Sports
Goal-line Stand Propels Spartans to Victory
Broad Run's defense pulls off the biggest play in a game full of them to earn 27-20 win over Osbourn.
The performance by Broad Run at home Friday night was the type of thing legends are made of.
A band of Spartans stood bravely defending a few precious yards of homeland against an invading force of dangerous – and at times superior – opponents. The Spartan defenders were running out of time, and needed to make one last stop to emerge victorious.
In an epic stand befitting their ancient Greek namesakes, the Broad Run Spartan defense stopped Osbourn's talented running back Cedrick Delaney on a fourth and goal run in the game’s final moments. The stand sealed a 27-20 victory for Broad Run in a thrilling battle filled with big plays, clutch drives, and back-and-forth action.
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The evening did not start out as well as it ended for Broad Run's defense. After receiving the opening kickoff, Osbourn drove 83 yards in just three plays for the game’s opening touchdown. Devante Payne took the handoff on the game's first play and scooted 59 yards to the Broad Run 24-yard line. For a moment it appeared the Spartans would survive the opening volley from Osbourn when Delaney fumbled the ball into the end zone, but Eagle center Luke Henry lived every offensive linemen's dream by recovering the ball for the score.
The initial shock of the quick Eagle strike did not linger with the Spartans. Quarterback Connor Jessop directed the Spartans on a methodical 11-play, 73-yard drive that ended with Derril Thomas' short touchdown run to even the score. Jessop completed five passes on the drive to three receivers, including a 13-yard strike to wide receiver Blake Duncan on fourth-and-5 from the Eagles 34-yard line.
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The game appeared headed for a shootout when the Eagles and Spartans traded another round of quick scores in the first quarter. After some effective runs by Delaney, Osbourn's Conner Lane drew the Spartan defense in on a third-and-five, play-action pass, and found the 6-feet-3-inch Santoni Scott down the middle of the field for the 50-yard touchdown and brief 13-7 lead after a missed extra point.
The Spartans responded on the next play and regain the lead after Jessop found receiver Dorian Jenkins wide open in the middle of the field; Jenkins raced 67 yards to the end zone for a touchdown and a 14-13 lead.
After swapping defensive stands, it appeared Osbourn would take the lead and into the second half after a long, clock-sapping drive for a touchdown. A Jessop punt had pinned the Eagles at their own 3-yard line with just over nine minutes left in the half. But a steady dose of runs from the swift-footed Delaney – who racked up 120 yards on just 18 carries in the first half – ate up chunks of yardage for the Eagles.
Delaney's determined running helped drive the Eagles to the Spartan 20, where Lane found Payne behind the Spartans defense for a third-down score. Back on top 20-14 with just 50 seconds on the clock, Osbourn appeared headed for halftime with the lead and momentum.
But that changed quickly. Broad Run started at its own 20-yard line, and Jessop utilized pinpoint passing and efficient clock-management to drive the offense into Eagle territory. With just seven seconds left on the clock, the Spartans had one chance to score from the 31-yard line. Jessop dropped back to pass, scanned the field and lofted a pass to Duncan, who gained a step on the Eagle defender. Duncan dived for the touchdown with no time left on the clock, hauling in the dramatic last-second touchdown grab. The ensuing extra point gave the Spartans a thin, but thrilling, 21-20 halftime lead.
"Connor does special things on the football field," said Spartan coach Matt Griffis. "That drive before the half was obviously huge for us."
Jessop and Duncan were a dynamic duo throughout the first half. Jessop completed 10 of 12 passes for 220 yards and two scores, with Duncan making five receptions for more than 100 yards.
The Spartans carried the momentum of that score into the second half, driving 80 yards on the first possession, which ended with a 36-yard touchdown run by little utilized James Giltner. A failed extra point left the score at 27-20 in favor of Broad Run.
The Spartan defense made some halftime adjustments that helped corral the Osbourn offense and the explosive running of Delaney. After going over the century mark on the ground in the first stanza, Delaney gained just 13 yards in the second half. Spartan defenders Caleb Lindsay and David McIntyre led the charge, stuffing the Osbourn rusher in the backfield on several plays.
But the Osbourn defense also adjusted and stymied the scoring punch of Jessop and the Spartan offense for the remainder of the second half. With a bit more than seven minutes left in the game, it appeared the Eagle defense made the game's biggest play.
After Spartan rusher Da'qwan Earl took a handoff and tried to get around the edge of the defense, an Osbourn player knocked the ball loose and the Eagles’ Keith Golphin recovered.
Starting at the Broad Run 43-yard line, the Eagles marched to the Spartan 30 before McIntyre recorded a tackle for a loss and a sack on consecutive plays to force the Eagles back. Needing to convert on fourth-and-11, Lane dropped back to pass but was flushed from the pocket. Doing his best impression of Delaney, he eluded several Spartans and scrambled for just enough yards to gain the first down. The Eagles then crept all the way to the Broad Run 8-yard line, setting up the Spartans’ memorable defensive stand.
Consecutive runs by Lane took the ball to the 2-yard line before a third-down tackle pushed the Eagles back to the 5-yard line for a fourth-down shot at tying the game.
On a pivotal play, the Eagles once again turned to Delaney. After pounding the ball up the middle for most of the game, the Eagles opted for an outside run to the right. As Delaney tried to capture the edge, a host of Spartan defenders – including Darion Bunting and Lindsay – burst into the backfield to stuff Delaney and effectively end Osbourn's chances for a comeback.
"Our defense, fourth-quarter, goal-line [situations]; it's what we do, what we practice for every day," said Lindsay. "I didn't have a worry in my mind that we couldn't pull it out."
The Spartans don't have much time to celebrate the exciting win: defending Division 6 state champs – and Cedar Run District foe – Battlefield travels to Ashburn for another huge game next Friday.
Check out the video highlights and interview with Lindsay and check back tomorrow for in-depth video highlights from the big win, as well as interviews and coverage of Broad Run's successful "Got Pink?" breast cancer awareness and fundraising drive.
