Park View Pulls It Out on Trick Play in 4th Quarter

Leizear Catches Winning Pass

By Paul Tenorio

Saturday, November 17, 2007

With his team trailing by two points late in the fourth quarter, Park View quarterback C.J. Leizear knelt on the field and looked up at Coach Andy Hill. Leizear held his hands up to Hill in a diamond shape, indicating that on Broad Run's touchdown pass seconds earlier, the ball had slipped right through.

"Next play," shouted Hill to his star quarterback. "Next play!"

It was a mantra the coach had repeated throughout the year whenever a play went right or wrong, and six plays later, the advice proved valuable as Leizear caught the game-winning 44-yard touchdown pass from running back Eric Johnston on a trick play in Park View's 16-12 victory.

"It's something they preach: You always have the next play until that clock says zero zero," Leizear said. "And the next play came eventually, and we got it done."

On the play, Leizear, who is 18 today, turned and pitched the ball to Johnston before turning and running up the opposite sideline. Johnston took a couple of steps right and then pulled up and lofted a pass to Leizear, who beat the cornerback and hauled in the catch.

"I had confidence in myself and just said, 'Eric, give me a chance,' " Leizear said. "In practice he's kind of thrown it short a little bit, but in the game he looks like Peyton Manning out there."

The win comes just seven days after Broad Run defeated Park View for the Dulles District championship, and many of the Park View players said they had been excited all week about the opportunity to play the Spartans again.

Photo Gallery

Park View Defeats Broad Run

Photo: 0/1

« Previous | Next »

Larger Version

Park View players get fired up before the game against Broad Run. Park View won, 16-12. (Tracy A. Woodward)

Larger Version

Broad Run's No. 5 Tommy Meier is stopped by Park View's No. 9 Eric Johnston and No. 16 Clayton Parker with 9:57 left in the first quarter. (Tracy A. Woodward)

Larger Version

Park View's No. 9 Eric Johnston is finally stopped by Broad Run's No. 32 Kenny McAdow in the fourth quarter with 9:05 left on the clock. (Tracy A. Woodward)

Larger Version

With 3:26 left in the first quarter, Park View's No. 9 Eric Johnston breaks a tackle by Broad Run's No. 32 Kenny McAdow. (Tracy A. Woodward)

Larger Version

With 7:06 left in the first quarter, Park View's No. 5 Josh Jones breaks through tackles by Broad Run's No. 51 Matt Escano and No. 5 Tommy Meier. (Tracy A. Woodward)

Larger Version

Broad Run's No. 22 Joey Quigg almost makes it to the Patriot 10-yard line before being pulled down by Park View's No. 10 C.J. Leizear with 4.2 seconds left in the second quarter. (Tracy A. Woodward)

Larger Version

Park View's No. 10 C.J. Leizear looks to pass in the second quarter with 5:20 on the clock. (Tracy A. Woodward)

Larger Version

Park View's No. 10 C.J. Leizear fakes a handoff and runs the ball himself in the third quarter with 11:02 remaining. (Tracy A. Woodward)

Larger Version

Park View's No. 9 Eric Johnston makes a big run in the second quarter with 10:47 remaining. He makes it to Broad Run's 35-yard line. (Tracy A. Woodward)

View all thumbnails

"As soon as Friday ended, we just said we have seven days left," wide receiver Ryan Pick said. "Our mind-set was just revenge. They embarrassed us, and people said they were the better team. And we came out to prove something different."

The Patriots took a 3-0 lead on Clayton Parker's 25-yard field goal late in the first quarter. The Spartans responded immediately, jumping in front behind a heavy dose of running back Breon Earl, which set up Cole Shain's 1-yard touchdown run.

Park View wasted no time reestablishing its lead as the team marched 73 yards on eight plays, capped by Johnston's one-yard score, to take a 10-6 lead at the half.

The second half was a defensive battle until late in the fourth quarter, when Chris Jessop's playmaking ability moved Broad Run down the field. On third and two at the Patriots' 23, Jessop took the snap and rolled right, avoiding a sack before unleashing a sharp pass as he was hit. The ball went through Leizear's hands and right to sophomore Adrian Flemming to give Broad Run the 12-10 lead.

"I told [Jessop] I wish he was a senior," Hill said. "He's a kid that can play two or three positions at the next level."

But in the end, another of Hill's signature trick plays gave the Patriots the victory. And with the win, the Patriots advance to the Region II championship next week against Sherando.

"We have about an hour" to celebrate the win, Leizear said. "Then we got to come back tomorrow and get ready for Sherando."

Tagged: high school sports

Your Thoughts...

What do you think about Barack Obama’s decision against choosing Tim Kaine as his running mate?