Indeed, it was a great day for school spirit and “Culpeper” athletics, in the overall sense of the word. Having two high schools in the county surely presents a new dynamic with a unique set of challenges. But on Friday, we saw a budding backyard rivalry that stands to benefit the community in so many ways.

Here’s to many more years of friendly competition between the two schools.