CCHS shows promise in scrimmage

By Kevin Olmstead

Published: August 15, 2008

It didn’t count for anything, but Culpeper County High School showed off its 2008 football team in a scrimmage against Charlottesville Friday night at Broman Field, and the young Blue Devils squad looked solid in the debut.

Junior Cortez Rollins rushed for 55 yards and a touchdown to lead a platoon attack in the CCHS backfield and senior quarterbacks Nolan Jenkins and Steve Dodson each got work with the first-team offense. Culpeper coach Greg Martz is still undecided on a starter.

“We got some things we have to work on, and that’s normal for a scrimmage,” Martz said. “You’re trying to identify what you’re doing well, what you’re doing wrong and what you need to fix and I think we did that tonight.”

The scrimmage started with each team alternating offensive possessions of 10 plays each. During that part of the evening, Rollins scored the Blue Devils’ only touchdown, breaking loose for a 10-yard score. In the second hour of the scrimmage the squads played under typical rules and each team had four downs to move the chains.

The Culpeper defense, led by senior Matt Bennett at linebacker, forced Charlottesville into a 3-and-out on its first possession of the second half and then recovered a fumble to stop the Knights second drive.

Offensively the Devils drove 50 yards in their first drive of the second half and Adam Mitchell capped the possession with a 37-yard field goal. Charlottesville was able to force the Devils into a 3-and-out on their second possession before the coaches called it an evening.

Jenkins finished the game 4 for 14 passing for 37 yards and two interceptions. Dodson completed one pass on four attempts for 22 yards. Dwayne Wilkens led the Culpeper receivers with two catches for 24 yards and running back Larry Williams added 28 yards on eight carries.

“We did some good things offensively and some good things defensively,” Martz said. “I feel better about where we are than at this time a year ago. We don’t have a lot of numbers, but our young men are taking advantage of opportunities and using them.”

Shane Mettlen can be reached at 825-0771, ext. 127 or

Also in action
EVHS played a jamboree style scrimmage at King George. Results will be published in Sunday’s paper