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Hopewell Blue Devils | 2019 State Champions
2019 CLASS 3
STATE CHAMPIONS
Hopewell High School State Champions Commemorative Edition 2019 SEASON
PUBLISHER Craig Richards | INTERIM EDITOR Bill Atkinson SPORTS EDITOR Jeff Milby ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Sean Reid DESIGN/PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Travis Wolfrey CONTRIBUTING STAFF Brandon Carwile , Dana Johnson, Michelle Cliborne, Alice Coleman, Marc Calindas Hopewell head coach Ricky Irby (left) celebrates with TreVeyon Henderson (right) following the Blue Devils’ 35-7 win over Lord Botetourt in the 2019 VHSL Class 3 state championship on Saturday, December 14. [Brandon Carwile/progress-index.com]
Hopewell High School State Champions Commemorative Edition is a Special Publication of the Progress-Index. Published by © Gannett Co., Inc. 2019. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any material from this issue in whole or part is strictly prohibited. Address all reprint considerations to the publisher.
Hopewell Blue Devils | 2019 State Champions
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2019 HOPEWELL
BLUE DEVILS
Defensive end Reggie Ruffin (30) reaches out in an attempt to intercept the ball during Hopewell’s 35-7 victory over Lord Botetourt in the 2019 VHSL Class 3 state championship game on Saturday, December 14. [Brandon Carwile/progress-index.com] 4
Hopewell Blue Devils | 2019 State Champions
Hopewell band members celebrate from the stands at Williams Stadium at Liberty University during the 2019 VHSL Class 3 state championship game on Saturday, December 14. [Brandon Carwile/progress-index.com]
Hopewell Blue Devils | 2019 State Champions
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2019 STATE CHAMPS STATE CHAMPIONS
Henderson, defense lead way for Blue Devil championship Archived Story Originally Published in The Progress-Index | Sunday, December 15, 2019 By Jeff Milby, Progress-Index Staff LYNCHBURG, Va. - For the second time in three seasons, and the fifth time in history, the Hopewell football Blue Devils are state champions. Hopewell dominated from start to finish Saturday, defeating Lord Botetourt 35-7 at Liberty University’s Williams Stadium in Lynchburg, behind four touchdowns for Blue Devil junior sensation TreVeyon Henderson, the Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year, to claim the title and finish the season a perfect 15-0. “We went 1-and-0 15 times,” head coach Ricky Irby said, revisiting his season long mantra. “That’s a pretty special feeling. The win caps a historic run for a group of Hopewell seniors who were a part of the program’s 2017 championship. Senior linebacker Keyon Williams, who led Hopewell with eight total tackles, including a tackle for loss, said, “This (championship) was more special (than 2017) because it’s senior year and you’ve got to go out with a The Hopewell defense celebrates a successful play during their 35-7 win bang.” over Lord Botetourt in the Class 3 state championship. [Brandon Carwile/ Hopewell established the tempo of the game early, allowing just two yards on three progress-index.com] plays on Lord Botetourt’s opening drive, forcing a punt. On the ensuing drive, Henderson scored the opening touchdown on Hopewell’s second play from scrimmage, both of which saw the ball in his hands. He burst around the left edge and beat the Lord Botetourt defense down the sideline and into the end-zone from 61 yards out. “We wanted to try and put some points on the board and try to make them play from behind,” Irby said of the fast start. “We did a lot of that today.” It was the beginning of a recurring theme for the Blue Devils. Henderson scored again on the Hopewell’s fourth drive of the game, this time on a hand-off around the right end from 16 yards away. The defense dominated, limiting Lord Botetourt to three or fewer plays on four of their six first half drives. Hopewell had a 14-0 halftime lead. The Blue Devils extended the lead on their second and third drives of the second half, through two more Henderson scores. He caught a swing pass in the flat, broke a shoe-string tackle and scored from 23 yards away, making it 21-0. The next drive, he ran through a tiny sliver of a hole up the middle for 53 yards and a touchdown, capping back-to-back scoring marches, extending the lead to 28-0 and cementing his status in Hopewell football lore. “He’s wonderful,” Lord Botetourt senior linebacker Ethan Clower said of Henderson. “Number four (Henderson), he can get into any hole they make (in the defensive front). A 12-inch hole, he can probably get in.” Lord Botetourt got on the board with just over ten minutes remaining in the game, when Hopewell quarterback Joseph Eliades was intercepted by Lord Botetourt’s Kyle Arnholt, who went down the sideline for the return touchdown from 53 yards away. Following the score, it seemed as though the Cavaliers were poised to make a game of it late, until Hopewell senior Kaiveon Cox put the it to bed in a remarkable turn of events around the nine minute mark of the fourth quarter. Cox took a hand-off on offense, was pushed back behind the line of scrimmage and fumbled while fighting for forward progress. The very next play, on the defensive side of the ball, Cox recovered a Cavalier fumble and returned it for a touchdown from 30 yards out. “I didn’t let it get to me, I just turned the page,” Cox said of the initial mistake that led to the sequence. “It’s kind of one of the things we talk about in our program, is to not get caught up 6
Hopewell Blue Devils | 2019 State Champions
in the highs and lows of the game,” Irby said. This title adds to an illustrious and gilded history for Hopewell football. The Blue Devils also won the state championship under Irby in 2017, and the 2019 title is the fifth overall for the program. Hopewell’s 15 wins this season are the most in a single season in Hopewell history, and the first undefeated state championship team for Hopewell since 1951. Henderson finished the game with 208 rushing yards on 19 carries, and caught two passes for 29 yards and a score. Hopewell gained 373 yards of total offense, while allowing 260 yards to Lord Botetourt. Hopewell forced five turnovers with two interceptions and three fumble recoveries. “Tremendous defensive team speed,” Lord Botetourt head coach Jamie Harless said of Hopewell. “They put you in a lot of binds.” Lord Botetourt was whistled for 12 penalties, costing them 112 yards. Hopewell committed 11 infractions for 102 yards. 50 TOUCHDOWN CLUB Henderson’s four touchdowns gave him 54 scores accounted for on the season, including his passing score from earlier this season against Meadowbrook.
