Peeler's 4TD's Lead Spartans Past Raiders
LEESBURG, VA- T.J. Peeler broke off three of his four touchdown runs during a six-minute span of the third quarter, propelling the Broad Run Spartans to a 37-17 road victory Friday evening against the Loudoun County Raiders.
Peeler was seeing his first full-time action since coming back from a fractured right elbow which forced him to miss three games. He collected 224 of his 242 yards on three carries.
"It was great to come back," the junior said. "It was great to show everybody that I really love to play football."
Running mate Breon Earl lept over a defender and sprinted 80 yards for the Spartans' other touchdown, an acrobatic play worthy of upload to YouTube.
Quarterback Chris Jessop completed 5 of 11 passes for 79 yards, including twice finding Earl out of the backfield for 40 of those yards. The Spartans improved to 4-0 in the Dulles, 7-0 overall with the win.
Broad Run coach Mike Burnett says he appreciates the game-breaking ability of Peeler, but that his offense in general is not exactly where he wants it to be.
"I felt like still there were some things we didn't do," Burnett said. "We didn't take advantage of some opportunities, we turned the ball over in the red zone. It's great having great athletes who can make plays, but you have to be able to drive the ball down the field."
Under the chilly overcast of the season's first truly football weather, the Raiders (1-3, 3-4) played spirited defense in their homecoming game, five times holding the Spartans to three-and-outs.
County quarterback Joe Bushrod scrambled away from blitz after blitz, but still endured five sacks while eluding several more with his considerable athleticism. He finished 8 of 20 for 134 yards and an interception.
Austin Campbell led the Raiders to a pair of touchdown drives in the fourth quarter, completing scoring strikes to Mike Ayoub and Chase Williams. Eight of the lefty's 14 passes were caught, moving 105 yards.
Ayoub brought in seven catches for 90 yards. Williams snagged five for 79 yards.
The Spartans will host fellow unbeaten Potomac Falls next Friday in a showdown which is already registering big on the Hype-o-Meter.
