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By Dan Sousa
LoudounPrepSports.com Senior Content Editor
Ashburn (Oct. 25, 2008) - Midway through Michael Burnett's first year as head coach at Broad Run High School the Spartans fell in a bitter game to Potomac Falls, 23-7, and since that October 2006 evening the Spartans have been just about unstoppable, posting a 21-2 mark.
It doesn't really matter the opponent or the situation, the results are usually the same ... the Spartans celebrating a victory and the opponents trying to figure out what happened to their offense. Friday was no different as Broad Run took all the suspense out of a match-up of 7-0 teams by dismantling Potomac Falls in the first half, scoring on five consecutive possesions and cruising with a running clock second half to a 38-0 win.
For Broad Run, it marked the second straight year that they shut down the Panthers. This time holding one of the area's top rushers in check, Michael Baker (31 yards) and limiting PF to just nine rushing yards on 17 attempts.
The Spartans, behind the dynamci duo of Breon Earl and T.J. Peeler, simply ran over the Panthers in the first half, running the ball on 15 of the first 16 plays from scrimmage. The two combined for five touchdowns and 136 yards rushing in the first half. Each back only touched the ball once in the second half as BR lead 35-0 at the break. Peeler finished with 81 yards on 17 carries and Earl had 53 yards on 11.
BR quarterback Chris Jessop, who had an interception on defense, went 4 of 10 for 89 yards with a big strike of 45 yards to Adrian Flemming to set up one score.
The Spartans scored on six of their eight possessions with the other two series ending in the half and the game.
PF moved the ball against the Spartans second defense late in the game but BR made a goalline stand to preserve the shutout and assure the players of a treat on Saturday morning ... the BR coaching staff brings donuts for the players on the morning after games where they put up a donut on the scoreboard.
Broad Run is now 5-0 and 8-0 and can clinch a share of their second straight district title with a win next week against Freedom. Potomac Falls faces a tougher test next week as they entertain Briar Woods.
For Broad Run, Friday's win was the 19th straight game in which the Spartans defense held an opponent to 17 or fewer points. Last year, BR allowed opponents just 10.4 points per game and this year that mark has dropped to 8.6 points per game. BR is especially tough at home where they have allowed 16 or fewer points in 14 straight games.
The Spartans starting the game heading toward their spirited student section in the South end zone and they gave their classmates plenty to cheer about. It took just five plays to score the first touchdown on a drive aided by a PF late hiit penalty on Jessop. Peeler got the call five straight times before Earl took a pitch to the right, cut back once and scored from 20 yards out to make it 7-0 with Graham Allen's extra point.
PF not only went 3-and-out but the Panthers were punting out of their own end zone and a short kick left BR just 37 yards to go for their next score. Peeler, Mike Cotton and Earl all got carries as the ball moved to the 10. From there, it was Earl three straight times, the final time on a 1-yard plunge to make it 14-0 with 3:47 left in the first quarter.
The Panthers managed a first down on their next possession but Jessop picked off Woodlief and BR, after a block in the back on the return put them at their own 40, needed just four snaps to cover the 60 yards. After short Peeler run, Jessop found Flemming on a nice catch for 45 yards and an unsportsmanlike penalty on the Panther bench moved the ball seven more yards to the 6. Two plays later, on the first play of the second quarter, Peeler scored from 5 and a two-point run by Will Field on the muddle huddle made it 22-0 with three quarters still to go.
It was one step forward for PF with Woodlief hooking up with Chad McMichael for 20 yards but then Field sacked Woodlief for a huge 18-yard loss and PF was forced to punt again deep in their own end. Earl made a nice punt return to the PF 36. The offense made use of the short field with Earl gaining 10 and then Peeler nine. Three plays later, it was Earl from 9 for a 29-0 lead with 6:12 still left in the half.
It got worse for PF on the next series as Joey Quigg intercepted Woodlief at midfield and returned the ball 42 yards to the 8. Two plays later, Peeler got his second score of the half and after a blocked PAT it was 35-0 with 3:21 left in the second quarter.
In the second half, with a running clock, BR really took the air out of the game with a 10-yard march that ended in a 26-yard field goal and that left the score where it would stand, 38-0.
|
Broad Run 38, Potomac Falls 0 |
|
|
|
(game played 10.24.08 @ Ashburn, VA) |
| |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Final |
| Potomac Falls (4-1, 7-1) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Broad Run (5-0, 8-0) |
14 |
21 |
3 |
0 |
38 |
| 1 BR - Earl 20 run (Allen kick) 9:38 |
| 1 BR - Earl 1 run (Allen kick) 3:47 |
| 2 BR - Peeler 5 run (Field run) 11:55 |
| 2 BR - Earl 9 run (Allen kick) 6:12 |
| 2 BR - Peeler 6 run (kick blocked) 3:21 |
| 3 BR - Allen 26 FG 1:00 |
|
PF |
|
BR |
|
8 |
First Downs |
14 |
|
141 |
Total Offense (Yards) |
285 |
|
17 - 9 |
Rushing - Yards |
39 - 182 |
|
132 |
Passing - Yards |
103 |
|
22 - 9 |
Passes - Completions |
11 - 5 |
|
2 |
Passes Intercepted |
0 |
|
0 |
Fumbles Lost |
0 |
|
5 - 47 |
Penalties - Yards |
4 - 43 |
Rushing
PF: Baker 9-31, McMichael 1-(-2), Woodlief 6-(-15), team 1-(-5).
BR: Peeler 17-81, Earl 11-53, Choi 3-19, Magness 3-18, Jessop 2-7, Cotton 2-6, team 1-(-2).
PassingPF: Woodlief 9-22-2 132.
BR: Jessop 4-10-0 89, Miscovich 1-1-0 14.
Receiving
PF: McMichael 5-71, Owens 2-42, Pelto 2-19.
BR: Flemming 2-60, Weaver 1-23, D'Argenio 1-14, Earl 1-6.
Michael Burnett: Broad Run Coaching Record
2006: 5-5 (3-2 district)
2007: 10-1 (7-0 district)
2008: 8-0 (5-0 district)
Total: 23-6 (15-2 district)
*Since midway through Burnett's first season, Broad Run has gone 21-2.
**In the last 19 games, the Spartans have allowed 17 or fewer points while posting a 18-1 mark.
2006
L 20-48 @ Paul VI
W 30-0 Manassas Park
L 0-20 Jefferson WV
L 14-42 Martinsburg WV
W 41-6 Freedom
L 7-23 @ Potomac Falls
W 31-13 Heritage
W 33-14 Loudoun County
W 26-14 @ Dominion
L 21-35 @ Park View7
2007
W 48-14 Wakefield
W 40-0 Ballou
W 39-6 @ Brentsville
W 21-15 @ Briar Woods
W 17-10 Heritage
W 34-17 @ Dominion
W 27-9 Loudoun County
W 16-6 @ Potomac Falls
W 49-7 @ Freedom
W 21-14 Park View
L 12-16 Park View
2008
W 31-6 @ Wakefield
W 54-14 Ballou
W 53-13 Brentsville
W 29-0 Briar Woods
W 21-13 @ Heritage
W 27-6 Dominion
W 37-17 @ Loudoun County
W 38-0 Potomac Falls
vs. Freedom
@ Park View