SPARTANS vs CHARGERS GAME PREVIEW
Kenny McAdow and the Spartan defense need to figure out how to stop UVA bound Dominique Wallace, and the Chancellor option offense on Saturday...
Spartan QB Chris Jessop will be tasked to manage the game efficiently against a stingy Chancellor defense on Saturday...
RB TJ Peeler and FB Kenny McAdow are just 2 of the many offensive weapons the Spartans will need to call upon to advance to the state championship game...
CHANCELLOR vs. BROAD RUN
WHERE: Broad Run Stadium
WHEN: Saturday, November 28th, 2008
KICKOFF: 2:00pm
PREGAME: 1:30pm
MEDIA COVERAGE: Gameday Radio Playoff Broadcast Live Worldwide Online at www.GamedayMagazine.com
BROADCAST TEAM:
Bruce Bornarth (Play by Play)
Tom Whipple (Color Commentary)
ASHBURN, VA - For the first time in school history, the Broad Run Spartans will play in a State Semifinal game! In getting here, the Spartans dispatched the Potomac Falls Panthers, for the second time in the season, and will now face a tough Chancellor Chargers team, that has steamrolled teams for most of their season. The Spartans are perfect on the season, as are the Chargers, and the atmosphere around Spartan Nation is as high as it's ever been. If the Maroon Crew is out in force on Saturday, it's hard to imagine Chancellor ever witnessing, or having played in front of, a more hostile environment.
The Chargers are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2003. In getting to this game, they survived a high scoring Region I final, 42-31, over traditional Division 4 power Powhatan. The 31 points allowed in that game, was the highest point total by any Charger opponent on the season. Hopefully, the Broad Run coaching staff was able to commandeer the game film from that contest, as they will need to try and exploit the weaknesses that lie somewhere therein.
Chancellor will give the Spartans their biggest test this season, as they come in touting a very potent, option offense, led by UVA bound RB Dominique Wallace. Wallace has rushed for over 1500 yards so far on the season, and has tallied 34 touchdowns. In their Region title game, against a very good Powhatan defense, Wallace rushed for 234 yards, and 4 touchdowns...mostly in the second half.
But the Spartans have faced some pretty prolific playmakers this season, and have turned back, and limited, all of them with dominating force. Led by Region II Defensive Player of the Year, LB Kenny McAdow, the Broad Run defense is as fast, and as hard hitting a team that Chancellor has faced on the year. This game will be a classic from the opening whistle, and could very well be determined by whoever has the ball last...
KEY MATCH-UPS:
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Broad Run's Defensive Front vs. the Chancellor Speed Option
In order to be successful against Chancellor's Dominique Wallace, the Spartans will have to go away from their usual run blitz, and fly to the football mentality. A more disciplined approach, with the ends containing and turning the offense inside, with linebackers filling the gaps will be in order. ADVANTAGE: CHANCELLOR
Broad Run's Offense vs. Chancellor's Stingy Defense
The Spartans have been successful all year spreading the ball around to their many offensive weapons. This will have to be done to perfection in this game, making the Charger defense guess what's coming next. The Chargers haven't given up a lot of points on the season, so patience, and take what the defense gives you will be key. ADVANTAGE: BROAD RUN
Broad Run's Special Teams vs. Chancellor's Special Teams
Spartan place-kicker, Graham Allen, is a threat anywhere inside an opponent's 40 yard line. If the Spartans are within Allen's range, they should take the points. Allen's ability to get the ball into the end zone on kickoffs will be key in this game, making the Chargers start on their 20-yard line, instead of having the ball get into Wallace's hands. ADVANTAGE: BROAD RUN
KEYS TO VICTORY:
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FOR BROAD RUN
-- Keep the Charger offense off the field. Sustain long, effective, offensive drives to wear down the defense.
-- Score first and get the Maroon Crew into the game early, and keep them loud!
-- Every time Wallace touches the ball, get 4, 5, 6 hats on him. Wear him down by continuing to gang tackle him on every touch.
FOR CHANCELLOR
-- Employ an effective run blitz often on defense, to close the gaps on the Broad Run traps and counters. Ends need to stay home and beware of any cut-back runs.
-- Spread the option from sideline to sideline, and wear out the defense by making them chase you the entire game.
-- Take the crowd out of the game by getting on the board first.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
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BROAD RUN RECORDS SINCE 2000 (46-45)
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: 12-0 (YTD)
CHANCELLOR RECORDS SINCE 2000 (58-37)
2000: 6-4
2001: 8-3*
2002: 7-4*
2003: 6-5*
2004: 5-5
2005: 4-6
2006: 4-6
2007: 6-4
2008: 12-0 (YTD)
* = Playoff Year
AGAINST THE COMPETITION
Chancellor's opponents have an overall record of 69-58, while Broad Run's foes are 55-60. These two teams are fairly evenly matched (on paper). Chancellor has scored 445 total points on the season, while Broad Run has amassed 453. The Spartans have allowed a mere 151 points on the season, while the Chargers' opponents have scored only 129, all told. In the VHSL state rankings, the Spartans come into Saturday at #26, with Chancellor right behind at #27.
EXPERT PROGNOSTICATION
As stated above, this will be as hard hitting a contest as anyone has seen at Broad Run Stadium in a while, and will be a chess match between two, good coaching staffs. One would think that this will not be a high scoring affair, based on the Points Allowed totals for both teams. But both teams also tout a high flying, high scoring offense...so this aspect is anyone's guess. If the Spartans stay disciplined on defense, and the front 4 can push into the Chancellor backfield, then this should be another Spartan victory. But if Dominique Wallace gets free too many times, and can break off too many big runs, like he did last week against Powhatan, then the season will come to an abrupt end for the Spartans. Should the Spartans do what they are supposed to do, and not get caught up in the hype and magnitude of this game, then I say...
FINAL SCORE: BROAD RUN 24 - CHANCELLOR 17
