Football: Broad Run Steamrolls Sherando, 36-13, for Second Straight Regional Title

Broad Run senior T.J. Peeler rushed for 161 yards and three touchdowns Friday in the Spartans regional title win over Sherando


By Dan Sousa
VivaLoudoun.com Editor

Ashburn (Nov. 27, 2009) - Last week the Broad Run High School defense that led the Spartans to a AA Division 4 state title in 2008 gave up 27 points to Liberty in the first round of the playoffs. On Friday the Spartans on defense were once again, well Spartan like, with Broad Run's first unit allowing Sherando just eight total yards and one first down before exiting the night with a 36-0 lead midway through the third quarter.

Broad Run brought home the 36-13 victory on the chilly late November evening for a second straight Region II title. The Spartans (12-0) have now won 26 straight games and 36 of 37 dating back to the start of the 2007 season.

T.J. Peeler was the workhorse for Broad Run Friday, carrying the ball a dozen times in the first quarter alone and 22 times in the first half. Peeler finished with 161 yards on 26 carries and three scores. Even though Peeler rushed just four times in the second half, he had the play that essentially ended the game as Broad Run recovered an onsides kick to start the third quarter and Peeler sprinted 45 yards on the next snap to make it 28-0 Broad Run.

Despite controlling the game, Broad Run led just 7-0 late in the first half -- the score coming on Peeler's up and over leap on 4th-and-1 from the 2 in the first quarter -- after two Spartan drives ended on downs, one at the Sherando 35 and the other at the Warrior 13.

Broad Run took the ball 72 yards on eight plays and scored on a Connor Jessop to Adrian Flemming 9-yard pass with 1:43 to go in the half to make it 14-0 and then the Spartans recovered an onsides kick. Flemming took a screen and went 39 yards to set up a 1-yard Jessop score with 27.7 seconds to go in the half.

With Peeler scoring just 15 seconds into the third quarter, Broad Run had found the end zone in a span of less than two minutes to turn the game from 7-0 to a 28-0 blowout. Josh Nappier's interception gave Broad Run the ball back and nine plays later Peeler scored from 10 yards out and a two-point conversion made it 36-0 with 5:56 still left in the third quarter.

Sherando recovered a Jessop fumble and scored a defensive touchdown in the fourth quarter to break the shutout and the Warriors tacked on another score with less than two minutes left in the contest.

Broad Run senior Frank Foreman and the Spartans first team defense held Sherando to just eight total yards and one first down in the 36-13 win


Broad Run 36, Sherando 13
Game played Nov. 27, 2009 in Ashburn
Sherando     0  0    0    13 - 13
Broad Run   7  14  15   0  - 36

1: BR - Peeler 2 run (Martin kick) 2:28 (Drive: 8 plays, 35 yards, 4:02)
2: BR - Flemming 9 pass from Jessop (Martin kick) 1:43 (Drive: 8 plays, 72 yards, 4:46)
2: BR - Jessop 1 run (Martin kick) 0:27.7 (Drive: 4 plays, 48 yards, 1:16)
3: BR - Peeler 45 run (Martin kick) 11:45 (Drive: 1 play, 45 yards, 0:15)
3: BR - Peeler 10 run (Evans pass from Sistare) 5:56 (Drive: 9 plays, 62 yards, 4:44)
4: SH - Luck 13 fumble return (Haines kick) 10:31
4: SH - Blackwood 6 run (kick failed) 1:46 (Drive: 4 plays, 33 yards, 1:10)

Rushing
Sherando: Blackwood 9-32, Kanatus 10-28, Boyd 2-7, Brisco 1-(-1), Rice 3-(-12). Totals 26-54.
Broad Run: Peeler 26-161, Thomas 9-47, Johnson 6-15, Flemming 2-11, Nelson 2-2, Walter 1-1, Ruberwa 1-0, Jessop 5-(-10). Totals 52-227.
Passing
Sherando: Rice 3-14-2 46, Brisco 1-2-0 4. Totals 4-16-2 50.
Broad Run: Jessop 8-14-1 133.
Receiving
Sherando: Phillips 1-28, Boyd 2-18, Branham 1-4.
Broad Run: Flemming 3-61, Evans 2-41, Weaver 1-20, Price 1-8, Lindsey 1-3.