CCHS drops final game to Raiders

By Jeff Say COMMUNITY EDITOR
Published: November 8, 2008

MANASSAS — Damien Thigpen rushed for 247 yards and Stonewall Jackson handed Culpeper County High School its 10th loss of the season Friday night, 40-6.

The Blue Devils finished the season 0-10, possibly the first time in school history the football team was winless.

But while the Blue Devils lost, they played one of their most complete games. Except for when it came to stopping Thigpen. Not only did the Raider running back amass 247 yards and four touchdowns on the ground, but he also added an 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

“It was tough because we were sitting there saying ‘don’t kick it to Thigpen,’” CCHS head coach Greg Martz said. “We couldn’t keep the ball away from him, it was like it gravitated toward him.”

The Blue Devils, normally solid on special teams, had two plays go the other way on Friday. The first was a 40-yard punt return for a touchdown returned by upback Derek Lett after Philip Reynolds punt attempt went only five yards.

The second came after Culpeper cut the lead to 12-6. Stonewall’s Brandon Simmons was picked off by Matt Bennett, who returned the ball to Stonewall Jackson’s 11-yard line.

One play later Larry Williams scored from 11 yards out to cut the lead to six points.

But Culpeper’s momentum was stunted as the ensuing kickoff found its way to Thigpen, who returned it 85 yards for the score.

After that, it was the Damien Thigpen show as he scored on touchdown runs of 39, 61, 28 and 7 yards.

But despite being shredded by Thigpen, a Tennessee Volunteer recruit, the Blue Devil defense put in one of their grittier performances.

“It was probably one of the better games we’ve played all-around,” Martz said. “I was very pleased with how they stuck through. This was probably the hardest working and classiest group of kids I’ve ever been a part of. They fought constantly.”

Offensively quarterback Steven Dodson completed 6-of-16 passes and seemed to have a rhythm in the second half, but Culpeper wasn’t able to capitalize on a chances to claw their way back into the ball game.

Running back Larry Williams carried the ball eight times for 45 yards and a score, but the Blue Devils still lost their 10th game in a row.

“Losing is tough period,” Martz said. “Going 0-10 is definitely tough. But look at it this way, who else has faced that? Does the scoreboard indicate what type of kids you’re putting out?”

Jeff Say can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 115 or at .