Broad Run first-year coach Matt Griffis challenged his offensive line to be more aggressive and to get a lower shoulder pad level in Friday’s game against Heritage. That challenge was clearly accepted and delivered upon as the Spartans rushed for 461 yards and five touchdowns in a 41-19 non-district victory over the host Pride in Leesburg.

“We were coming out pretty high last week and weren’t really effective at getting a good push,” Griffis said of his offensive line’s performance in a 21-0 victory over Fauquier Aug. 27. “This week, we were more effective with the push. We worked on the basics this week and they really stepped up on the offensive line. I was very proud of them. Our tight ends also did a great job.”

The 41-19 win was the 30th consecutive victory for the two-time defending Division 4 state champion Spartans. Broad Run (2-0) last tasted defeat in the 2007 playoffs against Park View.

Griffis, a longtime assistant coach under Mickey Thompson at Stone Bridge and Park View, describes the streak as “very impressive” and credits former Spartan coach Michael Burnett, now at Tuscarora, and current defensive coordinator Jason Dawson for establishing a tradition of hard work.

“Coach Dawson preaches in the weight room that we are going to be the most in shape team on the football field every Friday night. That’s our goal,” Griffis said. “We don’t have the biggest kids but we are well conditioned. We preach this from December to August. I think it really pays dividends when our guys still have motors in the fourth quarter.”

The Spartans did suffer a blow on their first offensive play of Friday’s game. Starting QB Connor Jessop landed hard on his shoulder after being tackled on a running play and was taken to the hospital with an apparent collarbone or shoulder injury. Griffis was unable to confirm Jessop’s exact injury and did not give a timetable for how long he would be out after the game.

Jack Sistare took over at QB and performed admirably. Sistare completed 5 of 8 passes for 91 yards, including a 29-yard touchdown completion to Mike Price in the second quarter. Sistare also ran the ball nine times in the Spartans’ single-wing attack for 48 yards.

“Jack did a fantastic job,” Griffis said. “I was very proud of him tonight. I always tell the kids that you never know when you are going to get a chance. Jack got his chance tonight and did everything that we asked of him. We don’t ask our quarterback in the single wing to be superman—just throw the ball if it’s an easy throw and run the ball if you can get yards. He did exactly that.”

Broad Run also received big performances from a trio of backs—juniors Markas Anderson and Derril Thomas and senior Steven Fields. The three backs combined for 340 yards and five touchdowns on 39 carries. Thomas was most impressive, gaining 113 yards and scoring three times on just five carries.

Heritage (0-1) led 6-0 after the first quarter and were tied at 13-13 with less than a minute left in the first half. But the Spartans scored late in the second quarter and added three consecutive rushing touchdowns in the second half to pull away.

Pride senior Dan Dykema was stellar in his 2010 debut—catching 10 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown. Junior QB Austin Nelson passed for 303 yards and two touchdowns but was intercepted twice in the end zone. Senior Chuck Carlin caught four balls for 58 yards, including a 49-yard touchdown completion where he shrugged off a Broad Run defender near the 20-yard line and reached the end zone.

Both teams are back in action Sept. 10. Broad Run hosts Jefferson (W.Va.) while Heritage continues its difficult early schedule with a road date at Stone Bridge.

Broad Run 41, Heritage 19

First Quarter
H: Dykema 5 yard pass from Nelson (kick failed) :33

Second Quarter
BR: Thomas 4 yard run (kick blocked) 8:13
BR: Fields 10 yard run (Donnelly kick) 4:13
H: Carlin 49 yard pass from Nelson (Habibovic kick) 3:47
BR: Price 29 yard pass from Sistare (kick failed) :58

Third Quarter
BR: Thomas 28 yard run (Thomas run) 8:54
BR: Thomas 55 yard run (Donnelly kick) 4:35

Fourth Quarter
BR: Anderson 1 yard run (Donnelly kick) 5:55
H: Summers 11 yard run (pass failed) 5:09

Offensive Leaders

Passing: BR-Sistare (5 of 8 for 91 yards, TD); H-Nelson (20 of 33 for 303 yards, 2 TD, 2 Int.)

Rushing: BR-Anderson (28 for 143 yards, TD), Thomas (5 for 113 yards, 3 TD), Fields (6 for 84 yards, TD), Sistare (9 for 48 yards); H-Summers (5 for 21 yards, TD), Nelson (6 for 20 yards)

Receiving: BR-Price (3 for 57 yards, TD); H-Dykema (10 for 139 yards, TD), Carlin (4 for 58 yards, TD), Flinton (3 for 64 yards)

All photos by Carl Lukat, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)