Sterling, Va. — Led by sophomore running back Tim Baldwin, the Broad Run High School football team pounded the ground, scoring four rushing touchdowns in their 25-6, season opening win over Potomac Falls High School on August 25 in Sterling.
“It started with the offensive line, which did a great job creating holes for us,” Broad Run head coach Matt Griffis said. “Tim Baldwin has got a great cut when he gets a little opening and uses his great acceleration. I thought he had great vision tonight, ran the ball hard and was tough to take down.”
Broad Run’s defense starred in the first half. The Spartans made two big goal line stands, the first coming midway through the second quarter when Broad Run senior defensive back Frank McGhee III intercepted Panthers senior quarterback Hunter Lawall in the end zone.
The second goal line stand happened after Lawall found junior receiver Ian Gregory for a 29-yard reception to put the Panthers in a position to score before halftime. Broad Run’s defense sacked Lawall on the next play as time expired in the first half.
“Our defense was phenomenal. We had two goal line stands, one where we had the pick in the end zone,” Griffis said. “They set the tone because it was 6-0 at halftime, but it could’ve easily been 14-6 Potomac Falls. We tell our defense to not give up, and they played hard.”
After scoring a touchdown late in the first quarter, Broad Run sophomore running back Tim Baldwin extended the Spartans’ lead with a 38-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter. Baldwin added his third rushing touchdown with three minutes left in the third, extending the Spartans’ lead to 18-0.
“My offensive line created the holes,” Baldwin said. “Without them I couldn’t do anything.”
Early in the fourth quarter, Potomac Falls cut into Broad Run’s lead early in the fourth quarter with a rally of their own. Panthers senior running back Jordan Day scored a six-yard touchdown run to make it a two-score game with more than ten minutes to play.
However, a failed onside kick gave Broad Run excellent field position, and the explosive Baldwin carried the ball 50 yards for his fourth and final touchdown of the night.
“The offensive line did a great job in front of Baldwin,” Griffis said. “Potomac Falls changed schemes on us halfway though the game but our kids adjusted very well.”
Avenging their 2016 opening night loss to the Panthers, the Spartans wanted to make a statement to the Potomac District and the rest of the VHSL 5A Region C.
“This start shows the rest of the district that we’re not going to be pushed around,” Baldwin said. “We’re ready for anything.”
The Panthers look to bounce back with they travel to to Dominion High School to face their rival Titans on September 1. And there’s no rest for the weary, as the Spartans host Potomac District foe Tuscarora High School in Ashburn.
“I was proud of our kids,” Griffis said. “Some people didn’t think too highly of us as a team coming into this season, but our kids aren’t listening to the naysayers.”
Scoring:
1Q 2:47 BR Tim Baldwin 1-yard TD run (PAT failed)
3Q 9:31 BR Tim Baldwin 38-yard TD run (2pt failed)
3Q 2:32 BR Tim Baldwin 5-yard TD run (PAT failed)
4Q 10:30 PF Jordan Day 6-yard TD run (2pt failed)
4Q 9:29 BR Tim Baldwin 50-yard TD run (Buri PAT)
