By Frank Gorey
LoCoSports Contributor
Arlington (September 7, 2015) — Wakefield High School — coming off of their best season in more than 15 years — looked to get off to a strong start in their opening game against Broad Run High School on September 4 in Arlington. The Spartans, however — bolstered by a slew of big plays on both offense and defense — had other ideas as they cruised to a 40-6 victory over the Warriors to run their record to 2-0.
Neither team was able to move the ball on their opening drive, but after a Wakefield first down on their second drive of the night put the ball at midfield, Broad Run senior Jaleel Robinson found no one between himself and the quarterback on a safety blitz. His bone-jarring hit caused a fumble, which was recovered by his teammates.
On the ensuing drive, Spartan junior quarterback Kyle Brickerd methodically moved the ball down to the Warrior 4-yard line when Broad Run head coach Matt Griffis chose to go for it on 4th-and-inches instead of attempting to kick a field goal. Brickerd and his offensive line rewarded their coach as he plowed into the end zone for the game’s first score.
Broad Run didn’t have to wait long for their next big play, as defensive end Brandon Gonzalez recovered a Wakefield fumble on first down of the Warriors’ next drive and the Spartans were back in business as during the next drive Brickerd connected with Robinson through the air to give Broad Run a 13-0 lead.
Wakefield and Broad Run then traded scoring drives before the half ended, as the Spartans took a 20-6 lead into the locker room.
Broad Run junior Jayden Bunting took the second half kickoff all the way to midfield for a 35-yard return, but the Spartans were sluggish on offense to begin the third quarter.
Successive 37-yard punts by Broad Run senior Nick Federovitch — neither of which were able to be returned — allowed the Spartans to pin the Warriors back deep in their own territory.
Heavy pressure from up front would then lead to an interception by Broad Run senior Michael Turner which gave the Spartans some momentum and Brickerd the ability to scamper 26 yards for another score.
Trailing 27-6, the Warriors were forced to go for it on 4th-and-8 when Broad Run junior Meech Hembry found himself in the right place at the right time, and picked off Wakefield junior Tim Stroble, returning it 71 yards for the longest touchdown of the night.
Not to be outdone by a long defensive touchdown, on the next Broad Run possession, Brickerd found senior Nick Lindenfeldar wide open for a 69-yard touchdown to complete the scoring.
The Spartans — accompanied to Wakefield by two full busses of students who made up the animated and energizing Maroon Crew — travel to Langley High School to face the Saxons on September 11 at 7 p.m.
Scoring Plays:
1Q BR Kyle Brickerd 4-yard TD run (PAT failed)
1Q BR Kyle Brickerd to Jaleel Robinson 9-yard TD pass (Sherman PAT)
2Q W Leon Young 2-yard TD run (PAT failed)
2Q BR Clyde Bryson 21-yard TD run (Sherman PAT)
3Q BR Kyle Brickerd 26-yard TD run (Sherman PAT)
3Q BR Meech Hembry 71-yard INT return TD (Sherman PAT)
3Q BR Kyle Brickerd to Nick Lindenfeldar 69-yard TD pass (PAT failed)