Hopewell head coach Ricky Irby raises his fist to signal fourth down to his defense during the Blue Devils’ 35-7 win over Lord Botetourt in the 2019 VHSL Class 3 state championship game on Saturday, December 14. [Brandon Carwile/progress-index. com]
Quarterback Joseph Eliades releases a pass during the state championship game against Lord Botetourt on Saturday, December 14. [Brandon Carwile/progress-index.com]
The Hopewell offensive lines up before a snap during the Blue Devils’ 35-7 state championship win over Lord Botetourt at Williams Stadium in Lynchburg on Saturday, December 14, 2019. [Brandon Carwile/progress-index.com]
Hopewell defensive players scramble to make a tackle on a Lord Botetourt runner during the VHSL Class 3 state championship game in Lynchburg. [Brandon Carwile/ progress-index.com]
Robert Briggs (2) lines up next to quarterback Joseph Eliades (16) during Hopewell’s win over Lord botetourt in the Class 3 state championship game at Williams Stadium in Lynchburg. [Brandon Carwile/progress-index.com] Hopewell Blue Devils | 2019 State Champions
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ROAD TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP PERFECTION
Hopewell ran the table on their way path to a fifth state championship The 2019 Hopewell football Blue Devils went on an unprecedented, dominating run to the program’s fifth state championship, their second title in three seasons. They finished the year a perfect 15-0, the most single-season wins in program history. They defeated every team they faced, finishing the season with 10 or more wins and zero losses for the first time since 1951.
Game 4 at Colonial Heights Result: Hopewell wins 54-6
The Blue Devlis rattled off all those wins in style, scoring an average of 42.1 points per game. They demolished their opposition by a combined 451 points, an average of 30.1 points per game. The Blue Devils won 11 games by 20 or more points, and trailed at halftime just twice, to Dinwiddie and Goochland.
““He’s in the conversation for the best we’ve had,” Irby said of Irby, after the 54-6 win. “What he does on the field for us, offensively, defensively, and on special teams, is pretty tremendous. We’ve had a lot of great players come through Hopewell High School and he definitely fits in with those guys. Irby added, “He’s a great player, unbelievable talent, but we’ve got quite a few guys on this team that can play a little bit.”
If you blinked, you missed it. TreVeyon Henderson continued his sensational start to the season in spectacular fashion against Colonial Heights by taking each of his first two offensive touches to the endzone, from 59 and 40 yards respectively.
Head Coach Ricky Irby made the phrase, “We want to go 1-and-0 each week” into a mantra, and his Hopewell’s TreVeyon Henderson (4) scores his third touchdown of the game team adhered to it for 15 consecutive games. in the Blue Devils’ 64-20 win over Petersburg on Friday, Octboer 11. He finished the game with five touchdowns, giving him 24 for the season. Here’s a look back at a championship run that Blue Devil [Brandon Carwile/progress-index.com]
They put on a complete performance against Colonial Heights. Kaiveon Cox added a 40-yard score on a screen pass to compliment Henderson in the backfield, and Hopewell cruised to its fourth victory.
fans will never forget:
Game 1 at Tabb Result: Hopewell wins 40-7
Game 5 versus Thomas Dale Result: Hopewell wins 44-7
Hopewell took to the road for their first game of 2019, and rolled over Tabb to begin the season. TreVeyon Henderson scored a 95-yard touchdown to highlight the night, and Hopewell set the tone for their season-long run to the title in thumping fashion. Henderson finished with 115 rushing yards and rushing touchdown, and also caught one pass for 18 yards and a score.
Billed as a potential “Game of the Year” by The Progress-Index sports pages, Thomas Dale and Hopewell figured to feature the area’s two best players, and two of the area’s best teams.
Robert Briggs ran 10 times for 114 yards and two touchdowns, Deantre Mason hauled in a touchdown pass from Joseph Eliades as well, and Jarin Goode returned an interception for a touchdown to round out the scoring.
Game 2 versus I.C. Norcom Result: Hopewell wins 46-25 Revenge was on the tip of everyone’s tongue as I.C. Norcom came to Merner Field in a rematch of the 2018 regional playoff game that eliminated the Blue Devils a year prior. TreVeyon Henderson, who was on his way to taking several major player of the year awards, scored five touchdowns in the win -- in front of Alabama scouts, no less -- and Hopewell rolled to an easy victory to exact a taste of revenge. “What I tell our kids is Trey (Henderson) might be opening the door but that doesn’t mean everybody can’t walk in the door,” head coach Ricky Irby said of the recruiting attention Henderson was drawing. “Schools coming here is an opportunity for everybody to get noticed and I think we’ll have a lot more of that as the year goes on.”
Game 3 at Henrico Result: Hopewell wins 35-13 Against Henrico, TreVeyon Henderson was again the star, scoring five touchdowns for the second-straight week, even after a leg injury forced him to come off the field late in the game. “We have a heck of an athlete in Trey Henderson,” junior quarterback Joseph Eliades said of his backfield mate. With Hopewell leading 21-0 just before half, defensive back Zion Hubbard thwarted a Henrico drive with an interception, and the Blue Devil offense capitalized with Henderson’s fourth score of the half. Hopewell finished with 281 rushing yards in the win, the first of just two games in which they would not top 300 yards on the ground 8
Hopewell Blue Devils | 2019 State Champions
That was on paper, anyway. Hopewell trounced a Knights team that was thought to be a contender for the Class 6 state championship. In the matchup of all-purpose stars, Henderson was without his opposite number, as the Knights were without their star running back, and Notre Dame commitment, Chris Tyree, due to injury. All alone atop the playbill, Henderson was superb, per usual, with four more rushing touchdowns and 195 yards. He even chipped in defensively with an interception, showing his prowess on both sides of the ball. Hopewell’s defensive line shined in outpowering against a larger Thomas Dale front, which both coaches noted as the key to the game afterward. Reggie Ruffin, Kaiveon Cox and co. recorded seven sacks, tied for a season high, and 11 tackles for loss. “We dominated because we’re a fast d-line and technique - technique always kills,” Ruffin said, after the game.
Game 6 at Petersburg Result: Hopewell wins 64-20 The momentum of Hopewell’s prolific offense was not halted in a Tri-City rivalry game against Petersburg, as the Blue Devils scored 10 touchdowns an accumulated 718 all-purpose yards, both season highs in a 44-point win. TreVeyon Henderson was the star again, racking up 219 yards and scoring five touchdowns in the win, while Kaiveon Cox added 189 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, filling in for the injured senior Robert Briggs. “Both of them complement each other well,” Hopewell head coach Ricky Irby said of Henderson and Cox. ”(Cox) is a very strong and big athletic kid that can run and he’s very smart and an instinctive football player. I’m just proud of him and the work that he puts in to make himself a good football player.”
Hopewell Blue Devils | 2019 State Champions
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ROAD TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP PERFECTION
Hopewell ran the table on their way path to a fifth state championship Game 7 versus Dinwiddie Result: Hopewell wins 35-20 For the first time all season, Hopewell faced a challenge against Dinwiddie, but they still pulled away late to win by a comfortable margin. The Generals came out early and tested Hopewell, taking a 13-6 lead into halftime behind a 49-yard touchdown from quarterback Brenton Hilton in a first half that saw them recover an onside kick following a score. “They punched us in the mouth early,” head coach Ricky Irby said. “I’m just proud of how our kids responded to the adversity.”
