Broad Run Wins First Region Title

No. 14 Spartans Advance to State Semifinals

By Matt Brooks (Contact)

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Potomac Falls spent four weeks hoping for a rematch with Dulles District rival Broad Run after absorbing a shutout loss in the regular season and ruminated about what it would do differently the second time around.

But last night's Virginia AA Region II Division 4 title game in Ashburn was almost a carbon copy of the first meeting.

After turning over the ball on downs on their first two possessions, the No. 14 Spartans (12-0) found the end zone on their next three possessions and never looked back, putting the clamps on the district's highest-scoring offense and claiming the first region title in school history with a 33-6 win.

Photo Gallery

Broad Run Wins Region II Title

Photo: 0/1

« Previous | Next »

Larger Version

Broad Run's Didier Saidi runs back an interception against Potomac Falls in the second quarter. (Ricky Carioti)

Larger Version

Broad Run's Kenny McAdow, left, picks off a pass intended for Chris Pelto during the second quarter. (Ricky Carioti)

Larger Version

Broad Run's T.J. Peeler carries the ball past Potomac Falls' Michael Baker for a touchdown in the second quarter. (Ricky Carioti)

Larger Version

Broad Run's T.J. Peeler breaks a tackle by Potomac Falls' Chris Pelto for a touchdown in the second quarter. (Ricky Carioti)

Larger Version

Broad Run quarterback Chris Jessop throws a pass to Kenny McAdow as Potomac Falls' Zachary Duffin tries to defend in the second quarter. (Ricky Carioti)

Larger Version

Potomac Falls' Michael Baker is taken down by Broad Run's John Meier during the first quarter. (Ricky Carioti)

Larger Version

The Broad Run student section cheers their team on against Potomac Falls. (Ricky Carioti)

Larger Version

Broad Run's T.J. Peeler leaps past Potomac Falls' Leo Pittman for a touchdown run in the first quarter. (Ricky Carioti)

Larger Version

Broad Run's Mikey Cotton, right, breaks up a pass intended for Potomac Falls' Chad McMichael during first-quarter action. (Ricky Carioti)

Larger Version

Broad Run's Mikey Cotton, left, breaks up a pass intended for Potomac Falls' Chad McMichael during first-quarter action. (Ricky Carioti)

View all thumbnails

Breon Earl and T.J. Peeler ravaged the Panthers (10-2) for five touchdowns in the first matchup and the backfield duo went at it again last night. Peeler got the scoring started with 25-yard run, giving the Spartans a 7-0 lead after the first quarter. On the next possession, Earl took a pitch 24 yards down the left sideline for a score. Following another Peeler run off the left end, Earl displayed his versatility on a 35-yard punt return for a touchdown to make it 27-0.

"We step up in big games at big times and make things happen," Earl said. "That's what the team depends on and we just put the team on our back and carried them."

With the Spartans stymieing Potomac Falls's ground game, senior quarterback Gregory Woodlief was forced to throw the ball 34 times to try and dig his team out of the hole. The Panthers had a first down on Broad Run's 26-yard line late in the second quarter - their best drive of the opening half - but Kenny McAdow intercepted a Woodlief pass to end the drive.

Potomac Falls got its first and only score early in the fourth quarter when Woodlief returned a fumble 35 yards for a touchdown.

Earl led the Spartans with 111 yards on 11 carries and Peeler finished with 16 carries for 84 yards.

Prior to last week's win over Loudoun County, the Spartans hadn't won a playoff game since the school's lone postseason victory in 1991. Now, in Coach Mike Burnett's third year at the helm, they're one win away from a spot in the state title game. Broad Run will host the winner of Powhatan and Chancellor next Saturday at 2 p.m.

"Last year there was a sense of satisfaction that this group doesn't have," Burnett said. "Just winning the district isn't really enough for these kids. They think they've worked hard enough to keep playing and I think to be honest, more than anything, they just want to keep playing."

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

Your Thoughts...

Are you happy that the school year is over?