REMATCH! Broad Run vs. Potomac Falls II
When Potomac Falls and Broad Run play on Friday night, the regional championship is on the line as well as a state playoff berth. The first time these two met it was all Broad Run 38-0. Can the Panthers rebound with a big win? Listen Live Online To This Showdown Starting At 7:00 pm On The Gameday Radio Network.....
Broad Run RB TJ Peeler has been a force to be reckoned with since coming back from an early season injury. Peeler was able to run all over the Potomac Falls defense in the teams' first meeting.
Potomac Falls senior QB Greg Woodlief will be tasked with creating opportunities for his many offensive weapons Friday night.
POTOMAC FALLS @ BROAD RUN
WHERE: Robert F. Jennings Stadium
Broad Run High School
WHEN: Friday, November 21st, 2008
KICKOFF: 7:30pm
PREGAME: 7:00pm
MEDIA COVERAGE:
Gameday Radio Regional Finals Broadcast Live
Worldwide Online at www.GamedayMagazine.com
BROADCAST TEAM:
Tom Whipple (Play By Play)
Bruce Bornarth (Color Commentary)
ASHBURN, VA - OK.... I'm man enough to admit when I am wrong. And I was wrong earlier this season when I previewed, and predicted the outcome of, the 1st match-up between these two Dulles District powers. But let's just recap for a moment: At the time, Broad Run had been winning, but not that impressively. They had some glaring inconsistencies. Of which Coach Burnett of the Spartans all but admitted to during one of his "Spartan Report" shows. But they corrected those discrepancies admirably going into that fateful October night. Potomac Falls was playing virtually flawless football, to that point, and had been doing so on both sides of the ball, and on special teams. Anyone else in my position [probably] would have done the same.
In that game, it was glaring that the Spartans were the better team that night, from about 1 minute into the contest. The Panthers couldn't stop Breon Earl and TJ Peeler, and didn't contribute any offense at all. Anyone who knows Potomac Falls football, and were there to watch this one, knew that this was not the same Potomac Falls team from the weeks leading up to the contest. But Spartan fans will claim that it was because Potomac Falls hadn't seen as dominant a team as the Spartans until then. Others will say that the magnitude of that game, and what was at stake, was more than the Panthers were used to, and prepared for, mentally. Be that as it may, this contest should be a little different than that 1st meeting.
The Spartans have everything in their favor on Friday night. They just completed their 2nd 10-0 regular season perfect run in the Dulles District, and garnered their 2nd title. They won their 1st playoff game last week in more than a decade. Plus they have October on their minds...the 38-0 drubbing. So confidence and swagger will be on the Spartan sideline.
But the Panthers have gotten back on a roll since that night, and also have a little confidence back. They qualified for the playoffs for the 1st time in school history (the school opened in 1997), and you can say there was no game bigger, in their history, than that game last Friday. Going up against a James Wood team that was tough defensively, had many offensive weapons, and with loads of playoff experience, the Panthers were able to bounce back from being behind twice, and pull away at the end for the victory. So, one might think that the mental part of a big game has been conquered in the Sterling team's camp. But one would be wrong. The games get bigger and bigger as the playoffs continue. It's win or go home. So the enormity of that October 24th game is nothing compared to what the Panthers and Spartans are getting ready to hook up in this week.
So are we really supposed to think that Potomac Falls is mentally ready for the biggest game of their collective high school careers? That they have put the debacle in Ashburn a month ago behind them, and are ready to actually "contend" for a title this time around....?