With their backs against the wall, Matoaca made a game of it, scoring two touchdowns to cut the lead to 7 with 1:10 remaining. Hopewell recovered the Warrior onside kick, ending the game and Matoaca’s season. The win gave Hopewell a 10-0 record, the first time a Blue Devil team was 10-0 since 1969. “I’m just proud of our kids and our coaches, they worked really hard for it,” said head coach Ricky Irby.
Playoffs: Region 3A quarterfinal versus Southampton Result: Hopewell wins 61-8
Hopewell’s undefeated regular season earned them the top seed in Region 3A, meaning that the road The second half, though, saw Hopewell return to to a state championship had to go through Merner form. The Blue Devils outscored Dinwiddie 29-7 afA much needed water break for Zion Hubbard Field. ter the break. During one sequence late in the game, [Brandon Carwile/progress-index.com] Kaiveon Cox scored a short touchdown on offense, In the opening round, Southampton was given the then on the ensuing Dinwiddie drive, sacked Hilton honor of visiting Hopewell’s historic venue, and they left with a resounding beating from the and then intercepted him on back-to-back plays. The turnover set up a TreVeyon Henderson Blue Devils. touchdown, his third and final of the night, completing the comeback and putting the game to bed. Quarterback Joseph Eliades was the star in the Hopewell win, throwing for 73 yards and a season-high three touchdowns on a 5-for-9 night. On a team with so many talented running “It’s really the first adversity we’ve had all year,” Irby said. “For our guys to meet the adversity threats, with TreVeyon Henderson, Robert Briggs Jr. and Kaiveon Cox, it’s not often that Eliades and overcome it, I was very proud of them.” drew the plaudits typically accustomed for the starting quarterback on a championship team.
Game 8 versus Meadowbrook Result: Hopewell wins 61-0
There was very little adversity for Hopewell when winless Meadowrook came to Merner Field. The Blue Devils romped to their largest win of the season, scoring over 60 points for the second time. Henderson registered 224 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just ten carries, while the defense finished the game with 16.5 tackles for loss, as season high.
That’s not to say the running game didn’t have its success too in the win. Henderson ran the ball just three times, but scored a touchdown on each carry from 71, 65 and 52 yards, for a total of 188 yards and three scores. Briggs added a touchdown and yards. In the playoff opener, though, it was Eliades’ night.
Game 9 at Prince George Result: Hopewell wins 40-7
“He’s a gamer,” Irby said of Eliades. “We’ve got a lot of confidence in Joe, and I thought he played very well tonight. (I’m) very pleased with how Joe played.”
Entering the game with a 5-2 record, Prince George enjoyed their best season in over 20 years in 2019, advancing to the playoffs for the first time in a generation. Even with all that success under their belts, Hopewell blew past the Royals, winning 40-7 to go to 9-0.
Playoffs: Region 3A semifinal versus I.C. Norcom Result: Hopewell wins 35-6
The score got out of hand quick for the Royals, as TreVeyon Henderson scored three times in the first quarter to give the Blue Devils a 20-0 lead. He’d finish the game with five touchdowns, all on the ground, giving him 36 for the season. He finished with 236 all-purpose yards. Returning from injury, Robert Briggs Jr. ran for 78 yards and a touchdown. Even with so much success, Irby was determined to keep his team focussed at the task at hand, and not dreaming about the future. “If you cheat the process it will cheat you back,” he said.
Game 10 at Matoaca Result: Hopewell wins 28-21 To close the regular season, Hopewell faced a resurgent Matoaca, who entered the game with a playoff berth on the line. A win gave them hope of continuing their season, while a doomed the Warriors, who had started the campaign so positively at 5-1. Hopewell dashed those hopes. The Blue Devils overcame a sloppy start that saw them give up a safety when the ball was snapped over the punter’s head and into the endzone to take a 28-6 lead late in the game. 10
Hopewell Blue Devils | 2019 State Champions
Hopewell faced I.C. Norcom for the second time in 2019 in the second round of the Region 3A playoffs, the exact same point in the season that the Greyhounds eliminated the defending state champion Blue Devils in 2018, in the same place, Merner Field. Fortunately for Hopewell, lightning struck just once in the Wonder City in favor of I.C. Norcom, as Hopewell thwarted their hopes of repeating the upset. In cold and wet conditions, the defense shone bright in the win, limiting I.C. Norcom to just six points, while forcing four turnovers in the first half alone en route to a 28-0 Hopewell lead. “That’s something we talk about, we want to make sure we win the turnover margin,” head coach Ricky Irby said. Hopewell finished the game with five forced turnovers. “I think that’s key, especially in a game where it starts to rain, and you have bad weather like this.” Defensive back Jacen Fowlkes was the star on the day, snagging an interception and also recovering two fumbles. “Turnovers really change the momentum of the game,” Fowlkes said. TreVeyon Henderson tallied an interception on defense as well, while also scoring three offensive touchdowns, two rushing and one receiving. Robert Briggs Jr. and Joseph Eliades added rushing touchdowns, while Reggie Ruffin joined Henderson and Fowlkes in the takeaway game, recovering a fumble defensively.
Playoffs: Region 3A final versus Phoebus Result: Hopewell wins 19-6 Hopewell’s defense forced turnovers in the regional semifinal win over I.C. Norcom. Against Phoebus, with the regional championship on the line, Hopewell’s defensive front didn’t take the ball away, they just prevented the Phantoms from making forward progress. The Blue Devils held Phoebus to just 137 yards of total offense, and the Phantom running game was virtually non-existent. Hopewell dominated up front, holding Phoebus to just 17 rushing yards on 30 carries, an average of just over ½ yard per attempt. Linebacker Keyon Williams, who was named Region 3A Defensive Player of the Year, led the Blue Devils with three tackles for loss in the win. Williams said the defense was prepared due to an outstanding week on the practice field leading up to the game. “We had great practices all through the week,” he said. “We came today ready and prepared.”
Playoffs: VHSL Class 3 state semifinal versus Goochland Result: Hopewell wins 35-28 Goochland threw the kitchen sink at Hopewell, but it still wasn’t enough to derail the Blue Devils’ date with destiny. Goochland forced three Hopewell turnovers, converted a fake punt, recovered an onside kick, and converted a fourth down attempt, giving every effort to gain an advantage over the favored Blue Devils. For awhile, it seemed it might just work. The Bulldogs were ahead 21-7 at half, just the second time all season Hopewell trailed at intermission.
