Friday Football Roundup

Valley Falls, Broad Run Stays Undefeated

by Nathan Curby

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Loudoun Valley stayed close Friday night but gave up one too many big plays, losing at home to the Liberty Eagles, 23-14, in a Virginia AAA Cedar Run District matchup.

The difference in the game was a third-quarter breakdown that came right after a huge defensive stop for Valley. The Vikings' defense held Liberty at the one-yard-line on fourth down to regain possession of the ball, but the offense, trapped deep in their own territory, went backwards on the first play for a safety.

Valley attempted an onside free kick, but the ball failed to go ten yards, and the Eagles recovered the ball at the Vikings’ 29. Liberty quickly took advantage of the good field position and the tired defense to score a touchdown in only three plays. Eight points of Valley’s final nine-point deficit had come within a minute.

Liberty outdid Valley with 348 yards of total offense to Valley’s 225 yards, but the Vikings came up with two big plays to keep the score close. Their first touchdown came with no time left at the end of the first half on a 31-yard pass from quarterback Iain Mottice to wide receiver Connor Smith, who fought two defenders to come down with the ball in the end zone. The Vikings went into halftime trailing 8-6.

The Eagles were led by running back Corey Lillard, who carried the ball seven times for 123 yards and two touchdowns, including the 13-yard run after Valley’s safety and a 45-yard score late in the fourth quarter to put Liberty ahead 23-6.

Valley answered that touchdown with 23-yard touchdown pass from Mottice to receiver Peter Evans. Valley’s two-point conversion was successful, and they recovered their onside kick to get one last chance at the end zone, but the drive ended when Lillard picked off Mottice’s pass, and the Eagles ran the final seconds off the clock.

Valley forced five turnovers in the game, recovering four fumbles and getting one interception, but the offense gave up seven turnovers on three fumbles and four interceptions.

Loudoun Valley travels to Haymarket next week to take on Battlefield in their last game of the season, and Valley’s final chance at finishing with two wins.

In Dulles District Action...

T.J. Peeler had 11 rushes for 210 yards and three touchdowns to lead No. 17 Broad Run to a 44-22 victory over Freedom in Ashburn. The Eagles (1-8, 0-6) took a 7-0 lead on a T.J. Mizzell before the Spartans (9-0, 6-0) scored 30 unanswered points.

Freedom clawed back to within 30-22 on Mizzell's second touchdown before Peeler scored two late touchdowns to put the game out of reach.

In Leesburg, Loudoun County assured itself of no worse than a .500 season with a 26-6 victory over Dominion. The Raiders (5-4, 3-3) jumped out to a 20-0 lead behind two second-quarter touchdowns from Andrew Walczak and cruised from there. The Titans (1-8, 1-5) were led by Deandre Reaves, who rushed for 85 yards.

Across town, Heritage overcame the loss of Ross Madison to cruise to a 41-13 win over Park View. The Pride (6-3, 3-3) rushed for 252 yards and got two rushing touchdowns apiece from Zach Gordon and Cody Beard.

Tagged: Broad Run High School, Dominion High School, football, Freedom High School , Heritage High School, high school sports, Loudoun County High School, Loudoun Valley High School, Park View High School

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