Broad Run Blanks Briar Woods | LoudounExtra.com

After three games against nondistrict opponents that presented little challenge for either team, Broad Run and Briar Woods were raring to go by the time kickoff came around Friday in Ashburn.

The Falcons' defense had given up 13 total yards of offense in the previous two games, and the Spartans' offense was a scoring machine. Spectators knew one of the units would have to leave the field with a less impressive résumé.

Although those qualities had entered the game with much of the hype, it was Broad Run's defense that stole the show, allowing just 156 yards of total offense and shutting out the Falcons in an impressive 29-0 victory.

Media reports "were saying that Briar Woods was the best defense in the district," Broad Run linebacker Mikey Cotton said. "And we just took that upon ourselves to come out tonight and show that we are the best. And I think we proved it."

The Spartans' strong play on the Falcons' first two drives resulted in two punts, and with the short field Broad Run quickly took advantage and jumped to a 16-0 lead that put Briar Woods in a deep hole.

The Spartans started the game strong, with Breon Earl taking a pitch right for what looked like a halfback option before reversing fields and picking up 33 yards when the play broke down.

The run set up a seven-yard score from Chris Jessop, and after the Falcons' first punt, Broad Run's offense again went back to work. This time, the Spartans moved the ball more methodically on the ground, and after Earl's 12-yard touchdown run was called back for a chop block, they settled for a field goal.

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Broad Run Shuts Out Briar Woods

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Broad Run quarterback Chris Jessop gets a pass off past Briar Woods' Andrew Davidson during the third quarter on Friday night. (Ricky Carioti)

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Broad Run's Breon Earl (23) is off and running for a touchdown in the second quarter past Briar Woods' Bryan Mahoney, left, and Essray Taliaferro, right, on Friday night. (Ricky Carioti)

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Broad Run quarterback Chris Jessop makes a second-quarter run as Briar Woods' Jake Ashton tries to tackle him on Friday night. (Ricky Carioti)

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Broad Run students cheer on their team against Briar Woods on Friday night. The students dressed in pink to participate in the "Pink-Aid" program for breast cancer awareness. (Ricky Carioti)

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Broad Run's Didier Saidi makes a first-quarter catch in front of Briar Woods' Victor Rizzardi on Friday night. (Ricky Carioti)

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The Broad Run football team makes their way onto the field Friday night before facing Briar Woods. (Ricky Carioti)

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Broad Run's David Weaver catches a touchdown pass while being defended by Briar Woods' Victor Rizzardi in the third quarter Friday night. (Ricky Carioti)

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But another strong defensive series gave Broad Run the ball again, this time at Briar Woods' 21-yard line after a 29-yard punt return from Earl. One play later, Jessop found Didier Saidi on a touchdown pass to give Broad Run the big lead.

After the game, Broad Run Coach Mike Burnett praised his defense and special teams.

"We felt we had a short field all night long," Burnett said. "Graham [Allen]'s kicking the ball through the uprights on kickoffs, so they're starting on the 20. I don't think they started outside the 20, and I think that really played against what they do."

Briar Woods looked as if it was going to rally, moving the ball by pounding the middle of Broad Run's defense with bruising backs Billy McDonald and Andrew Davidson, but the drive stalled after 19 plays. Broad Run went up 23-0 after Earl's 11-yard touchdown run minutes later.

Broad Run 29, Briar Woods 0

BOX SCORE

Broad Run has won 14 straight regular-season games and continues to establish itself as the favorite to defend its district title from last year. But Burnett said his team is not satisfied.

"We worry about where we are in December," he said. "We've got goals set, and this was one of them. So that feels good. And now we've got to go after the next one."