Before we get to kick-off, let's re-visit our Game Preview with Predictions...
#2 Stone Bridge (10-2) at #1 Broad Run (11-1) . . . This is the fourth playoff meeting since 2013 between Ashburn rivals as Stone Bridge prevailed in both ’15 and ’16, while Broad Run won the postseason encounter in ’13. The only blemish for Broad Run this year was a season-opening forfeit to Potomac Falls, who they beat 31-0 on the field. Coach Matt Griffis and his Spartans also won in the regular season finale over the Bulldogs this year, 26-20.
Yet, Mickey Thompson’s Bulldogs are no strangers to playoff success. Thompson is 194-40 in 18 seasons at the helm, and despite a rare two-loss regular season, they come in off arguably their best performance of the year as they blanked Falls Church 69-0 in the second round to halt a seven-game winning streak for the Jaguars.
Stone Bridge has some serious weapons on offense with QB Mason Tatum, RB Nick Mell (Army commit) and budding sophomore star wide receiver Tai Felton, who has helped pick up where stud pass catcher Daniel Thompson (now at Towson) left off from a season ago. Broad Run is no slouch at all, though. Their defense is probably underrated in the grand scheme of things, led by DB Luke Lindenfeldar on the back end.
On offense, the Spartans have some serious firepower of their own with QB Mitch Griffis, a Wake Forest commit, and fellow junior Tim Baldwin running the ball. Baldwin is a Michigan commit who could be the key factor in determining whether or not Broad Run beats Stone Bridge for a second time. Griffis is surgeon-like running the Broad Run offense, but the Bulldogs appear to be better defensively than they were in the previous meeting with DE Paul Moore and DB Ajani Gillis (Navy commit) setting the tone.
Much as the case was a year ago in the Region 5C Final between Stone Bridge and Tuscarora, there’s a pretty strong chance it comes down to the final possession and possibly a kick from either team at the end on an extra point or field goal try.
Matt Says: Stone Bridge 28-21
VHSL-Reference.com Says: Broad Run 21-17
Coach Young Says: Broad Run 21-20