Football: Broad Run Headed to D4 State Title Game Again with Comeback Win Over Powhatan

Powhatan (Dec. 5, 2009) - Broad Run High School fell behind 7-0 Saturday but the Spartans rallied to score 20 unanswered points to advance to the VHSL Division 4 state title game for the second straight season.

Broad Run (13-0) rode the back of senior running back T.J. Peeler in a game played in poor conditions. The Spartans score just before the half to trail 7-6 and then added a 20-yard Peeler touchdown late in the third quarter to go ahead, 12-7.

The Spartans with great ball control in the second half finally put the game out of reach with a Connor Jessop 18-yard TD run with less than two minutes left.

Broad Run plays the winner of Sunday's Amherst County vs. Christiansburg game. The Spartans beat Amherst in last year's state title game for the school's first ever state football title.

Some running play-by-play

4th quarter: Connor Jessop rolls out and keeps the ball and rolls all the way to the end zone with a great scramble by the BR QB! 1:15 to go. Broad Run scores 2-point conversion on Peeler run. Spartans heading to state title again ... up 20-7!



4th quarter: Peeler picks up 4, 3rd down coming up with 14 yards to go. 1:26 and counting down as Powhatan takes a time out

4th quarter: Peeler picks up nearly 10 yards. 2nd-and-15 at the Indian 20. 1:55 left

4th quarter: BR another penalty! Movement ... 1st-and-25 at Indian 30 ... BR moving the wrong way in final minutes of this game.

4th quarter: Tyler Johnson plunges into the end zone but Broad Run is flagged yet again for holding! 2:19 to play, BR at the Indian 25, 1st-and-20

4th quarter: Peeler on 2nd-and-10, another first down for the big back ... what a game for Peeler, the Pitt recruit. A signature game for Peeler,

4th quarter: Peeler short game and Powhatan takes a time out to stop the clock.

4th quarter: Peeler tries for first down on second effort ... chain crew out for the third time on this important drive to measure ... FIRST DOWN! BR at Powhatan 25, 3:26 to go.

4th quarter: Peeler gets almost all 20 yards on 2nd-and-20 but is forced out of bounds to stop the clock, 3:39 to go

4th quarter: Peeler gets another first down ... but a flag on the play. Illegal block on BR erases the first down. 4:07 to go. BR at Powhatan 45, 2nd and 20

4th quarter: Broad Run picks up two more first downs with all Peeler carrying the ball. 4:16 to play and Broad Run up 12-7 and is at the Indian 35 now.

4th quarter: Broad Run goes for it on 4th-and-inch at their own 35 and Peeler gets hit at the line of scrimmage but second effort picks up the first down! 6:40 and counting!

Fourth quarter, time out Spartans facing key 3rd-and-2 ... if they convert the clock keeps running but punting has been tough in the wet conditions today

Fourth quarter, 9:18 to go: Spartans defense holds and forces a punt. Broad Run on their own end and needs a drive to cement this close game

Third quarter, 1:58 to go: T.J. Peeler scores on a 20-yard TD and then Broad Run recovers the kickoff at the Indians 15! A holding penalty and sack kill Spartans scoring chance as they fail on 4th-and-25 and turn ball over at Powhatan 30

Third quarter update: Broad Run facing 4th-and-10 but Powhatan draws 15-yard penalty. Spartans are at Powhatan's 45.

Third quarter update, 4 minutes to go: Broad Run at midfield after converting on fourth down by drawing Indians off sides

Third quarter update: Broad Run defense holds on first series and after punt, Spartans have the ball at their own 25 in a driving rain storm.

Broad Run scored late in the first half but failed on a 2-point conversion ... check back to VivaLoudon.com for updates. Want to listen to a local Powhatan radio broadcast for free?

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