KEY MATCH-UPS:
Presented By: Fractured Prune
Potomac Falls RB Michael Baker vs. the Broad Run D-Line
In their last meeting, the Spartans shut down the Potomac Falls running game completely, holding Baker to a mere 29 yards. Heck...add every other ball carrier and attempts, and the Panthers were only able to amass a total of 8 yards on the ground. If the Panthers are to make this game close, let alone win, Baker will need to carry the ball at least 25 times, and chew up yardage to a tune of at least 100 yards. This against a defense that doesn't make habits of allowing big yardage in the ground game. ADVANTAGE: BROAD RUN
Broad Run's Breon Earl vs. the Potomac Falls Defense
Earl is a difference maker. Although he has several games on the season where he didn't have gaudy numbers in the box scores, teams still prepare to stop him from hurting them. When they do that, it allows for the other Spartan playmakers to do the damage. However, one glaring statistic for Earl on the season is the fact that, on the average, he has scored a touchdown every 7th time he has touched the ball. ADVANTAGE: BROAD RUN
Broad Run's Special Teams vs Potomac Falls Special Teams
The last time these two teams played, special teams were never a factor. However, if the Panthers play to their potential, this game could very well come down to who plays better in this respect. Spartan placekicker Graham Allen is a threat anywhere inside an opponent's 40 yard line. The Panther's Asa Fox needs to be inside the 30 yard line. Both teams have a prolific return game, but this one could come down to who has the ball last, and their ability to boot the 3 when they need points. ADVANTAGE: BROAD RUN
KEYS TO VICTORY:
Presented By: Moe's Southwest Grill
FOR POTOMAC FALLS
-- Linebackers need to fill the gaps and the Ends and DB's need to contain the run to the inside. Once you do that, then gang tackle and wrap up the runner.
-- Stay patient on offense and take what the defense gives you. Sustain drives and chew up clock to keep the Spartan offense off the field.
-- Take the crowd out of the game by getting on the board first.
FOR BROAD RUN
-- Shut down the run, and force Greg Woodlief to throw the ball.
-- Shut off the passing lanes and force Woodlief to make mistakes.
-- Let Graham Allen use his leg to get you points when presented.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
Presented By: Atlanta Bread Company
POTOMAC FALLS RECORDS SINCE 2000 (48-41)
2000: 5-5
2001: 4-5
2002: 4-5
2003: 7-3
2004: 4-6
2005: 4-6
2006: 7-3
2007: 3-7
2008: 10-1 (YTD)
BROAD RUN RECORDS SINCE 2000 (45-45)
2000: 5-5
2001: 1-8
2002: 0-9
2003: 6-4
2004: 6-4
2005: 1-9
2006: 5-5
2007: 10-1*
2008: 11-0 (YTD)
HEAD TO HEAD SINCE 2000
2000: Broad Run 17 - Potomac Falls 13
2001: Potomac Falls 21 - Broad Run 19
2002: Potomac Falls 42 - Broad Run 7
2003: Potomac Falls 34 - Broad Run 28
2004: Broad Run 35 - Potomac Falls 0
2005: Potomac Falls 24 - Broad Run 0
2006: Potomac Falls 23 - Broad Run 7
2007: Broad Run 16 - Potomac Falls 6
2008: Broad Run 38 - Potomac Falls 0
X's AND O's
Broad Run head coach Michael Burnett has shown to be the better game manager. His ability to make adjustments when needed is a key to the Spartans' success in his short 3 year term. Head coach Scott Woodlief of Potomac Falls has been instrumental in keeping his team's "eye-on-the-prize." Even when two key starters were lost for the season going into the playoffs, he has been able to keep his team's confidence high.
EXPERT PROGNOSTICATION
Don't expect the same result as a month ago here. The Panthers want to come into Ashburn Friday night and prove two things: 1). That the team the Spartans saw then is NOT the team they truly are, and 2). That they are the real Kings of the Dulles. There is plenty of swagger still left in the Panthers' attitudes, and if they maintain that cockiness, and eliminate the stupid penalties and play Panther Football, then this game will be close, if not a victory and a Regional title. But the Spartans have a swagger all their own. Unlike their Sterling opponents, they KNOW they are the Kings of the Dulles, and that what happened back in October was no fluke. The bottom line? The Spartans are just a better football TEAM. No head cases. No weaknesses. I fully expect to see the Potomac Falls football team that I highlighted a month ago, this Friday night, but even if that team shows up, they still do not have enough counter measures for the weapons the Spartans have in their arsenal. However, I do see this as an entertaining game from start to finish and a lot closer than the last outcome. FINAL SCORE PREDICTION: BROAD RUN 32 - POTOMAC FALLS 27
