Spartans Take Regional Crown 33-6
Broad Run's Breon Earl follows his lead blocker, Kenny McAdow. Earl led his Spartans to the 33-6 victory over the Potomac Falls Panthers Friday night...
Photo by Jan Johnson \ Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
Broad Run's TJ Peeler scores one of his two touchdowns on the night for the Spartans. Broad Run wins the Regional title, and advances tot he state semifinals...
Photo by Jan Johnson \ Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
Potomac Falls RB Michael Baker found the going tough Friday night against a stingy Broad Run defense. The Panthers finished their season 10-2...their best record since the school opened in 1997.
Photo by Jan Johnson \ Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
ASHBURN, VA - They say it's tough to beat a team twice in a season...especially when you are heated rivals. The Potomac Falls Panthers traveled to Ashburn, for the 2nd time in a month, to play the Broad Run Spartans, but this time it was for the Region II title. However, as in the 1st meeting, this game was all Broad Run as the Spartans take care of business, stay undefeated, coming away with the 33-6 victory, and hoisted the Regional Trophy in front of the cheering Ashburn crowd.
The night was cold and blustery from start to finish, and the two teams traded punches for the better part of the 1st quarter. Twice the Spartans got deep into Panther territory in the frame, and twice the Panther defense held on 4th down to get the ball back. But the Panthers had trouble getting their offense going, as well. But after a Didier Saidi 30 yard punt return to put his team back into Panther territory, TJ Peeler took a Chris Jessop pitch, jumped over would-be tacklers, and scampered into the end zone from 25 yards out, to break the ice and put the Spartans on the board 7-0.
The 2nd quarter is when Broad Run instilled their will over their Sterling opponents. On their 1st possession of the stanza, Breon Earl got into the act, and ripped off a nifty 24-yard touchdown run, diving into the end zone for the exclamation point. Two minutes later, Peeler again found pay dirt, this time from 17 yards away, to make the score 21-0. After a 4-and-out by the Panthers in the subsequent possession, Earl struck again. Fielding the Potomac Falls punt at the Panther 35, Earl started right, then reversed field, and outraced the defenders for another Spartan touchdown. This time, Graham Allen's PAT was blocked, and the score at the half stood at 27-0.
After the two teams warmed up in the locker room, it appeared that the Potomac Falls offense came out in the 2nd half more inspired than in the 1st. On their 1st possession, QB Greg Woodlief mastered a nice drive that pinned the Spartans on their own 12-yard line, highlighted by 40-yard pass and catch to junior Tarrell Owens. But the drive stalled, and went backwards from there, after two costly penalties pushed the Panthers back to the Broad Run 45 yard line, forcing them to punt the ball away.
After a Graham Allen 32 yard field goal, the Panthers mounted another drive that started after Chad McMichael nearly broke the kick-off return to the house, only to be upended at the 50-yard line. 4 plays later, the Panthers were back in the Red-Zone again and knocking at the door. But the Spartan defense stiffened, pushed the drive backwards, and penalties cost Potomac Falls yet again forcing another punt. The score after 3 quarters had Broad Run comfortably ahead, 30-0, and the crowd was starting to sense the inevitable.
After the teams switched ends to start the quarter, and Broad Run near midfield, the Spartans coughed up the ball, and Woodlief picked it up and rambled 34 yards for the Panthers' 1st score of the night. The PAT failed, and the score stood at 30-6.
The final score on the night came midway through the final frame, on an Allen 26 yard field goal, but the game was not over for the Panthers, as they now were playing for pride. With time ticking away, and Potomac Falls driving, Woodlief took to the air, and worked his team down to the Spartan 2 yard line. The drama unfolded as the Panthers were looking to get on the board one last time to end their season, but the Broad Run defense did not want that to happen. With 2 final ticks on the clock, the Panthers relied on their touchdown maker, Michael Baker, to get them into the end zone, but the Spartan defense stuffed the threat short of the goal line, and time ran out on the Panthers. Final score; Broad Run 33 - Potomac Falls 6
Once again, the Broad Run defense held the top running back in the District (by virtue of stats) to under 100 yards. Michael Baker carried the ball 18 times for 43 yards, and was kept out of the end zone. QB Greg Woodlief was not able to mount his usual air attack, as receivers dropped balls, or passes sailed high, most of the night. He finished 14-27 for 174 yards.
For the Spartans, TJ Peeler and Breon Earl were the story. Combining for nearly 200 yards, and 4 scores, Peeler ended with 17 carries for 86 yards, and Earl was tops with 11 rushes for 107 yards.
Although the season is over for the Panthers, much praise can be laid on this year's team. Head Coach Scott Woodlief said before the season that his team would contend for the Dulles District title, as well as being play-off contenders. Both of which came true to his claim. Although Potomac Falls fell short of the Dulles crown, their only loss was to the Spartans, and they vied for a Regional title, ending their season, their best in history, at 10-2.
Congratulations to the Spartans! They will now advance to the State semifinals, and they will host the winner of Saturday's Powhatan\Chancellor contest. Game time and date is yet to be determined (check back to gamedaymagazine.com on Saturday night for the result, and schedule).
VELOCITY SPORTS PERFORMANCE PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Breon Earl - Senior RB, Broad Run
Earl did it all for the Spartans. He scored a touchdown rushing, added another on a punt return, and was instrumental in shutting down the Potomac Falls passing attack, breaking up 4 passes, and intercepting one.
Eric Ransome - Junior DL, Potomac Falls
The 6'1", 350 pound defensive lineman was a force on the front lines. Many times he stuffed the Broad Run rush between the tackles, oftentimes for a loss. He was the reason the Spartans were forced to go outside in their running game.
