From The Bleachers 2000:
Week Thirteen
by Ardent Cougar

Friday, November 17, 7:30pm - Culpeper County Blue Devils (Northwestern Region Final, Away):

Series:  Culpeper County leads 1-0.
Last Meeting: 1997 at Culpeper County (Northwestern Region Semifinal).  This was the last time the Cougars were in the playoffs before 2000.  The game was held on a cloudy Saturday afternoon.  PC held a 17-6 lead in the 3rd quarter following a Craig Hodge punt return of around 50 yards for a score.  The Blue Devils converted a key 3rd-and-10 on the next series with a diving catch over the middle.  Suddenly, they were unstoppable.  Culpeper led 27-17 late, and a fumble inside the Blue Devils 5 with about 30 seconds left eliminated the Cougars' last hope.  Culpeper lost in the Region Final the next week against William Fleming, who lost to Hampton in the Championship Game.

The Blue Devils, once again Champions of the Commonwealth District, have not lost a game since the 20-10 defeat at the hands of State Runner-Up Amherst in the 1998 Northwestern Region Final.  Their 25 game winning streak includes last year's Division 5 Championship.  They toppled the mighty Crabbers 20-17 (OT) in the state semifinals, becoming the only team besides Kecoughtan (1995) and Heritage-Newport News (1998, 2000) to defeat Hampton in the last 6 years.  The Crabbers' run of 4 straight titles was thus ended.  Culpeper has given up less than a touchdown per game this year, having not allowed more than 14 points in any game.  The Blue Devils have shutout 6 teams this season, including Albemarle 35-0 last week.

Contrary to what was originally thought, Frank Cobbs might be able to play this week, although probably not on defense.  Word is that his shoulder might be well enough for him to play fullback, but his ankle is the main issue.

This is PC's first trip to the Northwestern Region Final since 1996 against Brooke Point. 

Division 5 Playoffs:

(The team ratings in parentheses are Gilliam's Ratings for Division 5)

Northwestern Region Final:

No. 2 Pulaski County (85.35, 10-1)
No. 1 Culpeper (84.26, 11-0)

Eastern Region Final:

No. 3 Hampton (86.72, 10-1)
No. 1 Heritage-NN (92.77, 11-0)

Central Region Final:

No. 2 Hopewell (64.35, 8-3)
No. 1 Dinwiddie (65.17, 10-1)

Northern Region Final:

No. 4 West Potomac (68.62, 8-3)
No. 2 Langley (71.28, 8-3)

State Semifinal Matchups:

Eastern Region Champion
Northwestern Region Champion

Northern Region Champion
Central Region Champion

Championship Game:

Eastern-Northwestern winner 
Northern-Central winner

Site: University of Richmond, Saturday, December 2, 4:00pm
(after the Division 6 Championship Game)

Week Twelve Review - Patrick Henry Patriots (Northwestern Region Semifinal, Home):

In their first home playoff game in 4 years, the Cougars began the 2000 postseason with a 30-13 win over the Patriots.  It was tied 7-7 at the break, but a 23-point 2nd half run (with a 20-point 4th quarter) put the contest out of reach.  Antoine Meadows filled in nicely for the injured Frank Cobbs, getting 146 yards on only 12 carries, including an 85-yard 2nd quarter TD which gave PC a 7-0 lead.  He also got the final Cougar score of the night with a 33-yard run.  Josh Calfee got 178 yards on 28 carries.  Jeremy Porter found paydirt on one of his darting and spinning efforts from 26 yards out, and Alan Wheeling ran the QB sneak for a TD.  Team wise, PC totaled 361 yards on the ground.  Wheeling chipped in 34 yards passing, all of them coming on one play where he hooked up with Josh Bowling, which came early in an important long scoring drive.  The offensive line gradually wore down PH's defense.  Wheeling was out for an offensive possession after being injured while defending a pass play, but was back in for the next one.  John Hedge was 3-4 on PATs, and kicked a 28-yard FG.

Jon Anderson was the defensive star of the night, blocking not one but two field goal attempts.  The Patriots could get only 92 rushing yards against a stingy defense.  QB Maurice Robinson had some success through the air, throwing for 167 yards and a pair of TDs, both to DuJuan Johnson.  The last score was cosmetic, as there was less than a minute to go, and the score was 30-7.  Adam Roop intercepted Robinson in PH territory, setting up a score.