For Broad Run, a Season to Savor

By Paul Tenorio

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Almost exactly one hour after the final whistle sounded and the Broad Run football team charged the field, celebrating the first football state championship in school history, Spartans Coach Mike Burnett walked slowly into the end zone in the now-empty Williams Stadium in Lynchburg.

It was not quite 60 minutes since all the effort put in by Burnett and his team had come to fruition, since the plan he introduced in spring 2006 somehow had come to life.

A 5-foot-7, 160-pound running back, Breon Earl, had lowered his shoulder that night and knocked a larger linebacker clear out of the way, broken through two more tacklers and stretched his arms to reach the end zone in which Burnett was crouched. That cemented a 13-0 victory over two-time defending state champion Amherst County.

A defense that used a mix-and-match line, one that prompted a coach to claim that no one could have named a starter just a few weeks ago, had once again shut down the opposition, this time in the Virginia AA Division 4 title game.

And in unfriendly weather, two of the team's most trusted playmakers, quarterback Chris Jessop and wide receiver Adrian Flemming, who months before had quietly accepted smaller roles when the team opted for a run-first offense, had twice been called upon to come through in the clutch. Both times, they delivered.

To Burnett, Broad Run's 14-0 season had happened so quickly. So as he reached down and touched the frosty ground, the lawyer-turned-state championship-winning football coach did what he told himself he would do: give thanks to have that moment.

"Life goes by so fast. It really does," Burnett said days later. "You don't realize it, and these moments come along so seldom. Whether it's getting married, or having children, or having a moment like that with these kids."

As their coach reflected, Broad Run's players walked toward the field, dressed uniformly in maroon sweat suits.

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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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Earlier in the week, the players had reminisced about the day they met their new coach, when he flew in from California and told them they would win a state championship.

"Yeah, right," senior Shawn Lewis remembered thinking. "That's what all coaches say."

But over the next three years, Lewis would become an example of the dedication Burnett preached was necessary to turn the program around.

As would Nick Galzerano, who before this season had never played a varsity snap but had the highest offseason attendance and this year became a stalwart on the offensive line. He was the personification of Burnett's vision of building a program and not a team.

And Earl, who when asked about his memorable run, spoke first about doing whatever he could to help his team. Or linebacker Kenny McAdow, the emotional leader of the team, whom Burnett embraced in the moments after the game - an image that perhaps best sums up all that this Broad Run team built.

They, too, tried to fathom how far they had come in three years. How they had achieved a moment that, earlier in the week, Earl said he never could have dreamed.

And then, seconds after he walked onto the field, Burnett stood up. And as he turned back toward his team, the memories of the win still spinning in his head, the lights in the stadium went out.

The perfect season was over.

Tagged: Broad Run High School, football, high school sports

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