Purcellville, Va. — Loudoun Valley High School senior quarterback Ashu Bertaut-Strange wasn’t alive the last time the Vikings beat the Broad Run Spartans in a varsity football game. So when he was given a chance 19 years and 11 days after the last Loudoun Valley win over the Spartans, he wanted to make the most of it.
Bertaut-Strange did everything he could to ensure his teammates could celebrate Homecoming, carrying the ball 17 times for 124 yards and 2 touchdowns while going 3-for-6 for 95 yards and another touchdown through the air as the Vikings scored early then held off a late rally by the Spartans, 27-21, on October 14 in Purcellville.
“The close games are where you see the real character of the players. There’s something about them coming back and us standing strong,” Bertaut-Strange said. “I wouldn’t want to play with anyone else. This is the game we love, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
[adrotate banner=”46″]Loudoun Valley got on the board less than two minutes into the game when Bertaut-Strange carried in a 25-yard touchdown run. The Vikings extended that lead late in the first quarter when Bertaut-Strange carried in another touchdown, this one from 21 yards out.
“The growth he’s had in the last four years is incredible. The maturity he’s grown from his freshman to senior year is just phenomenal,” Loudoun Valley head coach David Bishop said. “He’s obviously a dynamic playmaker, but I’m more proud of him off the field than on the field.”
Already with a 14-0 lead, Loudoun Valley added some more cushion when senior running back Elias Kage scored on a 4-yard touchdown run to create a 20-0 advantage before the end of the first quarter.
Broad Run junior running back Aslin Shipe carved into that lead midway through the second quarter when he pounded in a touchdown from 2 yards out. However, the Vikings had a swift answer as Bertaut-Strange hit senior receiver Cole Kielhorn with a 68-yard touchdown strike to re-extend the Vikings’ lead to 20.
“This is my first year playing QB, so we’re learning so much each week,” Bertaut-Strange. “We’re trying to use my athleticism, but there are so many other guys doing their jobs day in and day out.”
Trailing 27-7 at the half, the Spartans knew they would have an uphill battle in the second half, but they were up for the challenge. The Broad Run defense posted a second-half shutout, allowing the Spartans’ offense to go to work.
“They made some good halftime adjustments and got some momentum. I still feel like we could move the ball, but we couldn’t get the 4th-and-1s and 4th-and-2s,” Bishop said. “They were converting third and fourth downs, so it was the tale of two halves. Our kids were resilient and didn’t take anything for granted.”
Early in the fourth quarter, Broad Run junior quarterback Gavin Sidhu carried in a 4-yard touchdown run to cut the Loudoun Valley lead to 27-14. Then, late in the fourth quarter, Sidhu hit senior tight end Jayson Viernes with a 5-yard touchdown pass to make it a one score game.
On the ensuing drive, the Vikings appeared to gain enough for a first down and—with the Spartans’ out of time outs—put the game on ice, but the Vikings fumbled and Viernes scooped it up to give Broad Run one last chance.
Facing a 3rd-and-5 from inside Loudoun Valley territory, Sidhu tried to make a pass down the sideline, but Kielhorn jumped in front of his intended target and intercepted the pass as the Vikings held off the Spartans, 27-21, to secure their first win over Broad Run since 2003.
“Cole’s been making big plays all year. He was locked in all game,” Bishop said. “When the ball’s in the air, he’s a playmaker, so he just went up and got it.”
With the win, the Vikings help their playoff chances, but they’ll need to take care of business down the stretch in order to secure a playoff berth.
“We’ll celebrate tonight, but we’re onto Lightridge next week,” Bishop said. “It’s a big district game, and we’re trying to lock in the No. 3 seed for the playoffs. We’re right back to work Monday.”
Katey Jackson captured 300+ photos at the game!
Scoring Plays
| Period | Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 1Q | 10:18 | Loudoun Valley | Carl Ashu Bertaut-Strange 25-yard TD run (Kaden Bui PAT) | 7-0 |
| 1Q | 3:12 | Loudoun Valley | Carl Ashu Bertaut-Strange 21-yard TD run (Kaden Bui PAT) | 14-0 |
| 1Q | 0:25 | Loudoun Valley | Elias Kage 4-yard TD run (2pt failed) | 20-0 |
| 2Q | 7:18 | Broad Run | Aslin Shipe 2-yard TD run (Hector Quevedo PAT) | 20-7 |
| 2Q | 6:00 | Loudoun Valley | Carl Ashu Bertaut-Strange to Cole Kielhorn 68-yard TD pass (Kaden Bui PAT) | 27-7 |
| 4Q | 8:49 | Broad Run | Gavin Sidhu 4-yard TD run (Hector Quevedo PAT) | 27-14 |
| 4Q | 2:14 | Broad Run | Gavin Sidhu to Jayson Viernes 5-yard TD pass (Hector Quevedo PAT) | 27-21 |