Preview: Broad Run vs. Amherst County
The Spartan defense shut down the Chancellor run attack last weekend. They will be tasked with a repeat performance in the state championship game against Amherst.
Photo by Jan Johnson / Gameday Magazine
Broad Run's TJ Peeler breaks free for this touchdown run against Chancellor last week. Peeler will have to have another solid game to soften the Amherst defense this Saturday.
Photo by Jan Johnson / Gameday Magazine
Amherst's Anthony Rose is a dual threat quarterback that adds another explosive dimension to the Lancer Wing-T offense.
Photo By David Gravely
AMHERST COUNTY vs. BROAD RUN
WHERE: Williams Stadium
Liberty University, Lynchburg
WHEN: Saturday, December 6, 2008
KICKOFF: 4:45pm (approximate)
PREGAME: 4:15pm
MEDIA COVERAGE: Gameday Radio Championship Broadcast Live Worldwide Online at www.GamedayMagazine.com
BROADCAST TEAM:
Bruce Bornarth (Play by Play)
Tom Whipple (Color Commentary)
Not since Broad Run High School opened 39 years ago has the football atmosphere been so positively charged. The Spartans have been on a Magical Mystery Tour in 2008, as this has certainly been a year of "Firsts." Continuing their undefeated streak while winning their first ever Regional title, and trip to the State Semifinals, the Spartans now have a chance to complete the string by taking home a State Championship trophy! Dispatching the tough Chancellor Chargers last week certainly turned a lot of attention on the program, statewide, but make no mistake...the Spartans won't bow to the pressure of the added interest.
But if you thought this next, and final game would be a cake-walk, guess again. Up next is the 2-time defending State Champion Amherst Lancers. A team that knows what to do once they get into the playoffs. A team that is currently on an 11-0 run in the playoffs, since losing in their Region III championship game in 2005. A team that is 13-2, since 2000, in the playoffs. So this team certainly knows how to get things done in the 2nd Season. Let's also mention that the Lancers, in this year's post-season, were 16 point* underdogs going into the Region III 1st round against Harrisonburg...and beat the Crabbers 28-21. Let's also mention that going into their semifinal game last weekend against Pulaski County, a team that hadn't allowed a single point in post-season play, averaged 38.5 points per game on the season, and saw the Lancers as 14 point underdogs...Amherst came away with the 13-7 victory. So the Spartans will, again, need to play a perfect game, offensively and defensively, in order to complete their perfect season...
KEY PLAYER WATCH
Presented by: Fuddruckers of Ashburn
AMHERST LANCERS
-- Sophomore QB Anthony Rose - Rose actually platoons at quarterback with Kirby Anderson, another sophomore, but at 6'3", 190 lbs., he will get most of the snaps this Saturday. Rose is a dual-threat quarterback that doesn't throw the ball much, as he is an added running weapon in the Lancer's Wing-T offense (121 carries for 751 yards and 13 TD's). But when he needs to soften a defense, he is an efficient chucker. Case in point...he was 4-5 last Saturday, for 106 yards. He also has only been intercepted twice on the season, and has thrown 5 touchdowns. One negative for the sophomore is his 6 fumbles for loss on the season.
-- Junior RB Mario Vaughan - At 5'9" and 170 lbs., Vaughan is a speedy, elusive runner that has the ability to make would-be tacklers miss. Vaughan has 93 carries for 736 yards this season, and has found the endzone 14 times. He is averaging 7.9 yards per carry.
-- Senior LB A.J. Parrish - The 5'10", 215 lb. linebacker leads the Lancers in tackles (78), assists (43), tackles for loss (21) and sacks (9). He is fast and has a knack for the football that is uncanny.
BROAD RUN SPARTANS
-- Senior RB\WB Breon Earl - Earl is part of a prolific 1-2 offensive punch for the Spartans. He has rushed for over 900 yards on the season, for an average of 8.2 yards per carry, and has 17 touchdowns on the year. A glaring stat the Lancers need to pay mind to is the fact that Earl has scored a touchdown every 7th time he has touched the ball on average. Earl is also a force on special teams, as he is one tough return man to bring down on punt and kick returns.
-- Junior RB T.J. Peeler - Peeler is the other half of the offensive tandem in the Spartan backfield. Rushing for over 1000 yards on the season, and 18 trips to the endzone, it's scary to think how good his numbers would be had he not missed 3 games due to injury. Peeler is a quick hitting, North and South runner, but watch out once he gets outside the tackle box. They say "Speed Kills," and Peeler's speed has been killing defenses all year.
