Ashburn, Va. – When John Champe High School head coach Jason Dawson led his team on to the field at Broad Run High School before their matchup on September 15, he must have felt a wave of pride and excitement. After all, this marked Dawson’s return to the school where he was the defensive coordinator for the Spartans’ back-to-back state championship teams in 2008 and 2009. Now, he was returning as head coach of the 3-0 Knights, preparing for their first ever Potomac District clash after moving up to the VHSL 5A this season.
It was the Spartans, however, who would ruin the homecoming by scratching and clawing their way to their fourth consecutive victory, knocking of the Knights, 39 – 34, in front of a home crowd in Ashburn.
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Early on – with the John Champe defense keying on Broad Run sophomore running back Tim Baldwin – it was Broad Run sophomore quarterback Mitch Griffis who found running room. Starting at his own 43 after a nice kickoff return by senior Donovan Hale, Griffis scrambled for 21 yards on a 3rd-and-8, and then gained 14 more on the next play, bringing it down to the Champe 2-yard line. Baldwin took it from there and the Spartans found themselves up 7-0 just three minutes into the first quarter.
Broad Run senior captain Royce Bryson then picked off John Champe senior quarterback Cameron Parson to end the Knights’ first drive.
On the ensuing drive, Griffis was able to punch it in, and the Spartans led 14-0.
Then early in the second quarter, Griffis broke free taking it 67 yards for a touchdown, as the sophomore put his team up three scores just 13 minutes into the game.
With the Spartan offense settled in, the Broad Run defense was able to control shifty John Champe senior running back Carl Garmon III early on. However, Garmon III cut into that three score lead midway through the second quarter when he scored his first of two touchdowns on the night.
The Knights’ momentum was short-lived however as Baldwin found a huge hole on the next possession, taking it to the house from 57 yards out to re-extend the Spartans’ lead to three scores..
After cutting the score to 26-14 at the half, the Knights came out flying to start the third quarter. Just a minute-and-a-half into the second half, Garmon III carried the ball 25 yards for a touchdown, cutting the Spartans’ lead to 26-20.
On Broad Run’s ensuing possession – after converting on a big third down – Baldwin once again broke free going 55 yards for his third and final touchdown of the night.
The resilient Knights kept up the pressure on their next drive. Following an amazing one-handed catch by John Champe senior tight end Trevor Consenke, Parson went back to Cosenke, who hauled in his second touchdown reception of the night, this one from 25 yards out. The extra point cut the Broad Run lead to six once again, 33-27.
Griffis extended the Spartans’ lead to 39-27 with a touchdown to open the fourth quarter, and while the Knights put up another score and a valiant effort before the fourth quarter ended, time expired with Broad Run on top.
“That was a fun game to play in,” Griffis said.
The Spartans (4-0) have run through a very difficult four game stretch to start the season, and remain undefeated as they travel to Rock Ridge on September 22 for the Phoenix Homecoming game.
The Knights (3-1) battled hard up until the final whistle. There won’t be much time to dwell on their first loss of the season, however, as the Stone Bridge Bulldogs (3-0) roll into Aldie on September 22 for another Potomac District clash.
Scoring:
1Q 8:57 BR Tim Baldwin for a 2-yard TD run (Buri PAT)
1Q 6:10 BR Mitch Griffis for a 3-yard TD run (Buri PAT)
2Q 10:50 BR Mitch Griffis for a 67-yard TD run (PAT failed)
2Q 7:18 JC Carl Garmon III for a 17-yard TD run (PAT failed)
2Q 6:36 BR Tim Baldwin for a 57-yard TD run (PAT failed)
2Q 4:18 JC Cameron Parson to Trevor Cosenke for a 25-yard TD pass (2pt good)
3Q 10:30 JC Carl Garmon III for a 25-yard TD run (PAT failed)
3Q 8:38 BR Tim Baldwin for a 55-yard TD run (Buri PAT)
3Q 5:24 JC Cameron Parson to Trevor Cosenke for a 25-yard TD pass (Morrill PAT)
4Q 10:53 BR Mitch Griffis for a 2-yard TD run (PAT failed)
4Q 8:17 JC Cameron Parson to Tyler Savage for a 27-yard TD pass (Morrill PAT)
