The Locker Room
November 18, 2000
Taking
the Kick out of ‘Peper’ Jeff King sparked a 10 point swing in the second quarter to help Pulaski County defeat Culpeper County and win the VHSL Division 5 Northwest Region championship 28-20, and break defending the state champion’s 25 game winning streak.
Full Story and Interviews by Jeff Wolfe First, King blocked a Culpeper field goal attempt, preventing the Blue Devils from pulling three points closer. “We work on that every Thursday in practice. Chris Denny opens the hole and I go in for the block,” King said. Then he had a key third down conversion on the seven point scoring drive that followed. On third and 8 at the Culpeper 31, Wheeling threw his only pass of the game to King for the first down. “It was 122 pass. We work on that every day. I caught it and just did what I could,” said King. Calfee scored a 23-yard touchdown on the next play for a 21-3 Cougar lead. Culpeper dominated field position in their last three games with excellent defense and kicking game. They would kickoff into the endzone for a touchback. Then their stifling defense would hold the opponent to three plays and a punt. The Blue Devils would start at about the 50-yard line, drive to score in about nine plays, chewing up clock time with the running game, and then repeat. The half time scores were 21-0 and the opponents were deflated. Against Albemarle, Culpeper even went so far as to elect to kick off at the start of the second half as well. Pulaski County head coach Joel Hicks chose to avoid this pattern by kicking off to Culpeper to start the game and to start the second half. This decision took the Blue Devils coaching staff out of their highly successful kicking game plan. They quickly forgot how successful the touchback-three-and-out strategy had been when they foolishly made an onside kick attempt while trailing by only 11 points with 10:42 remaining in the game. Culpeper’s passing offense had just scored on a 4-play drive, and could have carried their momentum back into a familiar field position pattern. The onside kick was met by Cougar Chris Hardin’s fielding skills. He moved forward to catch the onside kick attempt. He is a first baseman in the baseball season. “The kick was pretty slow, it was a great bounce and I took it before it crossed the line.” The Blue Devils had a long field to drive all night, starting at their own 37,3,17, and 15 yard lines after Cougar punts. Brandon Hamblin’s punts were key in this field position battle. Culpeper had a threatening pass rush, but the blocking gave him enough time to do his work. “I had to get it off, so I put a foot to it,” Hamblin commented. Culpeper went three and out on their first possession. After a great punt, PC would start from their own 25. This team knew how important it was to get their first first-down of the game against this defense. Greg Cobbs carried for 11 yards on third and 7 with the criss cross play. This play has been in hibernation because it has been getting so few yards against the Cougar opponents who know how to defend it. It was a sharp and effective tool against Culpeper and fans should expect to see it again in the post-season. Josh Calfee put the Cougars ahead for good with a 9-yard carry for a touchdown. John Hedge’s PAT was good for the 7-0 lead with 4:49 remaining in the first quarter. The Cougars kicked off for a touchback, taking the Blue Devil strategy from film, and making it their own. Freddie Strother carried on the dive for 13 yards to the 33 for Culpeper’s first first-down of the game. Three plays later on third and 7, Adam Roop intercepted a Stefan Orange pass and returned it to the Blue Devil’s 32. Culpeper seemed to contain Frank Cobbs, but that left them a step behind to catch Josh Calfee. He carried off tackle successfully all game and that’s how he earned most his yards. In many key short yardage situations Calfee took the quick pitch out and hit the corner following key perimeter blocks. After the first interception Calfee took the quick pitch for 2, but was just short of the first down. On fourth and short, Calfee had plenty of room to run on the handoff, and gained 8 yards. Greg Cobbs scored on the next play, taking the criss-cross 15 yards to paydirt. The Hedge PAT topped of the 14-point lead. “Their defense was tough. I give them credit, just like Coach Hicks said, for not quitting. We came out early, 14-0, they aren’t used to that,” said Alan Wheeling. He played through his injury again this week. “Jessica Hoagland did an excellent job of taping me and getting me ready for the game.” “He has a groin injury,” Cougar trainer Hoagland said. “We put Icy Hot on it, before the game. He doesn’t have as much movement in his hip. He’s been working with (trainer) Debbie Dworshack to keep it relaxed during the week,” she added. Josh Bowling’s interception with 1:34 remaining ended Culpeper’s hopes to tie the game. “I had to lay out for it, it was a good distance away,” Bowling said. That gave PC the ball at their own one. With third and 4 at the PC 8 and 1:23 remaining, the Cougars needed the first down to keep the ball and avoid punting standing in their own endzone. Calfee easily gained 5 yards on the play for the first down. “I knew if I got the first down, it would be over. The offensive line told me they would give me three and a half yards, and I had to get the rest,” said Calfee. “It was about the hardest hitting team we’ve played against.” Expect to see the full team healthy again Saturday when the Cougars will face Heritage of Newport News at Kenneth J. Dobson Stadium in Dublin. Game
Pictures by Steven Marcus
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