Broad Run rolls in the rain Friday with five rushing touchdowns vs. County
By Dan Sousa
Loudoun Prep Sports Editor
Ashburn (Oct. 28, 2006) – Ladies and gentleman, due to inclement
weather conditions, we regret to inform you that Air Ashburn is
grounded … “Air Abel” and “Air Austin” however will be departing for
an end zone near you … please buckle up your chinstraps, as it could
be a bumpy ride.
While that wasn’t an actual announcement made at Friday’s game at
Broad Run High School it could have summed up the turn of events as the
area’s most potent passing attack channeled Woody Hayes for the second
straight week. Only it wasn’t three yards and a cloud of dust but more
like three yards and a clump of mud Friday as the Spartans rushed for
260 yards and five touchdowns behind Clayton Abel and Zach Austin in a
33-14 rainy victory over winless Loudoun County.
Broad Run improves to 4-4 overall and 2-1 in district under
first-year coach Michael Burnett and the Spartans, while long shots to
make the playoffs, have a legitimate chance to grab a share of the
district title if they can win their final two games against Dominion
and Park View. Broad Run was 1-9 last year after back-to-back 6-4
campaigns.
Loudoun County (0-3, 0-8) continues to build towards a brighter
future with plenty of playing time for youngsters such as freshman
Chase Williams and Mike Howard, and sophomores such as Joe Bushrod,
Jose VeraTedula, Andrew Walczak and Troy Krepich. Senior John Jameson
continue to make the best of his final campaign with a touchdown run
Friday and junior quarterback Kelly Reimers also scored, but the
Raiders committed four turnovers in the wet conditions and they
couldn’t stop Abel, who went for 195 yards on 20 attempts including a
59-yard run, and Austin, who picked up 75 yards on eight carries
including three touchdowns.
“Obviously the weather took away a big chunk of our offense, but we
were afraid that tomorrow the field would have been worse,” said
Burnett.
Spartan junior quarterback Cole Shain was just 5 of 9 for 33 yards
and senior sensation Adrian Mines had two catches for 23 yards.
“It is not what we do generally,” said Burnett.
The Broad Run binge behind the blockers started in the second half
last week against Heritage when they put the ball in the air only one
time while dominating the clock behind the bruising running style of
Abel and Austin. You don’t really need a Spirograph to draw up the
running routes of the senior duo as they picked up
yardage Etch-a-Sketch style and for six quarters they have kept the
chains moving. In fact, Broad Run had three rushing touchdowns in the
first six games and now has seven in just the last six quarters of
action. A large dose of credit must go to the Spartan offensive line
which was inexperienced coming into the season and has matured into a
top-notch group.
The Spartans took advantage of a Raider fumble to start their first
scoring drive Friday from the County 39. Austin’s plunge from 1 made it
7-0. Another Raider turnover led to another short scoring drive and
Shain’s quarterback keeper from the 3 to put Broad Run ahead 14-0 in
the first.
County drove to the Spartan 41 before turning the ball over on downs
and one play later Abel put the game fairly out of reach by breaking
loose for a 59-yard touchdown and a 21-0 lead.
The Raiders showed some spark by scoring just before half on Reimer’s 10-yard run to make it 21-7.
On the third play of the second half, Austin busted through the
right side and kept on chugging, all the way for a 45-yard touchdown
jaunt.
A Broad Run turnover deep in their own territory led to the Raiders
second touchdown, a Jameson 1-yard run. Trailing 27-14, County
threatened to pull within one score with a drive to the Broad Run 17
but the Spartan defense held and Broad Run finished the scoring with a
line drive that was highlighted by a 62-yard Abel run and culminated in
Austin’s third touchdown of the night.
“It means a lot to get to 4-4 for our kids. It means we have a shot at being district champions if we win out,” said Burnett.
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