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Broad Run's Chairmen of Defense
Spartans Pitch a Shutout on the Biggest Stage
By Matt Brooks
Saturday, December 6, 2008
LYNCHBURG — Facing a fourth-and-two from its 44-yard line and trailing Broad Run 7-0 with 6 minutes 30 seconds left in the Virginia AA Division 4 state championship game, Amherst County lined up to punt.
Preparing for a fake, Spartans defensive coordinator Adam Fortune left his defense on the field. The Lancers went for it anyway, snapping the ball directly to quarterback Anthony Rose who ran left toward the marker. But he never got close.
Junior defensive back Joey Quigg hit Rose in the chest, wrapped him up and drove him backward for a two-yard loss, giving the ball back to Broad Run's offense. The Spartans then marched 54 yards on a 12-play drive capped by Breon Earl's two-yard touchdown run, giving them a 13-0 lead they would hold onto to secure the first state football title in school history.
"We always have fake punt in the back of our head, especially in a situation like that," Quigg said. "I was just thinking the whole time, 'Watch the fake, watch the fake.' And I’m sure my whole team was thinking the same thing. It was a heads-up play."
Photo Gallery
Broad Run Wins State Title
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Broad Run running back Breon Earl runs over Amherst County's Chris McDaniel during the first quarter. (John McDonnell)
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Broad Run running T.J. Peeler breaks free of Amherst County's A.J. Parrish and looks to be on his way to an easy touchdown. But Peeler placed the ball down on the five-yard line of the snow-covered field thinking he was already in the end zone. The Lancers recovered the ball. (John McDonnell)
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Amherst County recovers the ball after T.J. Peeler placed it on what he thought was the end zone but was in fact a few yards outside. Adrian Flemming, right, tries to recover for Broad Run. (John McDonnell)
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Amherst County's Jamal Glover is wrapped up by Broad Run linebacker Johnny Meier at the line of scrimmage. (John McDonnell)
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Broad Run quarterback Chris Jessop has the ball jarred loose by Amherst County's Timmy Johnson in the second quarter. (John McDonnell)
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Broad Run's Breon Earl is brought down by Amherst County's Tyrease Brown on a second quarter punt return. (John McDonnell)
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Broad Run quarterback pitches out during the second quarter in the snow. (John McDonnell)
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Broad Run's Adrian Flemming is upended by Amherst County's Chris McDaniel in the second quarter after catching a pass. (John McDonnell)
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Broad Run wide receiver Adrian Flemming hauls in a 10-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Chris Jessop just before halftime to break a scoreless tie. (John McDonnell)
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Broad Run linebacker Johnny Meier hits Amherst County quarterback Anthony Rose in the second quarter. The Lancers only had seven first downs in the game. (John McDonnell)
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Bundled-up Broad Run fans rejoice during the game. (John McDonnell)
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Broad Run's Kevin Sandersen wraps up Amherst County quarterback Anthony Rose as other Spartans' defenders close in. (John McDonnell)
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The celebration begins as Broad Run players and staff spill onto the field, including assistant coach Jason Dawson, who eschewed the long sleeves for Saturday's game. (John McDonnell)
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Broad Run quarterback Chris Jessop, left, and running back Breon Earl embrace after the game. Jessop threw a 10-yard touchdown pass and Breon Earl scored on a two-yard run to account for the Spartans' scoring in their 13-0 victory. (John McDonnell)
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Broad Run coach Mike Burnett and senior linebacker Kenny McAdow celebrate after the game. (John McDonnell)
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In only his third year with the team, Coach Mike Burnett led the Spartans to their first ever state title. (John McDonnell)
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Broad Run Coach Mike Burnett holds the state championship trophy while addressing the team. (John McDonnell)
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In sub-freezing temperatures and heavy snow flurries, both offenses struggled to move the ball. Two first half fumbles on Broad Run's first two offensive drives only escalated the pressure on the Spartans' defense.
But the defense – the backbone of Broad Run’s team all season – held strong, limiting the Lancers (12-2) to 2.9 yards per carry and 97 total yards for the game. Amherst County never approached the Spartans' end zone, even after recovering a second-quarter fumble at Broad Run's 29-yard line. That was the closest they would get.
"We figured it was going to be a defensive game because they hadn't put a huge amount of points on the board in the playoffs against some decent teams and we really hadn't either," Fortune said. "We figured we were going to have to come out and play really, really well and it's a testament to the kids.
"The last couple games I haven't called anything as the defensive coordinator, we just play. We put in a few checks, a few adjustments that we're going to do when they do certain things and it's just a testament to them because they execute the game plan. Kenny [McAdow] keeps looking over for me to call something and I just keep giving him the, 'Yeah, run the same thing.'"
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With The Spartans (14-0) trailing 7-0 at the half, the pressure remained on the defense to hold the Lancers and hope their offense could give them a bigger cushion. That cushion didn't come until Earl's run with 56 seconds left in the game, but that didn't stop the defense from holding Amherst County to two second-half first downs and only four minutes of possession in the fourth quarter. The Lancers never got past Broad Run's 44-yard line after the intermission.
"We just pushed them up and down the field," McAdow said. "We felt like we had control the entire game. Obviously we would've liked to have another touchdown, but we were excited and defensively we were just flying around making plays."
The Spartans picked up their third shutout of the season and first since blanking Potomac Falls 38-0 on Oct. 24. But their defense finished the season allowing 11.6 points per game after stifling the reigning two-time state champions.
"We felt we could drive the ball on them but we knew to win this game it was going to be defense," senior defensive end Shawn Lewis said. "We always say defense which championships and we proved that here tonight."
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