A tale of two halves

Ron Counts, Staff Writer
Published: October 19, 2008

If there’s one thing the Blue Devils learned from Friday’s 27-7 loss the Loudon Valley, it’s how fickle momentum can be.

The Blue Devils didn’t suffer from a second-quarter meltdown for one of the few times this season and, going into halftime, they seemed to have the Vikings number.

“That was probably the best half we’ve played all season,” CCHS coach Greg Martz said after the game. “We tackled, made plays, moved the ball and played well on special teams.”

Culpeper fans have gotten used to seeing their team down multiple touchdowns at halftime, but the Blue Devils went to the locker room Friday night with the game tied and all the momentum.

There are many reasons for Culpeper’s early success. The offense moved the ball to the tune of 74 yards — the best first-half offensive output of the season, and the defense forced three turnovers.

But the biggest reason for the Blue Devils’ short-lived success came in the form of a 5-foot-10-inch 165-pound senior named Nolan Jenkins.

“We played the first half the way we should have been playing all season,” he said. “I don’t know why we’ve waited so long to do what we’re supposed to do.”

Jenkins batted a pass in the air before settling under it and securing an interception late in the second quarter. He took the stolen pass and sprinted toward the Vikings’ end of the field, making it 68 yards before getting tackled on Loudon Valley’s 12-yard line.

Two plays later, Culpeper’s Steven Dodson found the endzone with a quarterback sneak that tied the game 7-7 with less than a minute left in the half.

Jenkins wasn’t done yet, though. The Vikings were in position to retake the lead with a 37-yard field goal in the waning seconds of the second quarter, but Jenkins dove through the offensive line and swatted the kick to the ground. He also blocked an extra point in the fourth quarter.

“This was a big game for us because we really wanted to get a win,” Jenkins said. “But I think we kind of looked past them (Loudon Valley) in the second half.”

After what Martz described as the best 24 minutes of football his team has played, it was business as usual for the Blue Devils in the second half.

The Vikings offense pounded Culpeper’s defensive front seven with a steady diet of running back Chris Music, who carried the ball 18 times in the final two quarters.

Music racked up 114 yards during the second half, 43 of which came on the Vikings’ opening drive of the third quarter that took 7:32 off the clock.

“Our defense was on the field for 10:30 in the third quarter,” Martz said. “When that happens in just wears you down, and when fatigue set in they just ran over us.”

The game gave the Vikings their first win of the season, while the Blue Devils are still searching for theirs.

Especially with tough games against Liberty, Battlefield and Stonewall Jackson remaining, the youth-laden Blue Devils have to learn how to keep momentum when they have it if they’re going to avoid an 0-10 season.

Ron Counts can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 166 or