Hopewell’s Jacen Fowlkes (5) drops back from his safety position during a defensive play in Hopewell’s 35-7 win over Lord Botetourt in the VHSL Class 3 state championship game. [Brandon Carwile/pogress-index.com]
The message in the Hopewell locker room was simple -- stay positive. “Keep playing, keep playing,” Kaiveon Cox said of the team’s mentality while trailing. “We can’t get caught up in the highs and lows, keep playing.” Despite not facing much adversity all year, the Blue Devils came together and made a comeback in the second half. Cox entered the game on offense in the third quarter, and gave Hopewell a spark. He pounded runs up the middle, jarring a Goochland defense that had mostly handled the Blue Devil ground attack in the first half. He finished the game with 86 yards and two scores. Trailing 28-21 with under eight minutes to play, Cox scored to tie it at 28. The defense forced a punt on the next possession, setting up TreVeyon Henderson’s third touchdown of the afternoon, putting Hopewell in front with 1:11 to play, completing the thrilling comeback. “It feels awesome, man,” head coach Ricky Irby said of advancing to the state championship game.
State Championship: Hopewell versus Lord Botetourt Result: Hopewell wins 35-7 The long season culminated in a glorious Saturday in Lynchburg for Hopewell. In front of a large crowd of travelling fans, the Blue Devils romped to a 35-7 win over Lord Botetourt, cementing their undefeated season and earning the title of State Champion. Were the 2019 Blue Devils the greatest Hopewell football team of all time? They’ve got a strong argument. One thing is for sure -- no one who saw them play will forget them any time soon.
Linebacker Keyon Williams flexes in celebration of a successful play during the state championship game on Saturday, December 14. [Brandon Carwile/progress-index.com]
TreVeyon Henderson (4) and Kaiveon Cox (3) celebrate by jumpin into the air during Hopewell’s state championship victory over Lord Botetourt on December 14. [Brandon Carwile/pogress-index.com]
Revceiver D.J. Powell (7) reaches out in an attempt to make a catch for Hopewell in their 35-7 victory over Lord Botetourt on Saturday, December 14, 2019 in the VHSL Class 3 state championship game. [Brandon Carwile/progress-index.com] Hopewell Blue Devils | 2019 State Champions 11
2017 STATE CHAMPS STATE CHAMPIONS
Blue Devils fend off Heritage for first state title since 2003. Archived Story Originally Published in The Progress-Index | Monday, December 11, 2017 By Nicholas Vandeloecht, Sports Editor
WILLIAMSBURG - Symbolically speaking, the best throw Greg Cuffey feels he’s thrown in his life wasn’t a touchdown. It wasn’t a bomb for over 80 yards. It was a clutch throw to Kadarius Singleton near the goal line in the right corner to secure a first down... ...and set up the next play that would seal the deal. The quarterback kneel. Hopewell Football had done it. The last time was in 2003. But after rocketing out to a 20-0 first-half lead and then fending off prolific running back Elijah Davis and his Heritage Pioneers’ 14-point charge, the Blue Devils on Sunday left the William and Mary football field as the 2017 Class 3 State Champions. “It’s an unbelievable feeling. So proud and happy for my players, my coaches, my entire city. I love those guys,” said state championship winning Hopewell Football head coach Ricky Irby. “My hat’s
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off to Heritage, they’re a great football team, got a lot of respect for those guys over there, a lot of respect for their coaching staff and [Elijah Davis] for them is a heck of a runner.” “We had ups and downs through the whole season, and a lot of people believed in us, and also a lot of people didn’t see the outcome - they said, ‘Oh, they have a possibility, but it’s not likely,’” Cuffey said. “And I think that’s what really drove us through the season.” Quarterback Cuffey is unofficially 1-0 at the field of William & Mary, where he’ll be going to college to play football next year. He completed 13 passes for 240 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 51 yards with some key runs. Indiana commit Ronnie Walker had 57 rushing yards and a touchdown. “Those two kids have done a lot for our program over the last three years,” Irby said. “The only thing they hadn’t done is win a state championship ... they did it for us today.”
Hopewell Blue Devils | 2019 State Champions
“They’re leaders,” junior Sean Allen - who on Sunday scored on a 51-yard catch - said of Cuffey and Walker. “I look up to them and always looked up to them since I’ve been playing with them.” Elijah Davis led Heritage in the game with a whopping 229 rushing yards, but he still met the full force of Daryan Blowe, Nyvon King, Kaiveon Cox, and the Blue Devils’ punishing defense, sometimes for loss. Also part of that season-long defensive stand has been freshman Reggie Ruffin and senior Deandre Thomas. “We didn’t change nothing up. We kept our same defense,” Riezon Murphy said. “We executed and we won the game.” “He’s a great back. He’s a great runner, the kid runs hard, has great pad level, great balance and is very strong,” Irby said of Davis. “We had our hands full with him today and he made a couple of long runs, but we limited him to the one big play, and when we watch
film on him, he always gets two, three, four of those really long touchdown runs, and we limited him to that one big play today...really proud of our defensive effort, the defensive coaching staff and everybody that did a good job for us today.” “The defensive line did great up front all year, but we have to give credit to Elijah Davis,” Cuffey said. “He’s a great athlete. He’s going to be playing college ball somewhere and continue doing what he’s doing.” Hopewell’s secondary, featuring Murphy, Cuffey and freshman Trey Henderson, held the Pioneer’s passing game to 51 yards with the two picks by Murphy. The offensive line played a heroic game, helping pave the way for the Blue Devils’ fast start in the first half. “Shout out to the offensive line, because they’re great, they opened up the holes once again,” Walker said. Hopewell Football’s state title capped off a season in which they went 6-4 in
the regular stretch but rebounded on a magical playoff run. and said we’re gonna win this game. We won this game.” “We just can’t look in the past. We’ve just got to look in the future, see what’s After cutting Hopewell’s lead from three possessions down to one, Heritage would ahead...that’s what we did, we looked ahead,” Walker said. “I’m just so happy right soon get the ball back with a chance to try and drive past Hopewell. now.” The Blue Devils, however, forced them to turn the ball over on downs. Riezon Murphy’s interception and a Blue Devils fumble recovery set the tone early Then Hopewell fumbled a big pass play back to Heritage. for the Blue Devils’ defense, and Murphy struck again before the end of the first half, Then Heritage fumbled, and Hopewell was in command on the Pioneer’s side of taking an interception 45 yards to the house to help Hopewell go up 20-0. the field. “They had run that play, we had worked Hopewell whittled down the clock on that in practice and kind of had an idea and locked up the game with Cuffey’s they were going to come to that,” Irby said. first down pass to Singleton, who “Riezon jumped it and made the pick and ended the day on five catches for 106 ran it all the way back. That was a big play.” yards. Ronnie Walker put his Blue Devils on As for what ran through Singleton’s the board with a six-yard touchdown run mind after making that catch... - his eighth of the postseason - and Sean “State championship,” Singleton Allen burned the Pioneer’s defense on a said. “That’s all I was thinking.” 