Football: Broad Run Leaves No Doubt with Second Straight State Title

By Carl Lukat
Times-Mirror Staff Writer
Blacksburg (Dec. 14, 2009) - Broad Run High School head football coach Michael Burnett often talks to his players about rising above adversity.

So when the Spartans faced the obstacle of playing the second half of Saturday's Division 4 state football championship game without 2,000-plus-yard rusher T.J. Peeler, nothing needed to be said.

Peeler, also a linebacker, injured his right knee on defense late in the first half. The University of Pittsburgh commit would spend the second half on crutches.

"We really didn't talk much about it [at halftime]," Broad Run senior David Weaver said. "We know a team is a team and we can bounce back from an injury."

The Spartans received a senior-like performance from sophomore quarterback Connor Jessop in the second half and made a big defensive stand in the final minute to hold on for a 21-16 victory over Amherst at Virginia Tech's Lane Stadium.



"They know it's not a one-man team," Peeler said of his teammates. "I expected them to win without me. I'm just happy because I knew they would."

Saturday's victory marks the second straight year Broad Run has defeated Amherst in the state final. The Spartans have won 28 consecutive games and 38 of their last 39 dating back to the start of the 2007 season.

"Being around our kids is really a unique thing because they just are truly optimistic," Burnett said. "They really believe in each other -- we believe in them."

Burnett noted the absence of Peeler may have positively affected his play calling.

"At times I'm too conservative and T.J. makes me even more conservative," he said. "If you watched us play all year, when we do open it up, we've been probably more successful than when we grind it out."

Jessop, who watched his older brother Chris quarterback the Spartans to the 2008 state title, was up to the added pressure.

With the same calm, steady approach Chris had employed, Connor completed 12 of 20 passes for 135 yards, including touchdown passes to Weaver, Adrian Flemming and Derril Thomas.

"You've got to do some genetic testing on that family," Burnett said of the Jessops. "They're missing a gene that the rest of us have. His brother was the same way. They are unflappable."

Connor Jessop deflected praise after the game. "Our offensive line was absolutely phenomenal today. They've been that way all season. A lot of my throws are easy provided the amount of time the line gives me."

But his teammates and coaches clearly noticed his performance, awarding him the game ball.

Jessop's final touchdown strike was delivered to Weaver, who started this season as the Spartans' quarterback.

Weaver caught a fourth-down pass around the 10-yard line and put a couple of slick moves on the Lancer defenders before crossing the goal line for a 25-yard touchdown reception.

"I just caught it, turned and looked for the end zone," Weaver said. "I knew they were coming fast."

The touchdown proved to be the difference in the game as the Spartans built a 21-10 lead with 8:05 left in regulation.

"[Weaver] is probably the poster child for our team," Burnett said. "You can count on one hand the number of times he's been mentioned in the paper. But yet there is no way we win a state championship without him."

Amherst showed the prowess of a team that has reached four consecutive state title games down the stretch. The Lancers, 2006 and 2007 state champions, drove 55 yards in just under four minutes on the ensuing drive to pull within five.

Following a Broad Run punt, the Lancers got the ball back with 2:15 left at the Spartans' 44. Amherst drove the ball 21 yards on four plays before a holding penalty left the Lancers facing third and 12 at the 35.

Two incomplete passes later, the Spartans took over on downs and ran out the clock for the 21-16 victory.

"We live for those moments," Broad Run senior defensive back Joey Quigg said. "We came out and did what we needed to do."

Quigg took a few moments out of his post-game celebration to pick a few blades of grass from the field. The grass will serve as a keepsake when Quigg looks back on closing his varsity career with back-to-back state championships.

"The second one is just a little bit better," he said. "The first one was amazing. The second one is a repeat. It's just a different feeling, but both were great."