Championship Friday: Broad Run vs Park View
#7 Park View @ #8 Broad Run
Kickoff: Friday 7:30pm
Where: Broad Run High School
Broadcast Media:
TCC Sports Game of the Week
Coverage: Starts at 6:30pm On
The Gameday Radio Network
At www.GamedayMagazine.com
Commentators:
Bruce Bornarth - Play by Play
Andy Hayes - Color Commentary
Shannon Shepherd - Sideline
ASHBURN, VA - And then there were two. This Friday's match-up between the Park View Patriots and the Broad Run Spartans has been circled on the schedule since the summer, and judgment day is finally here. Just two years removed from a 1-9 season, the Spartans are 9-0 and have been impressive under second year head coach Michael Burnett. Broad Run has a talented running attack with juniors Breon Earl and Kenny McAdow leading the way. The Spartans will get their biggest test of the year Friday when they host the defending Dulles District champion Park View Patriots in what many are calling "The Game of the Year".
Park View has won 18 of its last 20 games dating back to the start of the 2006 season, and Patriot head coach Andy Hill is 2-0 against the Spartans. Last year's season finale featuring these two teams was a close hard fought game with Park View prevailing and winning the outright Dulles District title. It's been decades since the Broad Run community has had an undefeated team entering the last week of the regular season, and that has the Spartan faithful buzzing about the possibilities of knocking off the defending champs on Friday night. Let's get to the breakdown.
Key Match-ups
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Broad Run Offensive Line vs Park View Defensive Line
The cliché that coaches like to use to describe this match-up is, "The game will be won in the trenches", but it couldn't be more accurate for Friday's match-up. Broad Run has a big strong offensive line led by returning All Gameday tackle Bryan Morrison. The Spartans have been able to run the ball against everyone but Heritage, but they will face their toughest defensive pressure with Park View Friday. The Patriots, led by returning All Gameday defensive end Thomas Mulabah, can disrupt any good running game, and that will be the key match-up to watch in this game. The team that wins this battle should win the game. I have my doubts about Broad Run's ability to handle Mulabah and if Kenny Smith returns to play this week, it could mean bad things for the Spartan offense.... Advantage = Park View
Park View Wide Receivers vs Broad Run Secondary
The Patriots have scorched opposing defenses all season long with quarterback C.J Leizear throwing for a league best 29 touchdowns and nearly 3,000 yards. The Patriots have some solid weapons with Danny Foley (10 Touchdowns), Ryan Pick (5 TD's) and Tommy Sedeski (9TD's), but Park View hasn't faced a secondary like they will see on Friday against Broad Run. The Spartans will feature two of the best cover corners in the district in Chris Jessop and sophomore Joey Quigg. Jessop and Quigg are physical and athletic players who can run with the Patriots all day long. Add 6'4 safety Adrian Flemming into the mix and you have to give the athletic edge to Broad Run. While Leizear's numbers are impressive, his 16 interceptions should be a concern for Patriot fans. If Broad Run can limit Leizear's ability to hit the big play, and then capitalize on any mistakes made by Leizear and crew, the Spartans should have the advantage in this match-up..... Advantage = Broad Run
Nuggets of the Game:
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For Park View:
- Limit Turnovers
- Stop The Spartan Run Game
- Play 4 Quarters Of Patriot Football
For Broad Run:
- Win The Line Of Scrimmage
- Maintain Balance On Offense
- Capitalize On Patriot Mistakes
Breaking Down The Coaches:
Michael Burnett:
Broad Run High School
Record: 14-5
Post-Season: (0-0)
Burnett is from the West Coast, but he doesn't run the West Coast offense. Watch the Spartans for one game and you'll see that Burnett believes in running the football predominately. Broad Run will take some chances down the field with Adrian Flemming because he will give Park View match-up issues with his size, but don't expect the Spartans to throw the ball 40 times in this game unless they fall way behind. Burnett's ability to instill confidence in his players is what makes him a special coach, and Broad Run couldn't have made a better hire.
Andy Hill:
Park View High School
Record: 23-8
Post-Season: (0-2)
Park View's Andy Hill has shown in just three seasons that he knows how to get the most out of his talent. Last year's Patriot squad was run dominant, posting record numbers in the running game behind All Gameday Player of the Year Deric Dudinski. This year's Patriots are setting records by throwing the football with senior quarterback C.J Leizear throwing for 29 touchdowns this season. As much as Hill wants to win it all, he is all about making sure his kids have fun with their playing experience at Park View. His players will run through a wall for him and they will play at a high level in this game against Broad Run for their head coach. Without question, Hill is one of the best young coaches in the game in Northern Virginia.
All Gameday Players To Watch:
Cole Shain - Quarterback (2006)
Broad Run Spartans
While Broad Run has won more games this year, quarterback Cole Shain's numbers are about the same as last year with one big exception, his interception totals. Shain threw 7 interceptions in 2006 but this season, has been picked off just three times. If he can limit his mistakes against Park View, the Spartans will have a great chance to win the game.
Thomas Mulabah - Defensive End (2006)
Park View Patriots
Mulabah will be the best football player on the field when his Patriots face Broad Run on Friday night, and if Broad Run has any chance of winning, they better come up with an answer for him. Mulabah has 33 tackles for a loss and 11.5 sacks through 9 games and is by far the most disruptive defensive player in the state of Virginia. Look for Mulabah to play a pivotal role in the outcome of this game.
Expert Prognostication:
In the September Football Preview edition of Gameday Magazine, we tabbed Broad Run to win this game and finish 10-0. We predicted Park View to finish 9-1 with their only loss coming to the Spartans. So, with week 10 of the season here and both Park View and Broad Run undefeated, we actually might have this thing pegged right. However, in recent weeks, Park View has started to correct some of the mistakes and appears to be ready to finally play a mistake free football game just in time for Broad Run on Friday. The Spartans haven't beaten Park View in years, in fact, quarterback Cole Shain was in elementary school the last time that happened. That being said, you'll have to listen to Gameday All Access to get my prediction along with Bruce Bornarth's.
Weather Forecast:
High of 52 degrees and low of 34 degrees, showers possible.