51-yard passing bomb from QB Cuffey. “Once Kadarius made that catch “We just had to make them tired. We down there on the two-yard line, that’s had to do a hurry-up offense, offense, when you kind of breathe a sigh of offense,” Walker said. “We had to hit them relief - even then, you know, there’s still hard where they hurt. We got to him them time on the clock and you still have in that weak area.” to execute and kneel down,” Irby said. The Pioneers recaptured the momentum “The clock hits zero, that’s when you The Hopewell Football team celebrates its 2017 state championship after in the second half as an incendiary 80celebrate.” defeating Heritage 20-14 on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017. Photos by Nicholas Vandeloecht/progress-index.com yard run by Elijah Davis set up Heritage’s And then after the kneel, the Blue first touchdown of the game. Davis would Devils charged the field in celebration. add a three-yard running TD after that. “We love our city, and anytime we can bring something positive to our city, we’re “We had to scratch and claw and battle, and that’s what our guys do,” Irby said. all for that,” Irby said. “Just so proud and happy everybody came out today and supported us. They’ve been supporting us all year and we love them.” “We’re a blue-collar football team. We didn’t want a charter bus down here. We “Thankful for the support of our fans,” Walker said. “They came out here, they kept wanted to ride on yellow buses, and that’s what we do. It’s a work ethic, it’s a mindset and our kids did not come down here to lose today. We were coming back with our heads up.” this trophy and they made sure it happened.” Hopewell’s senior leaders have featured Riezon Murphy, Deandre Thomas, Greg “We had a pep talk and said, ‘Guys, we’re still up, so it’s no need to put our heads Cuffey, Nyvon King, Ronnie Walker and Daryan Blowe. down,’” Murphy said. “We’re still in the game. We’re still in, so we just came together
Hopewell Blue Devils | 2019 State Champions
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2003 STATE CHAMPS
REDEMPTION: Hopewell Beats Massaponax 41-7 Bujakowski throws three TD to Hearington Brown scores two rushing, one return TD
Archived Story Originally Published in The Progress-Index | Sunday December 14, 2003
By Ron Barker, Correspondent
RICHMOND – A four-year quest to fulfill a lifelong dream had a story book ending for Lee Bujakowski and many of his Hopewell Blue Devil teammates. Before an estimated 6,000 people on a blustery, cold day at UR Stadium, Hopewell won its first-ever Division 5 Group AAA Virginia High School League football championship by pounding out 41-14 victory over previously unbeaten Massaponax. As the Central Region’s all-time leading passer, Bujakowski engineered Hopewell’s west coast no-huddle offense for the last time, throwing for three touchdowns. Reeling in all three of those TD strikes was the region’s alltime leading receiver, David Hearington. Multi-purpose senior Jerrett Brown rushed for two touchdowns and added another when he returned an onside kick attempt 48 yards for the game ending exclamation point. Brown also converted six extra points and averaged 35 yards a punt on three attempts. Hopewell’s “No-Name Defense” continued to impress foes with it’s speed and ability to bend but rarely break. The Blue Devil defense gave up a 44 yard TD pass as time expired in the first half and didn’t give up any more points until the Panthers (13-1) mounted a 66 yard scoring in the final minutes of play. “I am just so proud to be from Hopewell,” Bujakowski said. “People at Hopewell have deserved this for a long time. It’s been a long run.” For Bujakowski, the run began in 2000, when Hopewell went as far as a 14
regional match-up against a powerful Dinwiddie squad. He recalls that game as being on the wrong side of a beating but looks back on it as a powerful learning experience that helped the Blue Devils progress to last year’s narrow loss to Stafford in the state semis. From there, “It’s been a twelve month cycle,” the quarterback added, with the entire team focused on returning to the state playoffs this year. Hopewell (13-1) reached the state playoffs by avenging its only regular season loss to Meadowbrook in the regional final and downing Indian River, last weekend. “Now I feel like I’m in a dream world,” Bujakowski said. Watching Massaponax sophomore quarterback Jay Kenny scrambling from the Blue Devil’s blitz much of the afternoon reminded Bujakowski of his first regional playoff game against Dinwiddie. Kenny stepped in for team captain Nate Jackson after he was injured in last week’s semi-final victory of Northern Region champ James Madison. “I was impressed with (Kenny),” Bujakowski said. “We got him pretty good and he’ll probably think back about this like I do to that ol’ Dinwiddie team.” “I certainly don’t have any memories like this because we didn’t play for a championship back then, but this team has been so focused to win this game,” Parker said. “That no-name defense of ours has some really big names. They did a super job.” A series of plays that typify the Blue Devil defense begun after a Bujakowski to Herrington 10 yard TD pass gave Hopewell a 27-7 lead with 11:16 left
Hopewell Blue Devils | 2019 State Champions
to play. The Panthers moved to a second and goal from the five but a quick sack from Warren Hedgepeth started a series of back peddling before the ball was tuned back over to Bujakowski and Co. at the 22. The Blue Devils coughed up its second lost fumble on the first play from scrimmage and the “No-Name Defense” returned with the ball resting on their own 30. Under heavy pressure, Kenny threw a hurried pass that was blocked almost straight up in the air by a leaping Letee Williams. The 5-10, 190 pound sophomore nose guard followed the spiraling ball a yard or two and reeled it in. Then Williams ran for more than 50 yards to the Panther 12. From there, Brown took it in to give Hopewell a commanding 34-7 lead with 6:22 left. “We gave up a couple of big plays but Hopewell’s defense was really the difference,” Massaponax coach Eric Ludden said. “Their team’s speed on defense was tough. We couldn’t finish our drives. We’d move the ball and then we’d have a big loss.” A significant amount of credit to Hopewell’s “No-Name Defense” should got to Herman Henderson, who has 21 years of experience as defensive coordinator at Hopewell. “You have to give the credit to our kids,” a modest Henderson counters. “They believe one player can break down but ten other players are going to be there to pick him up.” The Blue Devil’s scored 20 unanswered points in the first half. A blocked punt by Maurice Thorne was scooped up by teammate Eric Cunningham near the Panther 25 and Cunningham was tackled at the 3. Brown pushed it from there with 9:48 left in the first. “Thorn has done a great job blocking punts for us all year long,” Brown said, crediting his teammates for the opening score. A fumble by Panther Shane Covington was recovered by defensive end Devin Jones at the Massaponax 44. This set up a quick two-play scoring drive with a five-yard run by Michael Pigram and a 40 yard TD strike from Bujakowski to Henderson with 1:47 left in the first. On the play, Bujukowski was calling for a short pass but Henderson signaled from the line of scrimmage that he wanted to go long.
