Devils get defensive

Ask most coaches and they’ll tell you there’s no such thing as a moral victory.

Just ask Culpeper County High School

football coach Mike Williams how he feels about the subject.

“Moral victories don’t pay my bills,” he said. “But Courtland’s coaches did come up to us after the game and tell us we were the toughest, most physical, hardest hitting team they had faced all year.”

Even though it’s tough to find a silver lining in Friday’s 37-point loss to Courtland, the Blue Devils’ defenders should be holding their heads a little higher today because they shut down the Cougars’ explosive offense in the first half and contained their bruising running game.

“Our defense played really well,” Williams said. “But we knew coming in their quarterback was good, and he picked us apart late.”

Since losing their first two games of the season, the Cougars’ offense has gotten used to putting up gaudy numbers. Coming into Friday’s game, they had outscored their last five opponents 193-0, and averaged 384 yards of offense per game over that span.

But the Blue Devils’ defenders refused to budge.

The Cougars (6-2 overall, 5-0 Battlefield) opened the second quarter with a 9-0 lead, but the offense had yet to convert on a first down much less a touchdown.

All of Courtland’s first-quarter points were gifts from the Blue Devils’ special teams. Kyle Norton returned a punt 65-yards for the Cougars’ first score, and Culpeper’s Duane Wilkins got caught in the end zone for a safety while trying to make up for a muffed punt.

But the Blue Devils’ defense punched Courtland off the field in just three plays on three of the Cougars’ five first-half possessions, and junior running back/linebacker Larry Williams played a huge role in keeping the opposing offense at bay.

Twice in the first half, and once in the second, Williams flew to the ball from his middle linebacker position and planted runners in the backfield on third down to force a punt.

“Anybody that can get you stops like that, plus everything else he does, is pretty darn valuable,” Williams said. “Larry and Cortez (Rollins), along with the defensive line, really carried us Friday night.”

Culpeper (3-5, 3-2) didn’t allow a first down until the 8:30 mark of the second quarter, and only allowed Courtland to move the chains seven times during the game.

The Blue Devils also limited Courtland’s rushing attack to 112 yards. The Cougars — led by Kirk Wilson, Billy Bowen and Lewis Jordan — had averaged 276 yards on the ground per game over their last five contests, including 394 against Spotsylvania and 297 against Eastern View.

“In the first half, they tried to run all over us but realized they couldn’t,” Williams said. “They figured out we’re the more physical team, so they did the smart thing which was give the ball to their best athlete and ask him to score.”

Unfortunately Culpeper wasn’t able to contain Courtland quarterback Ryan McBroom during the second half, but Williams said his guys won’t be dwelling on that.

“This week is done,” he said. “It’s over and we’re already starting on Monday’s practice.”

It’s a good thing the Blue Devils will quickly get back to work Monday because they’ll be facing another explosive offense this weekend.

Up next for Culpeper is cross-town rival Eastern View and its high-flying spread offense. It’ll be the second meeting between former teammates, and the way the Battlefield District is playing out it looks like it’s going to turn into a battle for fourth place.

“That’s probably going to end up being our tie-breaker,” Williams said. “So it’s going to be a huge game for us.”

CHS 50, CCHS 13
CHS 9 12 15 14 — 50
CCHS 0 7 6 0 — 13
Scoring by quarter
First quarter
Court — Norton 65-yard punt return (9:27). Musante kick.
Court — Safety
Second quarter
Court — Wilson 6-yard run (7:29) 2-point no good.
CCHS — Hunt 18-yard pass from Downs (3:01) Canon kick.
Court — Wilson 1-yard run (:09) Kick no good.
Third quarter
Court — Yarris 54-yard pass from McBroom (8:17) McBroom pass to Bowen.
CCHS — Rollins 10-yard run (4:45) 2-point no good.
Court — Moore 33-yard pass from McBroom (3:00) Musante kick.
Fourth quarter
Court — Wilson 3-yard run (10:59) Musante kick.
Court — Yarris 29-yard pass from McBroom (6:09) Musante kick.
Individual Statistics
Rush — Court, Wilson 12-33, 3 TDs; Bowen 6-25, Bailey 7-18, Dubose 3-8, Hawkins 3-8, McBroom 4-5, Wendt 1-3, Carter 1-2. CCHS, Rollins 11-51, TD; Williams 13-30, Downs 3-2, Wilkins 2-2, Majors 1-(-1).
Receiving — Court, Yarris 2-83, 2 TDs; Moore 2-62, TD; Wilson 1-13, Norton 1-0. CCHS, Huntt 1-18, TD; Majors 1-44, Downs 2-3, Wilkins 1-6, Rollins 1-1.
Passing — Court, McBroom 6-10-158-0, 3TDs. CCHS, Rollins 4-10-53-2, Downs 2-7-19-1.