The Flucos got touchdowns on a one yard quarterback sneak by sophomore quarterback Devin Patrick, late in the second quarter, and on an outstanding 31 yard catch and run by senior wide receiver Jesse Vandyke in the third quarter. Senior quarterback Austin Foster threw the completion to Vandyke on a roll out to his left. This play came on fourth down and eleven.
The Flucos played the first half with Patrick at quarterback, rather than Foster, who started the first two games. The game opened with the Flucos kicking off to the Blue Devils. Coach Jason Barnett called for an on-side kick and it worked. The Flucos recovered on the Culpeper 35. However, on the first play the Flucos lined up in a trick formation with the quarterback taking a long snap from the center, and all the other line men, backs and receivers split wide. Whatever play was intended did not come off, as the snap soared over Patrick’s head for a loss of 15. As a result, the Flucos went three and out and had to punt.
The first quarter featured some strong runs by Fluco junior running back Alec Turley, but neither team could put together a sustained drive. Unfortunately, late in the quarter, Patrick was chased out of the pocket and threw under pressure. The Blue Devils intercepted, taking over at their own 45 with 2:30 left in the quarter. A big run took the ball to the Fluco 19, and three plays later the Blue Devils scored on a quarterback sneak to go up 7-0 with 0:46 left in the quarter.
In the second quarter, one Culpeper drive was cut short when Fluco sophomore linebacker Chris Kidd smothered the Blue Devil receiver on a screen pass for a 10 yard loss. Late in the quarter the Flucos punted and the Fluco sidelines were certain the ball touched a Culpeper player before the Flucos fell on it. Unfortunately, the officials did not agree and awarded the ball to the Blue Devils. Two plays later the Blue Devils ran a flawless wide receiver screen play for their second touchdown, and a 14-0 lead.
Despite the deficit, the Flucos were undeterred. They started at their own 20 and marched 80 yards for a touchdown with 0:35 left in the half. There were several big plays in this drive. Turley broke off a 35 yard run. A screen pass gained 13 yards, and on a fourth down and three from the 20 yard line, sophomore running back Marcus Ditta ran for 19 to the one. The Flucos scored with only seconds left in the half when Patrick snuck in from the one, with senior lineman Josh Wheaton moving the whole pile into the end zone. Ditta added the extra point for the Flucos, and the half ended with Culpeper up 14-7.
The second half started with the Flucos receiving the kick-off. Senior defensive back Goddience Flanagan returned the kick to the Fluco 27. However, the Flucos went three and out, and had to punt. Culpeper also went three and out, but The Flucos fumbled the ensuing punt, and Culpeper recovered at the Fluco 12 yard line. Two runs of six yards resulted in what turned out to be the winning touchdown. The Blue Devils lead 21-7 with 7:29 left in the third quarter.
For the rest of the game the Flucos moved the ball more consistently than the Blue Devils did. They started their drive, after the Blue Devils third score, from the Fluco 41, due to an excellent kick return by Flannagan. On this drive, the Flucos converted twice on fourth down on their way to a touchdown. On a fourth and three Foster hit junior wide receiver Macen Dahl to move the ball to the Culpeper 30. After a ten yard penalty and a nine yard pass completion the Flucos faced a fourth and 11 from the 31. Foster rolled to his left and hit Vandyke who weaved through the Culpeper defenders all the way to the end zone. Ditta added the extra point and the Flucos were back in the game 21-14 with 4:45 left in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter the Flucos moved the ball well, but two drives ended with Culpeper interceptions at the goal line. The second interception gave Culpeper the ball at their own two with 1:12 left on the clock. After a length of the field run was called back on a penalty, the Blue Devils conceded a safety to make the score 21-16 with only two seconds left. The enclosing free kick was squibbed by Culpeper, and time ran out.
After the game, Coach Barnett lauded his teams’ defensive play and credited Assistant Coach Mitchell Pace for doing a great job in handling the defensive side of the ball.
The Flucos now start Jefferson District play. They host Albemarle on Sept. 27 at 7:30. They travel to Orange County High School on Oct. 4, and then host a powerful Monticello High team on Oct. 11.
