Ashburn, VA (November 29, 2019) - Exactly three months ago, the Tuscarora Huskies met the Broad Run Spartans to open the 2019 Dulles District season. The Spartans secured the victory in a closely played game, 28-26, and the Huskies' loss would be the only blemish on either team's record. Broad Run finished the regular season 12-0, and Tuscarora was right behind at 11-1.
The first two round of region play were straightforward. The Spartans dispatched Millbrook and Loudoun Valley in home games while the Huskies crushed Sherando at home and then did the same to the second seed, Liberty, on the road.
And now, here they were on a crisp, but sunny holiday afternoon with only the Region 4C championship at stake.
Chas Sumser Photography was there to capture the action and emotion and posted a gallery of images from the game.
There were many ways this game could have gone, but the most likely was a tight, back-and-forth battle befitting two excellent teams at the end of a long season. And that's pretty much the way the first quarter played out. Each team gained positive yardage in their first possessions, but could not score.
On their second drive, however, Ethan Gick found Jevonn Gilyard for a Huskies touchdown for an initial but short-lived edge. The period ended with the Spartans driving, but they didn't punch it in until the first play of the second quarter on a pass from Mitch Griffis, tying the score at 7-7.
The rest of the quarter belonged to Gick and the impressive Tuscarora offense. Two more passing touchdowns made the halftime score 20-7. Each came as a result of Broad Run turnovers forced by the dominating Huskies defense. Energy radiated from the crowded visiting stands as the title was suddenly within their grasp.
But the deficit was the least worrisome sight for the Broad Run faithful who packed the home stands. As the team headed to the locker room at the break, their starting quarterback was limping slowly behind. Griffis would be replaced for the remainder of the game by backup Brent Griffis. The sophomore had gained solid experience this season, but never in a game of this magnitude.
The game was essentially clinched on the first drive of the third quarter. This time it was Bryce Duke on the receiving end of a Gick strike to take a commanding twenty-point lead, 27-7. More importantly, Tuscarora used up 75% of the clock--nearly a full nine minutes--which further dimmed Broad Run's chance.
Griffis did his best to lead the Spartans' offense, but the Tuscarora defense could smell victory, forcing hurried throws and miscues. While Broad Run had some good moments they were never able to sustain a second half drive of any length. Tuscarora would add a fourth quarter field goal to seal the win and the championship.
Final Score: Tuscarora 30 - Broad Run 7
