Spartans Roll To Title Game In 24-12 Win
The Broad Run defense stymied all-region running back Dominique Wallace (#48) throughout Saturday's contest. Here, defensive end Shawn Lewis knocks the ball free. Lewis was named the Moe's Southwest Grill Player of the Game for his stellar defensive play.
Photo by Barry deNicola / Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
Breon Earl follows his blockers for a big gain against Chancellor on Saturday. Earl helped lead the Spartans into the state title game next week...
Photo by Barry deNicola / Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
Spartan running back TJ Peeler was the top rusher on Saturday, carrying the ball 23 times for 160 yards and a touchdown...
Photo By Jan Johnson / Gameday Magazine
ASHBURN, VA - When speaking to Broad Run head football coach Michael Burnett earlier in the season, he said this year's Spartans were something special. Little did he know how special prior to Saturday...
In front of a raucous home crowd in Ashburn, the 12-0 Spartans played host to the 12-0 Chancellor Chargers for the rite to go on to the Division 4 state title game next week at Liberty University. The Spartans have never been to a state semifinal game in their long history, much less having a shot at the title. Coming into the day, both teams touted potent offensive weapons and stingy defenses. But it was the Spartans who had the bigger arsenal, and their defense stymied one of the top running backs in the state, as they turned back the Chargers, 24-12, to keep their magical season alive one more week.
The 1st half was an impressive defensive battle from the start. After mounting a threat midway in the 1st quarter, the Chargers halted Broad Run, and held them to a 22 yard Graham Allen field goal.
Chancellor was able to get their offensive wheels moving in the 2nd quarter, behind UVA bound Dominique Wallace. Wallace carried the ball 6 times on the Chargers' 8 play scoring drive, and capped the drive with a 2-yard plunge at the 8-minute mark. The Spartans blocked the extra point attempt to make the score 6-3 in favor of the Chargers. Both defenses stiffened for the remainder of the half, and the score didn't change at the break.
In the 3rd quarter, Chancellor was held to a 3-and-out to start the frame, and on 4th down, Broad Run blocked the ensuing punt, and recovered the ball on the Charger 24 yard line. It took only one play for Broad Run to take the advantage in the game, as TJ Peeler rumbled up the middle, broke a couple of tackles, and scampered into the end zone for the go ahead touchdown. Allen's extra point put the hosts up 10-6.
Later in the 3rd, the Spartans were on the roll again. After a nifty 45-yard Breon Earl run to get the ball into Chancellor territory, Earl capped the drive 4 plays later with a 6-yard run around end, into the painted area, and after the extra point the Spartans were well in control, 17-6.
Wallace and Company would try and make a game out of it, however, in the 4th quarter. After carrying the ball all 7 times, on a drive that started as time was running out in the 3rd stanza, Wallace steamrolled over 3 Broad Run defenders at the goal line to get the Chargers back on track. The 2-point conversion failed, and the score narrowed to 17-12. But Broad Run would put the exclamation point on the game 4 minutes later.
With a heavy dose of Peeler and Earl, Broad Run was able to hold onto the ball for over 3 minutes, and Earl again found the end zone to end the drive, on another 6-yard scuttle. The scoring ended, as did Chancellor's bid to advance, and Broad Run will now travel down Route 29 to Lynchburg next weekend, to Liberty University, and a shot at the state title.
Key in this victory for the Spartans was the play of their defense. Limiting the heralded Wallace to a mere 106 yards, on 20 carries. Wallace did add to his touchdown totals on the year, finding the end zone twice, but the Spartans clamped down on him for most of the game, and didn't allow any of the other weapons to fire. Broad Run's TJ Peeler led all rushers in the game, carrying the ball 23 times for 160 yards and a score.
The Spartans will now face the Amherst County Lancers on Saturday, the 2-time defending Division 4 champions. Amherst downed Pulaski County in their semifinal game, 13-7. The Division 4 title game is tentatively scheduled for 4:45pm, and will be broadcast live, worldwide, on the Gameday Radio Network, with Bruce Bornarth and Tom Whipple. The pre-game show is scheduled for 4:15pm.
MOE'S SOUTHWEST GRILL PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Tony Russell - Junior WR\DB, Chancellor Chargers
QB Micah Cunningham only completed 4 of 10 passes in the game, but all were to Russell. His ability to adjust to the ball and make key catches to keep drives alive were factors in both scoring drives.
Shawn Lewis - Senior DE, Broad Run Spartans
Lewis was a force on defense from start to finish in this game. On numerous occasions, he brought down Chancellor's Dominique Wallace for either no gain, or a loss, making Wallace a non-factor in the game. It was also Lewis that blocked the Charger punt in the 3rd quarter that set-up the Spartans go ahead touchdown.
