Colonial Forge handles Culpeper

By Ron Counts Staff Writer
Published: September 19, 2008

Culpeper coach Greg Martz was extremely animated as he charged onto the field to talk to his struggling offense after calling a time out late in the first half of Friday’s 38-0 loss to Colonial Forge.

“There were way too many times tonight that we didn’t get at pad level and just let guys spill through the line,” Martz said. “I told them that they’ve just got to make a block.”

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On the ensuing play, CCHS quarterback Steven Dodson was planted by a multitude of pass rushers as he threw an interception to Colonial Forge defensive back Virgil Murphy on the Blue Devils’ 20-yard line.

The turnover culminated in the Eagles’ fifth touchdown in the first half of a game that ended in a blowout when Colonial Forge fullback Laith Shannon plunged his way into the endzone from four yards out.

“They turned our turnovers into points,” Martz said. “There’s just no excuse for not winning the turnover and ball-security battle.”

The Blue Devils (0-3) struggled offensively all night, giving up three turnovers and only churning out 75 yards of total offense.

“A lot of things when wrong all across the board tonight,” CCHS senior offensive lineman John Hawkins said. “It’s always a game of inches. If you’re an inch one way a play will work, but if you’re an inch off it won’t.”

In only his eighth career start, sophomore quarterback Blake Froanapfel was a big reason the Eagles (1-2) racked up 322 yards in the first half.

He showed why many are already talking about him as a Division I prospect by completing passes to eight different receivers in the half and finishing the game 8-9 for 172 yards and two touchdowns.

“We expected him to be good coming in,” Martz said of the 6-4, 188-pound quarterback. “He has a lot of talent and is going to be really good in the future.”

Froanapfel’s most impressive play came in the second quarter. Culpeper’s Dustin Whisenhunt had him in his sights as Froanapfel dropped back to pass, but he simply sidestepped the diving Blue Devil and calmly completed a 52-yard bomb to Matt Bartosch.

The pass set Eagles’ running back Tevin McCleave up for an easy three-yard touchdown dive on the next play.

That wasn’t the first time Froanapfel’s arm strength hurt the Blue Devils. McCleave scored early in the second quarter with a beautiful over the shoulder catch thanks to a perfectly placed 35-yard lob from his quarterback.

Froanapfel’s first touchdown strike came with 5:38 left in the first quarter. After a textbook play-action fake he hooked up with senior David Champion for a two-yard touchdown. Champion found his way into the endzone again via a one-yard dive mid way through the second quarter.

“Losing is tough period,” Martz said. “It’s one thing when you get beat, but it’s a whole different feeling when you lose because of losing you do to yourself.”

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

Colonial Forge 38, Culpeper 0

Colonial Forge 7 28 3 0 — 38
Culpeper       0 0   0 0 — 0

First quarter
Colonial Forge — Champion 3-yard pass from Froanapfel. (5:38) Travers kick
Second quarter
Colonial Forge — McCeave 35-yard pass from Froanapfel. (11:52) Travers kick
Colonial Forge — Champion 1-yard run. (7:23) Travers kick
Colonial Forge — McCleave 3-yard run. (6:21) Travers kick
Colonial Forge — Shannon 4-yard run. (:20.4) Travers kick
Third quarter
Colonial Forge — Travers 27-yard field goal. (7:40)
Individual statistics
Rushing — Colonial Forge, Champion 5-72, Scott 5-28, Reed 4-18, McCleave 3-15, Froanapfel 2-17, Murphy 3-14, Medina 2-8, Nicholson 3-3, Shannon 2-2. Culpeper, Williams 4-1, Strother 5-2, Rollins 2-7, Whisenhunt 1-3, Dodson 5-(-3), Bennett 2-1, Jenkins 2-5.
Receiving — Colonial Forge, Champion 1-3, Scott 1-15, Murphy 1-15, McCleave 1-35, Bartosch 1-44, Reed 1-36, Hilton 1-6, Shannon 1-16. Culpeper, Wilkins 2-51, Strother 1-4, French 1-2, Whisenhunt 1-1.
Passing — Froanapfel 8-9-172-0, Murphy 0-1-0-0. Culpeper, Dodson 4-8-18-2, Jenkins 1-7-40-0.