The Huddle: Spartan-Panther Point After
Potomac Falls senior QB Greg Woodlief was flustered most of the night by a blitzing Broad Run defense
Photos By Jan Johnson \ Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
Broad Run's senior RB Breon Earl scored three of the Spartans' five touchdowns on the night, two of which came in the 1st quarter.
Photos By Jan Johnson \ Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
Potomac Falls return specialist Chad McMichael found the road tough going Friday night. Of the five he attempted, only one went for more than 10 yards.
Photos By Jan Johnson \ Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA - It was touted all week long as a game for the ages...a game that would be close from start to finish...a classic high school football battle that would be remembered for a long time to come, and the winner would be the probable Dulles District champion. Well, we all got the latter correct, anyway.
The Broad Run Spartans wasted no time Friday night in dispelling the rumors that they were letting their Dulles crown slip a little bit going into their game against the Potomac Falls Panthers, as they scored early and often on the night, and the Panthers didn't know what hit them.
Receiving the ball to start the game, the Spartans took just 6 plays to score, on a Breon Earl 20 yard run, and they never looked back from there. The Panthers couldn't get anything going offensively, and seemed to be completely out of synch the entire night. Earl scored three of Broad Run's touchdowns on the night, while junior T.J. Peeler ran in the other two.
Many "firsts" happened Friday for the Panthers...and none of them good. The 38 points allowed was the largest point total given up by the team on the season. Mike "Touchdown Maker" Baker was not only kept out of the end zone by a hard hitting, swarming Broad Run defense, but he was held to his lowest yardage accumulation as well, with 29 yards on 8 carries. QB Greg Woodlief was flustered for most of the game and chased all night long, keeping him from being able to make plays on the run. And the telling statistic is the fact that this was the 1st time the Panthers trailed in a ball game this season, and many questioned how they would be able to tailor their game if that were to happen. Question answered? Maybe. But I'm not quite sold on that yet.
The the bottom line on the story for the night? Broad Run could do no wrong, offensively and defensively, while Potomac Falls didn't get much right.
After all was said and done, the Spartans now have a fairly easy track to garner their 2nd consecutive undefeated regular season record, and Dulles District title. They will host the Freedom Eagles this Friday, and travel to play the Park View Patriots in two weeks. The latter of which should be another "microscope" game, as this would be a rematch of last year's game in which the Spartans dethroned the Patriots, but lost the following week in the 1st round of the Region II tournament. Both games were in Ashburn, and don't think for a moment the Patriots won't be thinking about a little payback, for a small measure of regular season bragging rights.
The Panthers are still favored to be entered into the Region II tournament in 3 weeks, but their road is a little more thorny. They must host the Briar Woods Falcons on Friday, who thumped the Heritage Pride this past weekend, 30-9. They cap the regular season with a trip across Algonkian Parkway to play the Dominion Titans. Should they come out on top this week, however, they ought to be a lock for the post-season, and could see the Spartans yet again.
But should that scenario play out, which Panther team will show up? The team that dominated opponents in their 1st seven games, or the team that traveled to Ashburn this past Friday? That game will be back in Ashburn, and the Maroon Crew will be lathered for that rematch!
OK...I've skirted the underlying issue throughout this piece. That issue being (if this is the 1st day you have ever logged on to this website), am I sold on the fact that the Broad Run Spartans are the cream of the Dulles District crop, and was my assertion that the Panthers were the District's elite was off base? Well, sure! The Spartans left no doubt on Friday, in my mind, that they are now deserved of my praise. Hail to the Spartans! But if you REALLY read my earlier opinion piece, nowhere in there did I say anything to the contrary. All I said was that I had some questions. And those have been soundly answered. But as for me being off the Potomac Falls bandwagon...don't quite push me off just yet...! I still believe this team has a lot to show in the 2nd season. Stay tuned!
