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Community Corner

Game of the Week: Broad Run Hosts Defending State Champion Battlefield

First place in the Cedar Run District is on the line tonight in Ashburn when the Spartans and Bobcats clash for football supremacy

Broad Run hosts Battlefield, Friday, 7:30 p.m.

After an impressive run this season, things just don't get any easier for the Broad Run Spartans. A week after beating the defending Division 5 state semifinalist Osbourn Eagles, the Spartans now face the defending Division 6 state champion Battlefield Bobcats in a game with huge implications in the Cedar Run District and the Virginia High School League playoff picture.

The Bobcats (6-2, 2-1) currently sit atop Cedar Run with their only losses coming against undefeated Hylton – currently one of the top ranked teams in the state – and Osbourn in a hard-fought 28-21 loss.

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Battlefield comes to town boasting one of the most potent rushing attacks in the Washington, DC, region. Michael Tolliver and Andrew Smith have combined for more than 1,000 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground this season. When the rushing game is not hitting on all cylinders, the Bobcat quarterback Ryan Swingle has proven to be a formidable force; he’s passed for nearly 1,200 yards and nine touchdowns this year.

The Spartans enter Friday's game after pulling off an . The win gave the Spartans (6-1, 1-0) an opportunity to take over first place in Cedar Run if they can knock off the Bobcats.

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Broad Run doesn't lack for offensive production. Running back Derril Thomas is approaching 700 yards rushing for the season and has notched 12 touchdowns, while Connor Jessop leads a potent passing attack with nearly 1,400 yards through the air and a dozen touchdowns of his own. Dorian Jenkins, Michael Stratton and Blake Duncan have combined for nearly 1,000 yards receiving.

But the Spartan defense is what continues to separate the team from its opponents. The defense has played nearly mistake-free football all season, with the exception of two halves: the first half against Osbourn and the second half, including overtime, against Stone Bridge. In those two halves, the Spartans gave up 51 points to opponents, compared with 28 during the rest of the season.

Prediction: Broad Run has experienced just one blip on the radar this year, a 31-30 loss in overtime to Stone Bridge after leading the game 24-0 at halftime. Last week’s game against Osbourn was close largely because of the heroic efforts of Osbourn's Cedrick Delaney, who went more than 100 yards rushing despite giving away a couple of fumbles. The Bobcats are good, but do not possess a running back like Delaney who can beat the Broad Run defense on pure athleticism. Some might point to a letdown game here, but I think the Spartans are the better team and will win convincingly. Broad Run 24, Battlefield 14.

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