“Dave wanted to stop and go,” Bujakowski noted. “I’m glad he shook me off.” It’s surely a rarity to see a prep offense run such a synchronized passing attack without a huddle and Hearington was quick to note that this comes with years of playing with Bujakowski. “That comes with the territory when you’ve been together for 12 to 13 years,” Hearington said. “I don’t want to sink in (this is their final game). I can’t imagine playing football without him.” “It’s going to be sad,” Bujakowski admits. “But some of these guys will be my brothers forever.” MASSAPONAX 0 7 0 7 - 14 HOPEWELL 13 7 0 21 -41 H- Jerrett Brown 3 run (Brown kick) H- David Hearington 29 pass from Bujakowski (kick failed) H- Hearington 23 pass from Bujakowski (Brown kick) M- John Leather 44 pass from J. Kenny (Brian Pate kick) H- Hearington 10 pass from Bujakowski (Brown kick) H- Brown 12 run (Brown kick) M- Kenny 2 run (Pate kick) H- Brown 48 kickoff return (Brown kick) First Downs Rushes Yards Passing Yards Passing Fumbles-Lost Punts Average Penalties
M 16 49-120 224 11-21-2 4-1 5-31 4-25
H 16 23-151 152 11-25-0 2-2 3-35 6-50
Rushing – Massaponax: Shane Covington 19-81, Kenny 17-0, Byron Allen 2-(-1), Jackson Lovett 4-12, David Jones 7-28, Ronnie Smith 1-(-6). Hopewell: Brown 15-128, Bujakowski 2-0, Michael Pigram 4-19, Marcus Thorn 1-4. Passing – Massaponax: Kenny 11-21-2-224. Hopewell Bujakowski 11-25-0-109. Receiving – Massaponax: Byron Allen 5-47, Travis Ludden 1-27, Leather 3-110, Lovett 2-40. Hopewell: Hearington 6-109, Pigrim 1-9, Warren Hedgepeth 1-18, Rodney Peace 1-8, Thorn 1-8.
Hopewell Blue Devils | 2019 State Champions
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1951 STATE CHAMPS
Hopewell Beats Wilson, 20-13, To Clinch Title
Heavier Prexies Are Out-Fought By Blue Devils Walker, Scruggs And Micklem Pace Offense As Winners Assure Selves Group 1 Championship Archived Story Originally Published in The Progress-Index | Saturday November 10, 1951
Team Wins Third Title – Bill Merner (above), Hopewell High School football coach last night was assured of his third Virginia Group 1 championship as his team defeated Wilson in Portsmouth, 20-13. His Blue Devils won the title outright in 1939 and tied in 1950 as both Hopewell and Hampton were undefeated. By JACK FULP
The Hopewell Blue Devils nailed down the Virginia Group 1 Championship last night before 15,000 fans in Portsmouth Municipal Stadium by beating Wilson, 20-13, in one of the most rugged battles seen in prep circles this year. It was a slam-bang affair all the way, and it was not an unusual occurrence after a play to see one or more players being helped off the field toward both sides. The Wilson team, unbeaten until last night, outweighed the Blue devils by a wide margin and had a brilliant passer in Jessel Curry but could not match the driving power of the Hopewell boys, either in the line or the backfield. The Blue Devils’ little half back, Floogie Walker, caught the fancy of the crowd and his running, both to the inside and on wide sweeps after taking pitch outs from Lewis Dean, was one of the main reasons his team stayed in the undefeated and untied class. Scruggs Is Star Bobby Scruggs also played a brilliant game both offensively and defensively and he, along with Walker and Larry Saunders, kept the Presidents’ vaunted passing attack under control. The Prexies clicked with one long Curry pass midway of the first period but after that it was only the short ones which worked. The victory was the 30th in a row for the Blue Devils and moved them within one game of their third straight undefeated season in 1949 the Hopewell eleven when undefeated to take undisputed possession of first place in Group 1, while last year they repeated the performance but had to share the title with undefeated Hampton. The Blue Devils defense against the heavier Presidents stood up well, particularly in the first period when Wilson recovered Bobby Scruggs fumble on the Hopewell 14. 16
Bobby Stanley sparked the defense as the Blue Devils held for downs and took over at the eight. Blue Devils score Early The Blue Devils got their first touchdown after three and a half minutes of play, the drive being started as the Presidents fumbled on the first play from scrimmage after taking the opening kickoff. Saunders recovered the fumble by Jim Henderson at the Wilson 47 and the Blue Devils charge was underway. Walker gained two yards and Scruggs smashed off tackle to the 32. Colbert Micklem picked up five and Scruggs added seven to put the Blue Devils on the Prexies 20. Two offside penalties set the Presidents back on their 10 and two plays moved the oval to the seven before Walker raced around right end for the score. Hubert Ackerman booted the point and Hopewell was ahead, 7-0. The Devils’ defense rose up again in the second period to check a Wilson threat after Curry had intercepted Dean’s wobbly pass at the Wilson 49. Henderson got 16 yards on the first play but the defense stiffened and Curry, whose great punting was a feature of the game, kicked out on the Hopewell 10. Score Again in Second The Blue Devils got another score soon after the second quarter started but before they got the score they lost one when Micklem was called back after a brilliant 93yard dash up the near sideline. The versatile youngster alluded a couple of would-be tacklers behind the line, broke sharply off left end and turned on the speed. However, the official ruled he stepped out about three yards beyond where he was hit behind the line. However, it took little time to cover the 93 yards, Micklem got 19 and Walker passed to Francis Brinkley to the Wilson 27. Micklem finished off the drive with a smooth run behind brilliant blocking, and Ackerman added the point to give the Blue Devils a 14-0 head at halftime. Wilson’s greater weight and depth began to pay off in the second half, but the fighting Blue Devils were battling all the way and controlled the ball during the latter part of the final period and prevented the Presidents from doing any desperation passing which might have tied the scores. Blocked Punt Helps Prexies A blocked punt held to the Prexies first score early in the second half. Wilson recovered on the Hopewell 44 and George Riggs lead the drive to the score as he ripped off eight yards and then ran to the one before being knocked out of bounds. He plunged over on the next play. The Blue Devils drove 73 yards for the next score, a great run by Scruggs carrying the ball the final 38 yards. A fumble ruined any chance to make good on the placement. The Presidents scored again in the final
Hopewell Blue Devils | 2019 State Champions
quarter as Curry threw a screen pass to Henderson who raced 65 yards behind perfect blocking for the score. Curry got the point on an end run. The 30 straight victories for the Blue Devils moved them within two of the record set by Granby in 1944-45-46. They have one more game this season, needing a strong Thomas Jefferson team in Hopewell the night after Thanksgiving. It was homecoming at Wilson last night and members of the 1926 championship team were introduced. The Hopewell and Wilson bands also participate in the between-halves ceremonies. Hopewell (20) Ends – Brinkley, Hughes, James, Stanley. Tackles – Ashton, Martin, Wyatt, Newsome. Guards – Legat, Hipps. Centers – Rowsey, Ackerman, Luck. Backs – Dean, Scruggs, Walker, Micklem, Saunders. Wilson (13) Ends – Bunting, Dalton, Wiggins, Gaffas. Tackles – Mingis, Winn, Salguther, Peterson. Guards - Frankos, Journee, Stickland.
