The Paul VI Panthers dropped a 13-12 heartbreaker to the Culpeper Blue Devils Sept. 6 in Fairfax. With the loss, PVI drops to 0-2 on the young season.

The Panthers, coached by Mark Collier, improved dramatically since the drubbing by Varina. PVI opened up the scoring versus Culpeper when sophomore tightend/defensive end Artie Dabney caught an eight-yard TD pass from junior quarterback Mike Geraghty.

"Scoring on the first drive of the game really helped our confidence," said Geraghty. "Our offensive line (Tim Cougan, Joe Gannon, Patrick Zanelotti, Ryan Rose and Danny Margoupis) really played well tonight."

Junior running back/defensive back Scott Flanagan turned the corner and raced to the end zone to give the "Black and Gold" a 12-0 lead midway through the second quarter.

The Panthers led 12-0 at intermission but PVI’s offensive well ran dry in the second half. Conversely, Culpeper (the 1999 Division 5 State Champion) scored on a long pass play in the third quarter and on a one-yard run in the fourth quarter to tie the game 12-12 with 11:19 remaining in the contest.

Both special teams units lined up for the all-important point-after attempt. Despite a serious Panther rush, Culpeper’s kicker split the uprights on their decisive second "PAT" attempt to take a 13-12 lead.

PVI had two more offensive possessions in the game, but punted after losing nine yards and then "turned the ball over on downs" after a nine-play/50-yard drive that was just short of "moving the chains" at the Culpeper 30-yard line.

It was one of the toughest losses in Panther history after being so close to a victory.

"We played a good game overall, but those final minutes of the game we just didn't get the job done," said Flanagan.

"They have got an excellent team. I probably got too conservative with my play calling in the second half. Overall we played pretty well. These players have been busting their rear ends, and I am very proud of them. They have come a long way since the Varina game," said Collier.

"Our goal is to make the playoffs. It hurts to lose these first two games, but they are not league games, so basically we enter our league season with an 0-0 record," said Geraghty.

Paul VI visits Carroll in its WCAC opener Sept. 14.