Football: Stratton Throws for 235 Yards to Lead Spartans to 44-13 Homecoming Win Over Freedom

Broad Run junior quarterback Michael Stratton threw for three TDs and 235 yards Sat.
Photo by Craig Sterbutzel -- click here to view the full gallery!

(Oct. 18, 2010) - The single-wing offense is alive and well at Broad Run High School as a bevy of backs combined for three touchdowns and 195 yards rushing Saturday but the the real story of the Spartans 44-13 Homecoming win over Freedom was emerging junior quarterback Michael Stratton who threw for 235 yards and three scores in his second varsity start.

Stratton's  performance is key for the two-time defending VHSL Division 4 state champions as there is no certainty that Broad Run's top quarterback, junior Connor Jessop will be able to return this season after breaking his collarbone in the second game of the year. While Jessop said several weeks ago he hopes to be healthy enough to play in the playoffs, Spartans first-year coach Matt Griffis said after the win Saturday that the only thing he knew for sure was that Jessop would be back next season.


Saturday's game featured two teams linked together as next year both schools will make the jump to the AAA level, leaving the Dulles District and playing in the Cedar Run District in the Northwest Region -- swapping spots with Heritage and Loudoun Valley which move down after enrollment dropped this year because of Tuscarora and Woodgrove opening in Leesburg and Purcellville.

The Eagles, under second-year coach Mick Mullins, continue to make strides, 3-4 overall this year after 2-8 last season, and things look good down the road as the program's freshman team is 5-1 this season including a 34-8 win over Broad Run.

On Saturday the Eagles showed their mettle with a nice 14-play, 59-yard touchdown drive in the first half but it was already 19-0 Spartans at that point as Broad Run took advantage of good field position to open the game fast.

After holding Freedom to 3-and-out, forcing the Eagles to punt against the wind, Broad Run took over at their own 45 and Stratton needed just two throws to put the BR Homecoming crowd into celebration mode as he found Mike Price for a 28-yard gain and then hit Kevin Taggart for a 17-yard score.

The Eagle offense was unable to move the ball and Broad Run continued the good field position but couldn't score on its next two possessions, despite taking over on the Eagle 26 after a partial punt block. The Eagles held on downs at their 11. Freedom's defense, however, couldn't do much when Broad Run took over for their next series on the Eagles 9 after punt out of the end zone -- against the wind still -- was fielded at the 35 by Da'Qwan Earl and brought back to the 18 and then moved half the distance to the goal on a penalty.

Derril Thomas took in across to make it 13-0 on the first play of the second quarter. Straton then made it 19-0 when he found Price behind the secondary for a 56-yard score with 9:20 to go in the first half.

After junior quarterback Matt Malacane (9-21-1, 133 yards) rolled in to score to cap the Eagles drive, Broad Run ran an efficient hurry up drill with Strattan leading the Spartans on a 10-play drive that covered 71 yards in just 2:11, with Thomas scoring his second TD of the game with 31 seconds left in the half, making it 27-7.

Steven Fields hauls in a TD reception Saturday ( photo by Craig Sterbutzel)

Broad Run added a Justin Ohneiser field goal on the first drive of the second half and then turned a Caleb Lindsey interception into Stratton's third TD toss, this time a 37-yard score to Steven Fields.

Malacane made a nice throw to Patrick Donovan for Freedom's second TD, a 23-yard play and Broad Run finished the scoring with the second unit on the field and Michel Nicholas breaking loose up the middle for a 38-yard TD.

Broad Run 44, Freedom 13
Freedom      0    7   0  6  - 13
Broad Run   7  20 10  7  - 44

Team Period Scoring Play Conversion
B 1 Kevin Tagart (25) 17 yard pass from Michael Stratton (17) Ryan Ohneiser (12) Kick
B 2 Derrill Thomas (26) run, 2 yards Kick Failed
B 2 Mike Price (23) 56 yard pass from Michael Stratton (17) Run Failed
F 2 Matt Malacane (13) run, 3 yards Zach Shuster (23) Kick
B 2 Derrill Thomas (26) run, 5 yards Run Good
B 3 Ryan Ohneiser (12) Field Goal, 22 yards
B 3 Steven Fields (4) 37 yard pass from Michael Stratton (17) Ryan Ohneiser (12) Kick
F 4 Patrick Donovan (24) 23 yard pass from Matt Malacane (13) Pass Fail
B 4 Michel Nicholas (2) run, 38 yards Ryan Ohneiser (12) Kick

Team Stats
BR                                      Freedom
14     First Downs                   10
430   Total Offense (Yards)     172
195   Rushing - Yards            23
235    Passing Yards               149
18-10 Passess-Completions    23-10
1         Pass Interceptions         1
157     Return Yards              88
1-0    Fumbles - Lost           3-1
4-21  Penalties - Yards    6-40
2-36     Punts - Avg         5-34
21:39 Time of Possession 26:21


Individual Statistics --
Rushing -
Free: Derek Burns 15-37, Rodriguez 5-6, McMillan 1-1, Thompson 1-(-1), Foster 1-(-3), Malcane 6-(-14).
BR: Derril Thomas, 10 - 47 yards, 2 TDs; Michel Nicholas, 1 - 38 yards, TD; Michael Stratton, 6 - 9 yards; Da'Qwan Earl 8 - 30 yards, Kevin Taggart, 4 - 27 yards; Steven Fields, 2 - 3 yards; Jack Sistare, 2 - 8 yards

Passing -
Free: Matt Malacane, 9-21 - 1 INT - 1 TD - 133 yards, Gilmore 1-2-0 16 yds.
BR: Michael Stratton, 10-17- 1 INT - 3 TDs, 235 yards

Receiving -
Free: Derek Burns, 3 - 44 yards; Patrick Donovan, 2 - 39 yards, TD; Garrison Fuller, 1 - 16 yards; Garrett Schneider, 1 - 16 yards, Zach Shuster, 2 - 14 yards; Chuck Thompson, 1 - 13 yards
BR: Mike Price, 3 - 116 yards, TD; Steven Fields, 1 - 37 yards, TD; Matt Preziotti, 2 - 33 yards; Kevin Taggart, 1 - 17 yards, TD, Derril Thomas, 1 - 16 yards; Mark Anderson, 1 - 10 yards; Blake Duncan, 1 - 6 yards