Broad Run Pulls Away From County

Football Roundup: No. 20 Spartans Stay Undefeated Behind Peeler, Vikings Win First, Panthers Roll

by Nathan Curby

Saturday, October 18, 2008

It was all about the big plays for Broad Run Friday night, as they recovered from an early deficit to defeat Loudoun County, 37-17, in Leesburg in a Virginia AA Dulles District game.

Most of the game was evenly matched, but big plays helped Broad Run roll over Loudoun County. Four of the Spartans’ five touchdowns came on running plays of more than 60 yards. Running back T.J. Peeler scored four times on only seven carries and totaling 243 yards, an average of 35 yards per carry.

The Raiders scored first on a 32-yard field goal after recovering a fumble on Broad Run’s first possession. Loudoun County’s defense came up big again on the next series, forcing the Spartans into a 3-and-out, but the Raiders defense could not capitalize, and was forced to punt.

Two plays later, Peeler took the ball 63 yards into the end zone to take the lead, and the Spartans (7-0, 4-0) never looked back.

The Loudoun County offense quickly marched down to the Broad Run 35 on the next drive, but lost the ball and their momentum when a completed pass squirted out of the hands of running back Spencer Green and went 20 yards into the end zone, where Broad Run recovered it for a touchback.

The very next play was an 80-yard touchdown run by running back Breon Earl. The Spartans later added a field goal, but because they had missed one of their extra point attempts, the Raiders still trailed by less than two touchdowns at the half, down 16-3.

But in the third quarter, Broad Run sealed the game shut. Capitalizing on Raider miscues, the Spartans scored on runs of 78 and 84 yards before adding one final third-quarter touchdown on a relatively boring eight-yard run to make the game 37-3.

Loudoun County scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to make the score closer, but never came close to catching up.

Loudoun Valley Wins First Game Under McGrath

Loudoun Valley broke through on Friday and won its first game under Coach Danny McGrath, knocking off host Culpeper, 27-7 in a Virginia AAA Cedar Run District matchup. Vikings running back Chris Music carried the load, rushing 30 times for 179 yards and three touchdowns. Read the Star-Exponent's recap of the game here.

In Other Games...

Potomac Falls kept pace with Broad Run with a big win of its own, this one a 54-0 win over Freedom on Friday.

The Panthers got out in front quickly despite running only three offensive plays in the first quarter thanks to the defense returning three interceptions for touchdowns. Tarrell Owens took two back, including one for 22 yards on Freedom's first offensive play from scrimmage. He returned another one for 23 yards that staked Potomac Falls to a 34-0 lead after one quarter.

The Panthers (7-0, 4-0 Dulles District) added three more scores in the second quarter, including a second touchdown run by Gregory Woodlief and a 76-yard touchdown pass to Chad McMichael. Woodlief rushed for 68 yards and two scores and was 3-of-5 passing for 124 yards. Neither team scored in the second half as Potomac Falls pulled its starters in anticipation of next Friday's showdown with undefeated Broad Run in Ashburn.

Also in Sterling, Brian Rody's 18-yard touchdown pass to Russell East in the fourth quarter gave Heritage a hard-fought 14-7 win over Dominion in a Dulles District matchup.

Ross Madison rushed 27 times for 145 yards for the Pride (5-2, 2-2), which won its second straight district game.

Aaron Good accounted for Dominion's scoring with a 14-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. Sophomore running back Deandre Reaves had 45 yards rushing for the Titans (1-6, 1-3).

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, Potomac Falls High School

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