Culpeper looks for win at Loudoun Valley
Published: October 19, 2007
It would have been a no-brainer to have asked Culpeper head Coach Greg Martz if he felt frustrated after back-to-back close losses to C.D. Hylton two weeks ago and last week to Osbourn Park.
"It's been very frustrating these past two weeks," Martz said. "(Using the word) very is putting it lightly."
But feelings of frustration don't end the inquiry. In fact, Martz looks at the two losses as evidence that the team is competing.
"We're competing for once," he said. "You have to be able to compete before you can win games and we're getting better at being in games."
Unlike most weeks, Martz and his team have had an extra day to prepare for their next opponent.
The Blue Devils (1-5 overall and 0-3 in the Cedar Run District) travel to Loudoun Valley High School in Purcellville today to take on the Vikings in a rare Saturday-scheduled regular season game.
Martz sees both the pros and cons to playing on Saturday.
"It's not really my choice of days," he said. "Saturdays are usually our preparation days (for our next opponent). I love Friday night lights, the 7:30 kickoffs and the temperature going down. Saturdays are used during the playoffs. I identify Saturdays as college football days."
But playing on Saturday has its pros as well.
"We don't have to leave during a school day," said Martz. "With playing on Saturday, we don't have the other distractions that can come at school. The game is all that we have to think about."
Some of his players are all right with the diversion in the schedule.
"I'm looking forward to it," said Blue Devils quarterback Kyle Majors. "Playing on Saturday will feel like we're playing a college game."
The game is being played today because the Loudoun County schools play their homecoming games on Saturday.
Culpeper tight end Heath Brown, who caught his third pass of the season last week against Osbourn Park, has something in mind.
"We're hoping to crash their (homecoming) party," he said.
Brown, who has caught all three passes thrown to him this season, is happy to do whatever helps the team.
"He has the best percentage of catching the ball on our team," said Majors who found him for a big, 21-yard pass reception last week.
"That's our 23-wide dump play," said Martz. "It's designed as primarily a tight end play."
Majors also threw to Joey Powell (4 catches, 44 yards), Stevie Strother (1-11, 1 TD), Maurice Strother (1-13) and Steven Reynolds (1-22).
The catch by Reynolds was a tough one.
A Yellow Jacket defender deflected the ball but Reynolds stayed with it and made the catch.
His reception came on 3rd and eight and resulted in a Blue Devil first down.
"That was a tough catch," said Brown. "He really worked for that one."
Against Loudoun Valley, Culpeper's defense will once again have to contend with a spread offense.
"It's similar to what we've seen from Osbourn, Fauquier and Orange," said Martz. "This is the year of the spread in high school football."
Defensively, Martz said that Travis Thomas will see action at linebacker. Matt Berghuis is healthier this week and should be able to contribute up front, plus the team will insert Derek Dwyer in as part of the rotation up front.
They'll go with the 3-5 to combat the spread offense.
"We'll see a heavy dose of the spread," said Martz. "We have to flow to the ball."
As of Wednesday, the team's health report looked good with no player listed as out.
"If we play the way we played Hylton, we'll be fine," said Martz.
A look at today's matchup
The Blue Devils are looking to snap a three-game losing streak. Though Fauquier defeated Culpeper handily, 42-12, three weeks ago, Culpeper lost close games in successive weeks to C.D.Hylton (15-12) and to Osbourn Park (28-22).
The team continues to improve but any hope of playing in the post-season was likely erased last week.
Likely, but not definitely.
"The kids have asked me about it," Martz said. "It was probably a mistake to talk about it. A lot of our kids haven't played in the post season and when you talk about it that adds more pressure for them."
Realistically, the odds are certainly against them.
"I don't know if it's currently unattainable," Martz said, "but I think it'll be awfully tough. Anything's possible unless you finish 2-8 or 1-9."
Offensively, the team got good production from some of its chief weapons in the loss to Osbourn Park.
Majors and Stevie Strother both had big games. Majors threw for 111 yards and ran for 78 and one touchdown. Strother rushed 17 times for 137 yards, including a 48-yard gallop for a score. He also caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Majors who completed 8-of-17 passes.
Loudoun Valley, which joined the Cedar Run District this year, has registered wins this season over Woodbridge (24-7) and Stonewall Jackson (23-6). Their losses are to Forest Park (40-28), Stone Bridge (49-7), Osbourn Park (10-0), and Fauquier (23-6).
Last week, they defeated Stonewall Jackson, which played without running backs Ryan Williams and Damien Thigpen.
When the Vikings go on offense, the Blue Devil defenders must be prepared for the spread attack.
"I was a split-back, veer guy," said Loudoun Valley coach Bruce Sheppard. "The spread is new to our program. We are a very young team and we have few returning starters from last year."
Starting quarterback Nick Sheehan is out of the lineup. Cooper Barth spelled him last week with three touchdown passes. Barth is a 6'1" 212-pound senior. In the spread attack, he has rotational wide receivers Eric Rothschild, Wes Van Duser, J.T. Hornyak, Adam Odegaard, Chris Music, and Cody Mangano as possible targets.
Should the Vikings opt to run the ball, Onzy Elam, Jack Devine and Ricky Simmons are the likely ball carriers.
When the Vikings are on defense, they use a base 4-4 alignment but will also switch to a 3-5 or go with the nickel package.
"We have to adjust to their blitz packages," Martz said. "Their linebackers are very talented."
Sheppard named his entire linebacking corps as the leaders on defense.
They include outside backers Simmons, Music and Devine, and insiders Kyle Rosel and Erik Austin.
The team's return specialists are Van Duser and Hornyak.
Music, in the absence of Sheehan who doubled as the team's punter, handles the punting duties and Garrett Krumpe is the team's placekicker.
As for the possible advantages, Martz believes that the Blue Devils match-up very well speed-wise.
The two teams have comparable size.
"Their offensive line is big," said Martz, "and they're good at playing in the inside zones. Devine runs the ball hard and he's a hard-nosed kid with good vision."
"Our secondary should match-up well with their passing game," he said. "It's a matter of our defense stopping their running game."
The defense failed to shut down Osbourn Park's running game. Shawn Khanameunwai, who replaced an injured Alonso Muse, ran roughshod over the Blue Devil defenders when he compiled 219 yards on 35 carries, or 6.9 yards per carry, including a 15-yard run for touchdown.
A Blue Devil win today not only snaps the three-game losing skid, but also gives the team its first district win of the season.
Win or lose, the team won't have time to dwell on the outcome. Culpeper plays its homecoming game next Friday against Liberty.
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