By Frank Gorey
LoCoSports Contributor
McLean (September 14, 2015) — For Broad Run High School, the formula for winning their opening two games relied heavily on the legs of quarterback Kyle Brickerd and a hard-charging defense that clamped down early and often on both Potomac Falls and Wakefield.
On September 11 in Langley, however, the Spartans showed just how important special teams can be to that winning formula, as seniors Chris Moore and Clyde Bryson each returned kickoffs for touchdowns to spark the Spartans, 45-21, victory over the Saxons.
Langley — led by senior, dual-threat quarterback Jack Anderson — scored with four minutes left in the first quarter on a keeper from seven yards out. If Broad Run head coach Matt Griffis wondered how his Spartans would respond after finding themselves trailing for the first time this season, he didn’t have to wait long to find out, as Moore took the ensuing kickoff 86 yards for the touchdown.
The Saxons — perhaps believing that they would need to score often in order to stay close — then went on 4th-and-3 from the Broad Run 40. Spartan senior Brandon Steel — who had perhaps his best game ever at Broad Run — had other ideas as he tackled the Langley ball carrier in the backfield for a 2-yard loss.
Brickerd then led the Spartans on an impressive 11 play drive that covered 63 yards, covering the last seven yards himself for the go-ahead touchdown before Langley scored again in the first half as the teams headed into the locker room knotted at 14-14.
A 10-point Broad Run third quarter, had Langley down by two scores early in the fourth quarter when the Saxons were forced to gamble on a 4th-and-10 from the Broad Run 46. The impressive Anderson eluded a couple of Spartans as he rolled all the way to the end zone, cutting the lead to three with 11 minutes still left in the game.
If the Saxons had any visions of a comeback, they quickly dissipated as Bryson took the ensuing kickoff to the house for a 69-yard touchdown, eventually icing the game for the Spartans.
There is no rest for the weary this year, as the Spartans travel to Centreville to take on the undefeated Wildcats on September 18.
Scoring Plays:
1Q L Jack Anderson 7-yard TD run (Shklyar PAT)
1Q BR Chris Moore 86-yard kickoff return TD (Sherman PAT)
2Q BR Kyle Brickerd 7-yard TD run (Sherman PAT)
2Q L Jack Anderson 7-yard TD run (Shklyar PAT)
3Q BR Meech Hembrey 4-yard TD run (Sherman PAT)
3Q BR Will Sherman 34-yard FG
4Q L Jack Anderson 7-yard TD run (Shklyar PAT)
4Q BR Clyde Bryson 69-yard kickoff return TD (Sherman PAT)
4Q BR Meech Hembrey 7-yard TD run (Sherman PAT)
4Q BR Meech Hembrey 85-yard interception return TD (Sherman PAT)
