Earl Leads Spartans In Route Of Panthers
Broad Run's Breon Earl is off to the races as he scores one of the Spartans' five touchdowns on the night...
Photos by Jan Johnson \ Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
Broad Run's T.J. Peeler outraces Potomac Falls' Greg Woodlief, enroute to one of his two touchdowns on the night. The Spartans remain undefeated on the season, at 8-0, with the win.
Photos by Jan Johnson \ Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
ASHBURN, VA - It is hardly surprising that Broad Run's explosive offense put up 38 points in their home game Oct. 24 with Potomac Falls. What is surprising is that the Spartans (5-0 in the Dulles District, 8-0 overall) ran up 35 of those points before the first half was over.
What might be more surprising still is that the Panthers' own dynamic offense, the most prolific in the Dulles District, was held scoreless throughout the game. "We brought our best game. That's our best effort right there," Broad Run coach Mike Burnett said.
His counterpart, Panther coach Scott Woodlief, had said during the week that control of the line of scrimmage would be crucial to the outcome. "They beat us up front. I think defensively and offensively they got the best of us tonight," he said. "We just didn't play fundamental football tonight."
Potomac Falls didn't cross the 50-yard-line until the third quarter, when a running clock had already begun due to the 35-point differential.
Their longest rush on the night was an eight-yard scramble by quarterback Gregory Woodlief. The Panther signal-caller garnered just three total yards rushing, discounting 23 lost from sacks.
The senior did achieve some success through the air, going 8 of 20 for 113 yards. Joey Quigg and Chris Jessop each intercepted Woodlief.
Potomac Falls' Michael Baker, who came into the contest with a 122-yard average, was shut down by Broad Run's sure-tackling defense to the tune of 14 yards on eight carries.
The Spartans' rushing tandem of Breon Earl and T.J. Peeler combined for all five touchdowns. Earl finished with 55 yards on 10 carries while Peeler covered 78 yards on 16 attempts.
"When you can switch gears from Breon to T.J. -- they're very different types of backs -- I would hate to try to defend those kids with how hard they run and the cuts they make," Burnett said.
Consequently, quarterback Jessop didn't need to put the ball in the air often, completing just four of his 10 throws. He moved his teammates for chunks of land when he did throw, gaining 80 yards. Both of receiver Adrian
Flemming's receptions were impressive athletic feats, good for 61 yards.
Potomac Falls did have a chance to put points on the board in the fourth quarter. With first and goal on Broad Run's four-yard line, Woodlief attempted three shots into the endzone, each of which was broken up by a fine play from a Spartan defensive back, preserving the shutout.
The Panthers (4-1, 7-1) fall into a tie for second with Briar Woods, who will visit Potomac Falls Oct. 31.
The same night, the Spartans play their penultimate game of the regular season against visiting Freedom.
