Broad Run Blows Out Ballou, 54-14

Jessop Accounts for Four Touchdowns

By Matt Brooks (Contact)

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Chris Jessop threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more as Broad Run cracked 30 points for the second straight game, hammering Ballou, 54-14.

The Spartans scored on their first six possessions, including Jessop's 65-yard scamper on their third play from scrimmage to start the offensive onslaught. Seven different Spartans found the end zone as Broad Run ran all over the visiting Knights, outrushing their guests 273 to 114 on 16 fewer carries.

In only his second game in Broad Run's new spread offense, Jessop finished with 97 yards rushing and was 4-of-8 passing for 53 yards before sitting down following his second rushing touchdown with the Spartans leading 40-6 and 9:44 left in the third quarter.

"I felt comfortable back there," Jessop said. "But it's kind of hard not to succeed with all the playmakers I have around me."

Several of those playmakers also showcased their game-changing ability with big plays through the air and on the ground. Senior Breon Earl rushed for 77 yards on 11 carries, scoring on a 17-yard scamper just before halftime to give the Spartans a 33-6 advantage going into the intermission.

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Broad Run's Breon Earl grabs a swig of water before the Spartans game against Ballou on Friday night in Ashburn. Earl rushed for 77 yards and a touchdown as the Spartans defeated the Knights, 54-14. (Matt Brooks)

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Broad Run linebacker Kenny McAdow (72) leads the team in a pre-game prayer before the Spartans game against Ballou on Friday night. (Matt Brooks)

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Broad Run senior running back Breon Earl turns the corner during a first down run against Ballou on Friday night. Earl finished with 77 yards rushing and a touchdown as the Spartans hammered the Knights, 54-14. (Matt Brooks)

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Broad Run quarterback Chris Jessop busts through the pile for his second rushing touchdown during the third quarter of the Spartans' 54-14 win against Ballou on Friday night. Jessop rushed for 98 yards and two scores and threw for two more as the Spartans put up more than 40 points for the second consecutive week. (Matt Brooks)

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Sophomore running back T.J. Peeler was limited to only two carries, but made the most of them for the second straight week, scoring a 20-yard touchdown in the first quarter and busting loose for a 23-yard run to the one yard line that set up Jessop’s one-yard plunge early in the 3rd quarter.

"A lot of these kids are really great players and they're statistics aren't going to be up there," Broad Run Coach Mike Burnett said. "People who are very statistic-oriented want to see kids get 20 carries. If I could give T.J. the ball 20 times, I wonder what I could do. But at the same time, that means Breon doesn't touch the ball, and he’s an all-region player. And Chris is not going to throw the ball, and I think he's probably one of the best quarterbacks in the region. And Adrian [Flemming], a six-foot-four receiver who's a Division I recruit. It's a dilemma."

While showcasing all of his top talents is tricky, it's a conundrum Burnett is willing to deal with, especially if it helps his team score 40 or more points every time out. The Spartans' new spread offense appears perfectly suited for its bevy of talented backs and receivers and Burnett is making a concerted effort to keep all of them happy.

As Earl trotted off the field following his touchdown run, Burnett said, "See, I told you I'd get you one."

In two games, Earl has now compiled 208 total offensive yards and two touchdowns.

"We're all greedy for the ball, but at the same time, we're very supportive of one another when we don't have it," Earl said. "I think that brings us up. Everybody knows that the skill players are going to get theirs. Just keep doing what you're doing, because you're going to get the ball."

The Spartans jumped out to 14-0 lead following Peeler's touchdown run with 4:24 left in the opening quarter. Ballou responded with a 15-play, 80-yard drive capped by sophomore quarterback Delonte Edwards' one-yard run.

Broad Run came right back with a nine-play drive of their own that ended in Jessop’s nine-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Didier Saidi in the back right corner of the end zone. After a botched snap on the Knights' attempted punt, junior DB/WR David Weaver drilled Ballou punter Johnathan Robinson to give the Spartans a first down on the Knights' 35-yard line.

Two plays later, Weaver was in the end zone, celebrating his 23-yard touchdown catch, the second TD pass thrown by Jessop.

"We weren't happy with our offense last week," Burnett said of his team’s 41-6 opening week victory over Wakefield. "We expected to be a little smoother than we were last week. And I think that paid off tonight."

After Jessop's second rushing touchdown, Burnett pulled most of his starters, giving his younger players valuable game experience.

Defensively the Spartans were up to the task of stopping the Knights' rushing attack – even without the benefit game film. Ballou rushed the ball 42 times (out of 49 total offensive plays) but managed only 114 yards on the ground. Senior linebacker Kenny McAdow had several big hits as Broad Run forced six fumbles (two by senior LB Mikey Cottom) and four Ballou turnovers.

"We didn't have a single bit of film on them so we really had no idea what they were going to be running," McAdow said. "We thought they were going to be coming out in a spread and just trying to toss the ball around, but we knew that they'd had a lot of success in Pro-I in the past, so we prepared for both. But we're a run first defense. We have eight in the box going down hill toward the line of scrimmage, making plays there."

The Spartans have an off week coming up, then they'll host Brentsville before starting their Dulles District schedule with two tough matchups, at home against Briar Woods and at Heritage. Despite their strong performances in their first two games, Burnett said he plans to work his players hard during the bye week as they prepare for the rest of the season.

"We try to keep the intensity really high in practice and simulate game situations as best we can," Burnett said. "I think two or three weeks from now when we play Heritage or Briar Woods, are starters are going to be out there [for the full game]. They need to get prepared for that. So that's one of the reasons we're coming here tomorrow. A lot of people say: 'Really? You’re going to run them hard tomorrow?' Yeah, we’re going to run them real hard tomorrow because a lot of these kids played half a game. We've got to ask them to push that much harder."

Notes: An example of leaving it all on the field: After a stretch of 11 plays, 7 of which were hand-offs to him, Ballou senior running back Marcus Horne vomited through his facemask while lined up in the backfield. He stayed on the field, was handed the ball again and promptly fumbled it after first contact with a defender. The Knights recovered and after taking one play off to rehydrate, Horne was back out on the field to give it another go. … Weaver is becoming quite the big-play guy for the Spartans. Last week against Wakefield, he caught a 49-yard pass to setup a touchdown and forced a Warriors safety. On Friday night, he was at it again, tackling Ballou’s punter and catching a 23-yard touchdown pass. … By the fourth quarter, the Spartans were so far down their depth chart that following a Marlon Rios-Fuentes running play during which someone from the sideline shouted, “Go Marlon!” Broad Run kicker Graham Allen turned to Earl and asked “Who’s Marlon?” ... Maybe the only negative for the Spartans was a first-quarter leg injury to junior linebacker Tyler Johnson, who had to be helped off the field following Edwards' touchdown run and did not return.

Extra Points

By Paul Tenorio and Matt Brooks