Centers – Sterns, Sanderlin, Haythe. Backs – Curry, Henderson, Riggs, Butler, Richards, Jackson. Score by Quarters Hopewell 7 7 6 0 - 20 Wilson 0 0 6 7 - 13 Hopewell scoring: Touchdowns – Walker, Micklem, Scruggs, Extra points – Ackerman, 2 (placements). Wilson scoring: Touchdowns – Riggs, Henderson, Extra point – Curry (end run). Editor’s Note: After clinching the title, the Blue Devils went on to finish the undefeated season Friday November 23, 1951 defeating Thomas Jefferson 35-0. Progress-Index sports writer Jack Fulp finished the season ending article with “The game last night was a fitting climax to a brilliant season. With such performers as Johnny Dean, Walt Brodie, Sammy Scott, Linwood Cox, Rosie Takesian Glenn Krumel, all of them all-staters or close to it gone from the 1950 team, few observers gave Merner’s 1951 outfit a chance to go undefeated but it performed the feat in more impressive fashion that any other as it took into camp nine of the top ranking Group 1 schools as well as Benedictine, another strong aggregation.
1950 STATE CHAMPS
Blue Devils Rout TJ, 40-13, In Offensive Display
Hopewell Team Assured Of Tie For State Title Wonder City Eleven Completes Second Straight Undefeated and Untied Football Season Archived Story Originally Published in The Progress-Index | Thursday November 23, 1950
LEWIS DEAN By JACK FULP
The Hopewell High School Blue Devils rounded out two consecutive seasons of undefeated and untied football last night with probably the most spectacular exhibition of the string as they rounded a heavily but much slower Thomas Jefferson eleven, 40-13, on the Hopewell High School Gridiron. Most of the Blue Devil first stringers were playing their last game under the Hopewell banner and they gave the approximately 5,000 fans plenty to talk about as they passed and ran the Belt Liners dizzy from the opening to closing gun. Johnny Dean, all-southern quarterback of 1949, put on his usual display of aerial skill but it was younger brother Lewis who gave the crowd its biggest thrills with brilliant returns of intercepted passes. Great Run Nullified Lewis turned in one of the most sensational runs of the season in the last half minute of the first half when he intercepted a Teejay pass on his own 35, headed for the sideline and raced to the Teejay 30 through a wave of would-be tacklers, reversed his field and came out to the 40 again then turned again toward the goal line and turned on the steam to cross the line standing up. This brilliant piece of running, however, was nullified as a clipping penalty was called against the Devils. The young Dean made one good in the closing seconds of the third period as he intercepted Russ Meyer’s pass at his own 25 and raced up the sideline for 75 yards and the Blue Devil’s fifth touchdown. The game was marred by frequent penalties, with the Blue Devils being hurt considerably by the set backs in the first half and the Jeff’s suffering from penalties in the second
half. The first half particularly was slowed by frequent handkerchief dropping. Assured of Tie The victory assured the Blue Devils of at least a tie for the state title which they won last year for the first time. Hampton High can finish in a deadlock by beating Newport News in their Thanksgiving Day classic this afternoon. The win also kept Coach Bill Merner’s slate clean, the Blue Devils’ mentor having never lost a game since taking over as varsity coach last season as successor to Tom Nugent, now at VMI. The Blue Devils started the parade when the game was only three minutes old as Johnny Dean hit Walter Brodie with a pass in the end zone. The play covered 24 yards. The Blue Devils had taken the opening kickoff and driven to midfield before loosing the ball on a fumble. On the Jeff’s first play from scrimmage Glenn Krumel recovered a fumble on the Hopewell 47. Krumel moved to the 46 and Mike Foley broke away to the 27. Foley drove to the 24 to set the stage for Dean’s scoring heave. Hubert Ackerman made good the first of four successful conversions. Score Again In Period Five minutes later the Blue Devils added their second touchdown and it was the same combination, Johnny Dean to Brodie, which clicked for the score. Some effective running by Krumel and Bobby Scruggs, coupled with a pass from Dean to Rosie Takesian, moved the oval to the 25, from where Foley drove to the eight. Dean then connected with Brodie for the score. Dean passed to Takesian for the third score midway in the second period, the end taking the pass on the two from 18 yards out and going over. Teejay, exhibiting a strong running attack, took the kickoff opening the second half and drove to a score without giving up possession of the ball. With Winn, working on an end around, Myer and Brown Oliver doing most of the running. Teejay drove to the Hopewell 27, from where Dickie Smith passed to Winn for the score. Oliver’s placement was blocked. Lewis Dean Scores The Blue Devils lost little time getting the touchdown back, moving all the way down the field on running plays by Foley, Scruggs and Krumel, with Lewis Dean going over from the two. It was only a couple of minutes later that Lewis Dean turned his brilliant 75-yard run for a touchdown with the intercepted pass. Flugie Walker, fleet halfback playing his first season of varsity ball, passed to Foley for the
final Hopewell touchdown with four minutes to go in the final period. End Francis Brinkley got off a spectacular run early in the fourth period when he grabbed Teejay punt which the defenders apparently though was going to be allowed to roll dead on the Hopewell 38 and broke through practically the entire team to get to the 20 before he was hauled down from behind. Reserves Seat In After the final touchdown Coach Merner sent in the last of his reserves and a Hopewell fumble of a punt gave Teejay possession at the Devils 20. Ron Hebner passed to Winn in the end zone for the score with less than half a minute to go. Smith booted the point from placement. The Teejay running attack almost kept pace with the Blue Devils in the first downs, getting 13 to the Wonder City team’s 14. Winn played a great game at the end for the Richmonders and Profitt was a strong man in the line of tackle. The middle of the Blue Devil line fought the heavy visitors to a stand still, and the play
of Brodie, both on offense and defense was outstanding. Linwood Cox also played a great game at tackle. The lineup: Thomas Jefferson – Ends: Winn, Simms, Holladay, Tackles: Profitt, Sorgx, Sydnor; Guards: Lee, Adams, Mallory, King, Johnson, Miller; Center: Pond; Backs: D. Smith, Myer, Hebner, Oliver, Call, DeVoe. Hopewell – Ends: Takesian, Brodie, Brinkley, Lane, Hughes, Freeman, Tally; Tackles: Ashton, Cox, Wyatt, James, Croom; Guards: Germany, Sharpe, Legat, Martin, Casey, Ackerman, Elmore, Hipps; Centers: Scott, Wilkes, Rowsey, Stanley; Backs: J. Dean, Scruggs, Krumel, Foley, L. Dean, Thompson, Walker, Platt, Miklem. Scores by quarters Thomas Jefferson 0 0 6 7 - 13 Hopewell………. 14 7 13 6 - 40 Scoring: Thomas Jefferson – touchdowns – Winn 2, point after touchdonw – D. Smith (placement), Hopewell – touchdowns – Brodie 2, L. Dean 2, Foley, Takesian, point after touchdown – Ackerman 4 (placement).
