By Logan Riddick / Scrimmageplaycva.com contributor
Returning from their bye, Fluvanna County rolled out three separate offensive packages during Friday night’s showdown with Culpeper County.
The third, employed after halftime with senior Austin Foster taking snaps at quarterback, proved most effective, but a pair of fourth quarter interceptions thwarted the Flucos’ comeback, as the Blue Devils escaped Palmyra with a 21-16 win.
“We knew coming in that they had a lot of good players, but we didn’t quite know what we were going to see from them because in the last two games they’ve run two completely different offenses,” said Culpeper coach Ken Wakefield. “Our guys made some plays, and they were able to respond at the end.”
The game was scoreless through most of the opening quarter until Culpeper’s three-way standout Billy Hogan intercepted Fluco quarterback Gavin Patrick’s third down pass near midfield. Lining up in the offensive backfield, Hogan rumbled 41 yards on Culpeper’s next offensive play, and quarterback Jeremy Robson capped the series with a two-yard sneak.
In the first half, Patrick, a sophomore, generally helmed a Fluco offense that leaned on the ground game. Alec Turley carried 12 times for 60 yards, while fellow sophomore Marcus Ditta added 26 yards on four attempts. Fluvanna also tried out the wildcat several times, with freshman Mark Grooms taking the snaps. However, a much-disputed illegal formation penalty derailed one such mid-second quarter possession, and after a sack back inside the 15 on third and long, Culpeper started with another short field at the Fluco 40. On the second play, Robson hit flanker Tim Johnson on a screen in the left flat, and he took it 33 yards for the Blue Devils’ second touchdown.
Fluvanna’s offense finally responded with a 12-play, 80-yard drive that included two fourth down conversions on runs by Ditta. Patrick scored on a one-yard keeper with 35 seconds left in the half. Fluvanna nearly came up with the ensuing pooch kickoff, which they had already successfully employed to open the game. However, officials threw a flag as a Fluco knocked the ball toward the middle of the field in front of the home sideline, apparently thinking either he or the ball was out of bounds.
“What happened and what transpired are two different things,” said Fluvanna coach Jason Barnett. “[What they called] is a very good question. I would ask them, because I wouldn’t be able to give that call justice. We’ve tried to find ways to bring some fun back into [the game], some excitement. Why be out here if you’re just going to do everything everybody else does?”
Still up 14-7, Culpeper capitalized on a special teams miscue early in the third quarter, as a Fluco punt returner fielded a bouncing ball and fumbled when hit by Blue Devil tacklers. Culpeper recovered at the Fluvanna 14. Two plays later, Hogan ran in from nine yards out.
“Anytime I run it up the middle, I’m looking to keep the shoulder pads down low and just drive forward,” said Hogan, who posted a game-high 87 yards on 10 attempts.
After Goddience Flannagan returned the kickoff across the 40 for Fluvanna, Foster entered the game and led a nine-play drive, eight of which were passes. On two fourth downs, he hit Jesse Van Dyke for big gains, including the 31-yard touchdown.
The score remained 21-14 for most of the remaining time as both defenses forced punts and turnovers. Fluvanna was driving toward the redzone to start the fourth quarter, but Malik Roy intercepted Foster’s deep pass at the two yardline. The Flucos’ next series reached the Culpeper 24 before reversing course with 28 yards in penalties. With 2:45 left, Fluvanna took over after a punt at its own 10 and quickly moved 59 yards in six plays; however, Foster’s deep pass into double coverage intended for Macen Dahl was picked at the 10.
Fluvanna had timeouts remaining to force a fourth down with 6.8 seconds left. With Hogan back in punt formation, Culpeper opted to run clock and take a safety.
“We copied the [Ravens] in the Super Bowl a year ago,” Hogan said. “Just run around and try to waste as much time as you can.”
Hogan squibbed the ensuing free kick, which Fluvanna fielded and returned across the Blue Devils’ 40, running off the final 2.1 seconds.
“We made really big strides as a team tonight and I’m proud of the way that we played,” said Barnett. “I feel bad that after having a really good week, we have to walk out of here feeling this way.”
Fluvanna totaled 283 yards of offense, far outpacing Culpeper’s 144. Robson hit 3 of 8 passes for 56 yards, while Foster, in just the second half, completed 14-of-26 for 176. Patrick went 6-of-12 for 41 yards.
Fluvanna (0-3) hosts Albemarle (1-2) in a Jefferson District matchup next week, while Culpeper (2-2) takes on Courtland (2-2).
