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HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

November 14, 2009 12:37 am

BY ADAM HIMMELSBACH

On Thursday, as the remnants of Tropical Storm Ida turned the area's front lawns and football fields to pudding, the Chancellor players figured they would practice in their gym.

But there is a reason Chargers coach Bob Oliver refers to his players as "mudders." He wants them ready for any playing conditions under any circumstances.

So out the Chargers went, in shorts and shoulder pads. They were cold and wet and muddy, and they were preparing for whatever weather would await them against Culpeper.

And last night, after the rain had been reduced to a mist and the air had warmed, the Chargers did what they do best.

They kept the ball on the ground, made few mistakes, and bulldozed the Blue Devils, 50-13.

With the win, Chancellor clinched its second consecutive Battlefield District championship.

"When we came out here tonight, I told the guys that yesterday it was as cold and wet as anything," Oliver said, "so tonight should feel like Miami Beach."

It wasn't quite that tropical, but there were parts of the field that resembled wading pools.

With water splashing to the surface on each step, junior quarterback Micah Cunningham ran for 201 yards and four touchdowns.

Senior running back Aquiyl Randall added 121 yards and a touchdown on nine carries, and fullback Jeff Sawyer scored twice.

"We came out in warm-ups and saw how wet the grass was, and it was crazy," Randall said. "But we never let weather affect the way we play."

Most of yesterday's other games were canceled because of unplayable conditions, but Oliver knew the Blue Devils planned to get this game in on their home field.

And for a moment at the start, Culpeper's reason seemed clear. Devontay Tate fielded the opening kickoff and looked like he was stomping on water balloons as he ran down the right side for a 78-yard touchdown.

"That humbled us," Cunningham said. "Everybody was shocked, and we knew we had to come out and play."

Chancellor responded with an eight-play, 60-yard drive that ended with the first of Cunningham's four scores.

But Culpeper was unfazed. With 1 minute, 16 seconds left in the opening quarter, Donald Downs fired a pass that was tipped near the line of scrimmage.

It ricocheted directly to Duane Wilkins, who darted downfield for a 19-yard touchdown, making it 13-7.

After that, however, the Blue Devils' scoring chances were fleeting.

Culpeper managed just 107 yards of total offense and six first downs.

Meanwhile, Cunningham spearheaded Chancellor's ground game that was slippery when wet. The Chargers totaled 360 rushing yards on 50 carries.

"I knew we could pick ourselves up," Oliver said. "I'm just glad we could execute the whole game."

Next week, Chancellor will begin play in the Region I tournament. And unless they're told otherwise, the Chargers will take the field, rain or shine.

Chancellor	7	16	13	14	--	50
Culpeper	13	0	0	0	--	13

First Quarter

Cu--D. Tate 78-yard kick return (kick failed).

Ch--M. Cunningham 1-yard run (F. Kokoneshi kick).

Cu--D. Wilkins 19-yard pass from D. Downs (J. Cannon kick).

Second Quarter

Ch--M. Cunningham 48-yard run (F. Kokoneshi kick).

Ch-- safety.

Ch--J. Sawyer 1-yard run (F. Kokoneshi kick).

Third Quarter

Ch--M. Cunningham 5-yard run (kick failed).

Ch--J. Sawyer 1-yard run (F. Kokoneshi kick).

Fourth Quarter

Ch--A. Randall 45-yard run (F. Kokoneshi kick).

Ch--M. Cunningham 3-yard run (F. Kokoneshi kick).

TEAMSTATISTICS

INDIVIDUALSTATISTICS

Passing: Chancellor--Micah Cunningham 1-4-0 6. Culpeper--Donald Downs 1-9-0 19, TD.

Receiving: Chancellor--Darian Talley 1-6. Culpeper--Duane Wilkins 1-19, TD; Dustin Whisenhunt 1-1.

Adam Himmelsbach: 540/374-5442
Email: ahimmelsbach@freelancestar.com