-- Senior LB Kenny McAdow - At 5'10", and 200 lbs., an opposition would look at McAdow's stature, and get a false sense of security offensively. McAdow is fast, hits you hard enough to jar your fillings loose, and is instrumental in shutting down offenses all season long. McAdow was influential in holding UVA bound star Chancellor RB Dominique Wallace to being insignificant in last week's semi-final win.
KEY MATCH-UPS:
Presented By: Fractured Prune
Broad Run's Defensive Front vs. the Amherst Wing-T Offense
The Lancer offense is probably the fastest the Spartans will face all year. Unlike the lone speed back they faced last week, the Lancers tout several backs that are as fast a group in the state. Although the Lancer offense is over 3000 yards less than the past couple of seasons, they still hit you fast outside the tackles. The Spartans will have to contain the ends, force play between the tackles, and then the linebackers will need to fill the gaps, and gang-tackle the ball carrier. ADVANTAGE: AMHERST
Broad Run's Earl and Peeler Tandem vs. the Amherst Linebackers
Earl and Peeler have been prolific all season long. The 2 need to stay patient, read what the defensive coverage and pursuit, and make the plays as it develops. They will have the advantage over a slower defensive front, but will need to create opportunities once they get one-on-one with the speedy linebacker corps. ADVANTAGE: BROAD RUN
Broad Run's Offensive Front vs. Amherst's Defensive Line
The Spartans are bigger than their counterparts up front, so they will need to keep opening up big holes for the running game to stay successful. If the Spartans aren't able to move the ball on the ground, the Lancers will take the advantage when forced to go airborne. ADVANTAGE: BROAD RUN
KEYS TO VICTORY:
Presented By: Moe's Southwest Grill
FOR BROAD RUN
-- Be patient, yet aggressive, on offense. Take what the defense gives you, while moving the chains.
-- Don't get caught up in the enormity of this game, and the Lancer's penchant for getting into opponent's heads by talking trash. Stay focused and tend to business.
-- The defensive front needs to continue disrupting the run game by pushing into the offensive backfield, and the linebackers need to fill the gaps. An effective run blitz will be key.
FOR AMHERST
-- Win the battle outside the tackles. Get to the outside and use your speed to keep backing up the Spartan defense.
-- Score 1st and make the Spartans readjust their offense to try and regain momentum.
-- Employ the blitz often and disrupt the offense. Get into the backfield and prevent the sweep.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
Presented By: Atlanta Bread Company
The Lancers and Spartans are fairly even when looking at points scored, and points allowed. Amherst has scored 473 for a 36.4 PPG, and have allowed only 140 points total. The Spartans tout a PPG of 36.7, 477 total season, and have allowed a total of 163. Going into this title clash, the Spartans are ranked #26 in the VHSL and #1 in Division 4, while the Lancers come in at #35 and #2 respectively. As for the numbers against the competition? The Lancers are 7-1 against teams with a winning record, while the Spartans are 8-0.
This is head coach Michael Burnett's 3rd season with the Spartans. Amherst head man Cecil Phillips is in his 1st term.
BROAD RUN RECORDS SINCE 2000 (47-45)
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: 13-0 (YTD)
AMHERST RECORDS SINCE 2000 (68-24)
2000: 4-6
2001: 5-5
2002: 4-6
2003: 8-2
2004: 10-2*
2005: 10-2*
2006: 13-1**
2007: 14-0**
2008: 12-1* (YTD)
* = Playoff Year
** = State Title
EXPERT PROGNOSTICATION
Having watched both teams (albeit film on Amherst), this will be the fastest offense the Spartans have faced all year. But I said that going into the Chancellor game, too. So the Spartans know what to do against fast teams. But Chancellor touted only one big offensive weapon, where the Lancers flaunt 3-4 potent backs, including a powerful playmaker at QB. But watching the Broad Run defense step it up each and every week, I am convinced that if this same defense comes to play this weekend, Amherst is in trouble. But the Lancers have an Ace-In-The-Hole...they have been here before. Although Amherst lost many key players from last year's juggernaught, and this year's lineup is laden with underclassmen, these players were there last year, and know how to get it done, while tuning out the distractions. If Broad Run is able to tune out the atmosphere, and forget the magnitude of where they are, then we will see another state title trophy come home to Ashburn. If they can't, it will be a disappointing day for Spartan Nation. FINAL SCORE: BROAD RUN 28 - AMHERST 14