Hopewell Blue Devils | 2019 State Champions
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1949 STATE CHAMPS
Hopewell Beats Teejay, 26-0, Wins State Title
Four Touchdown Passes Hurled By Johnny Dean Strong Jefferson Line, Slippery Footing Slows down Ground Game of Wonder City Team Archived Story Originally Published in The Progress-Index | Saturday November 26, 1949
JOHNNY DEAN
By JACK FULP
Hopewell High School’s fighting Blue Devils, who have been bowled over all opposition this season, wrapped up the state group 1 championship. In slippery Richmond City Stadium last night by turning on their aerial attack to defeat Thomas Jefferson, 26-0, in the season’s final for both teams. Checked on the ground except for mighty thrusts of Big Nick Klonis, the Blue Devils’ Quarterback Johnny Dean chucked touchdown passes in each quarter to acount for the victory which brought the top scholastic gridiron honors to the Wonder City. It was a highly satisfying triumph for Coach Bill Merner, who was in the position of head coach for the first time after several successful seasons as mentor of the Hopewell Jayvees. At the conclusion of the contest the Blue Devils took their popular coach on their shoulders and carried him off the field. BREAK ICE IN FIRST PERIOD Troubled by the slippery footing, the Blue Devils were slowly getting started but finally broke the scoring ice late in the first quarter on a touchdown pass from Dean to George McDaniel. The Devils had driven from the Teejay 43, where Hopewell had recovered a fumble by the Richmonders. The Devils were handed a backfield in motion penalty and Dean was smoth18
ered on an attempted pass to shove them back to the midfield strip but Klonis broke away to the 44 and Mike Foley was knocked out at the Teejay 34 after taking a Dean aerial. Dean shot a pass to McDaniel, who gathered the pigskin at the 25 and outran the secondary for the first touchdown. McDaniel made the placement good and the Wonder City boys lead, 7-0, for plays before the end of the period. POOR PUNT HURTS TEEJAY A poor punt by Teejay’s Everett Hobson lead to the second Hopewell score midway the second period. The kick went out of bounds at the Teejay 43 and three aerials later the Devils had a touchdown. Foley was on the receiving end of the first one, being brought down at the 25. Dean passed to Rosie Takesian at the 20 and the end was stopped at the 15. Dean then fired a rifle like pass just over the line to Walter Brodie, who took the ball in the middle of the mass of players and fought his way the remaining ten yards into payoff territory. McDaniel missed on his try and the halftime score stood at 13-0. The third touchdown was the result of a drive from the Hopewell 21 which ended with a forty-yard pass by Dean after he had eluded several Teejay defenders who came through. The Devil’s “Arm” spotted Takesian in the clear at the 5 and dropped a lobbing pass in his arms. McDaniel made it 20-0 with a true kick. SCORE ON LATERAL The Devils made it 26-0 shortly after the fourth period started started. With the oval on the Teejay 35 Dean fired a short pass to Brodie, who lateraled to Klonis just as he was hit and the big halfback raced all the way for the score. That finished off the scoring for one of the highest scoring machines I state high school football. Last night’s game finished out the high school careers of four Hopewell stars, Klonis, McDaniel, Jimmy Edwards and Bob Askew and each turned in an outstanding performance. Askew in particular was a constant thorn in the side of Teejay, spending a large part of
Hopewell Blue Devils | 2019 State Champions
his time in the Richmonder’s backfield. The running of Cabel Wallace and Brown Oliver for Teejay was outstanding throughout, while the powerful line of the Belt Liners held the Blue Devils’ running game down and forced them to take to the air to do their scoring. The Hopewell High band was on hand to lend pep to the occasion and the cold damp air failed to dampen its enthusiasm. They entertained the crowd of approximately 6,000 hardy fans before the game and between the halves. They crowd was made up largely of fans from the Wonder City who followed their heroes to the end. The lineups: Hopewell Ends - Takesian, Askew, Brodie, Edwards, Brinkley. Tackles - Balderson, Cox, Barco, Scott. Guards – Jones, Cocmany, Gankakis.
Centers – Ankerman, Sasser. Backs – J. Dean, McDaniel, Klonis, Foley, Scruggs, L. Dean. Elmore, Krumel. Thomas Jefferson Ends – Tyson, Winn, Bass. Tackles – Roberts, Sharp, Ashworth, Willis, Fleasants. Guards – Root, Ketchie, Cournow, Tinsley. Center – Sorg. Backs – Heinz, Myer, Nuttycomb, Oilver, Hobson, Marchetti, Call, Wallace, Charnock, Holliday, Smith Score by period: Hopewell.................................... 7 6 7 6 - 26 Thomas Jefferson....................... 0 0 0 0 - 0 Hopewell scoring: TouchdownsDaniels, Brodie, Takesian, Klonis. Extra points - McDaniel, 2 (placements).
HOPEWELL FOOTBALL 1949
HOPEWELL FOOTBALL 1950
In the picture are, left to right, front row: Walter Brodie, Mike Foley, Linwood Cox, Glenn Krumel, Clyde Balderson, Oris Wyatt, Jerry Sharp, Emanuel Gankakis; second row: Robert Stanley, Louis Dean, Roosevelt Takesian, Co-Captain Johnny Dean, Nick Klonis, George McDaniel, Johnny Wilson, Bobby Scruggs; third row: Francis Brinkley, James Ashton, Wilton Barco, Sammy Scott, Larry Saunders, Angelo Alexander, Bobby Cormany, and Norman Freeman; fifth row: Assistant Coaches Hal King and Forrest Glass and Head Coach Bill Merner. The youngster at extreme right above is unidentified. (C. P. Houchins photo
Hopewell Blue Devils | 2019 State Champions
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The City of Hopewell Congratulates the 2019 Hopewell Bluedevils
STATE CHAMPIONS! We’re Proud Of You All!
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Hopewell Blue Devils | 2019 State Champions