Football: Broad Run Takes Care of Business and Prepares for Dulles District Showdown with Park View

By Dan Sousa
ViavLoudoun.com Editor

Ashburn (Sept. 21, 2009) - The undefeated Broad Run High School football team knew that a huge AA Dulles District opener against rival Park View was waiting on the schedule this week but first the Spartans had to take care of business on Friday and finish off a Wilson squad from the District of Columbia.

Leading 15-0 with less than five minutes to go before half, it appeared that Wilson, while out-manned, might keep the focus of the Spartan starters into the second half but -- with Park View coaches in the stands -- Broad Run showed why it is a legitimate threat to defend its Division 4 state title as the home team reeled off 19 points in less than three minutes to take an overwhelming 34-0 lead into halftime.


Broad Run (4-0), behind a bevy of back-ups, nursed home the big margin to a 41-0 shutout victory and now the Spartans focus on the Patriots in a match-up that for the first time in years doesn't come in the final week of the season.

Spartan senior running back T.J. Peeler sparked the three TD run at the end of the first half with a 12-yard score around the right end on 4th-and-5. The Pitt-bound Peeler didn't touch the ball in the second half but still finished with two scores and 121 yards rushing on 14 carries.

Adrian Flemming -- who said after the game he was very close to accepting an over to play football next year at Syracuse -- had four catches for 53 yards, including a circus one-hander that would have made a college WR highlight reel.

After Peeler's TD run, the Spartan defense held as senior John Meier blasted through the middle and stuffed a 3rd-and-3 run attempt for a two yard loss. BR needed just two plays to cover 70 yards to make it 27-0 as sophomore quarterback Connor Jessop -- brother of Chris Jessop who graduated after leading the Spartans to the state title last year at quarterback -- hit sophomore tight end Caleb Lindsey for a 23-yard gain to the Wilson 40.

On the next play, Jessop hit senior David Weaver on a crossing route and the athletic Weaver out-sprinted the Tiger secondary to the end zone for the touchdown.

Flemming, not to be denied a TD catch in the romp, stepped in front of a out pattern and took the ball 35 yards down the Wilson sidelines for a score and the 34-0 cushion.

Broad Run first touchdown came on the Spartans second play from scrimmage in the contest as Peeler, after gaining 16 yards on the first play, cut back a pitch to the left and left the Wilson defenders in the dust on his way to a 42-yard score.

Wilson's best chance to score came after a recovering a Peeler fumble on the Spartan 40 but junior Joey Quigg intercepted the ball on the next play at the 15 as the Tigers went deep. Jessop then organized a 10-play, 85-yard drive that culminated in a 10-yard touchdown strike to sophomore Michael Price.

Broad Run's final score came in the third quarter with Michel Nicholas doing some bruising running between the tackles, carrying the ball six times on a seven-play, 49-yard drive with the final carry, a six-yard score.