Blog 5C Finals Game Blog: Stone Bridge 35, Broad Run 6 - FINAL

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It's almost time for the Region 5C Championship game as the top-seeded Broad Run Spartans (11-1) - whose only loss was a forfeit of a game they won in the opener over Potomac Falls - play host to their Ashburn and Potomac District rival, the second-seeded Stone Bridge Bulldogs (10-2).

We'll have updates via Twitter @ hatfieldsports + right here on the Game Blog throughout...

 

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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

 

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The Spartans of Broad Run win the toss and they defer. So it'll be Stone Bridge ball to start.

Stone Bridge fair catches at their own 34, where they will start.

 

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The first play is a carry to the right with Nick Mell, the Army commit, tackled by Luke Lindenfeldar for about 6 yards.

Out of the Pistol formation, it's a fumble as Jared Cole loses the pigskin, recovered by Broad Run DB Cameron Chambers at the Stone Bridge 42-yard line. A big takeaway for Matt Griffis and company.

 

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The Michigan commit Tim Baldwin gained 9 yards on his first two rushes, but the Stone Bridge defense stiffened from there.

Stone Bridge takes over at their own 35 for their second series of the afternoon.

 

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A holding penalty backs Stone Bridge up to its own 21 -yard line, but it's no problem for Mason Tatum and the Bulldogs passing game. Sophomore Tai Felton makes a catch worth 20 yards. That brings up 3rd & short and with the Broad Run corners playing off, they hit them with the hitch pattern to move the chains.

Another Felton catch worth 6 yards puts the Bulldogs closer to midfield.

 

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The 6-foot-tall, 180-pound wideout in tenth grade is an early impact player in this one.

Stone Bridge puns Broad Run at its own 20 with a touchback. How will Broad Run respond now?

 

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A costly turnover by Broad Run there, and if Stone Bridge capitalizes unlike the Spartans on the game's earlier turnover, it'll put the visiting Bulldogs in great position to advance today. Though this one is LONG from over.

 

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Stone Bridge has made a couple adjustments up front from their last meeting. They've moved two of their better linemen over to the right side, including Ben Ball.

Facing a 3rd & Goal at the Broad Run 1, the Bulldogs will call time-out to get center John Morton back on the field after getting dinged up a bit.

Stone Bridge is using the Army commit Nick Mell out of direct snap formations and he's having reasonable success on the ground. Luke Lindenfeldar has been the most active tackler for Broad Run on defense.

 

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Coach Mickey Thompson of Stone Bridge couldn't have asked for a better start.

 

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Broad Run, needing a score badly here, will begin at its own 36-yard line after about a 24-yard kickoff return from Tim Baldwin.

On 1st & 10 - it's QB Mitch Griffis gaining just 2 yards on the keeper before sophomore Gabe Perez brings him down. Broad Run takes a shot on 2nd & 8 and it's incomplete with good coverage from Payton Hunter (who has about 7 or 8 INT's on the year).

Then the Bulldogs get their 2nd takeaway of the opening period...

 

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Stone Bridge is sealing the edge tremendously well as they continue to mix it up on the ground with both Jared Cole - the Oakton transfer and Lacrosse standout - as well as Nick Mell, the Army commit.

Faced with a 4th & 4 from their own 46, Stone Bridge Head Coach Mickey Thompson is not shy about going for it and they do here. It results in Nick Mell moving the chains with a rush of 13 yards into Broad Run territory.

The Spartans are searching for answers defensively, even with solid hits from Lindenfeldar and Kesean Dyson.

 

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Mickey Thompson fools us all by punting on this latest 4th down, mainly because a delay of game penalty backed them up 5 yards and the drive stalled out.

 

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Broad Run needed that in a big way and maybe that gets Tim Baldwin and the rest of the Spartans going offensively.

 

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Stone Bridge's defense stiffens after a speed option play where QB Mitch Griffis gains 8 yards. Broad Run has decided to go with a single-wing look and override the right side. The Bulldogs have adjusted to it well on the fly.

Facing 4th & 1 from the Stone Bridge 27-yard line, the Spartans go for it with RB Tim Baldwin and he doesn't get it. Kudos to Mikail Kamara and that Bulldogs defense for the stop.

 

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After the big stop from their defense, the Stone Bridge offense goes 3 & out and it was an ugly series after some excellent execution earlier in this 1st half.

In fact, facing 3rd & 8 from their own 29, a bad snap results in a loss of 19. The punt by the left-footed punter Nick Mell only goes 23 yards.

So Broad Run has a chance to get closer, starting at the Stone Bridge 37.

 

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A great job by the junior triggerman of the Spartans Griffis - son of Head Coach Matt Griffis. Mitch had pressure coming from his backside, yet kept his composure, and most importantly, his eyes downfield long enough to find Busser come open.

 

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Broad Run's defense is starting to challenge Tai Felton on the outside better, and against the run, they aren't letting Nick Mell or Jared Cole get outside as easily.

After a penalty, the Spartans will take over at their own 44.

Tim Baldwin gets 3 yards and another 3 yards before the Stone Bridge defense - with sophomore inside linebacker Gabe Perez playing a key role - stuffs QB Mitch Griffis on 3rd & 4 from midfield. Broad Run will punt it away.

 

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On the punt return, Stone Bridge was called for a penalty that'll back them up half the distance to the goal, at their own 8-yard line, with 3:20 before intermission.

Broad Run defenders Ryan Gorey and Zangar Smith are making life tough on Stone Bridge QB Mason Tatum in this 2nd period. In the first quarter, Tatum was in such a groove, completing his first four passes for 79 yards and that long score to Tai Felton. Things have changed a great deal in the second period.

A big break for Stone Bridge as a penalty is called on Broad Run on 2nd down that would've brought up 3rd & long for the Bulldogs. Coach Griffis has to be furious about that, knowing they could've gotten the ball back with a chance to tie before the break.

 

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Just when things were looking rough for Mason Tatum, it's looking a whole lot better for Mason Tatum, who after that run has 161 total yards in the half.

It'll be interesting to see if the Bulldogs end up playing for 3 or the TD here as time ticks under 2 minutes.

 

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Now Broad Run goes into its hurry-up, two-minute drill. They may be able to get in field goal range themselves with a couple of completions from QB Mitch Griffis, one of the top junior passers in the whole state.

 

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Broad Run burns a time-out after a 12-yard run from QB Mitch Griffis brings them near midfield. To start the possession, he found Everett Drake for a 12-yard completion. Stone Bridge helped bring them closer by jumping offsides.

Luke Lindenfeldar hauls in a Griffis completion worth 6 yards to the Stone Bridge 45, where Mason Gordon makes the tackle. Broad Run burns another time-out with 26 seconds till intermission.

 

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On 1st & Goal from the 9 - Jared Cole of Stone Bridge gets his hands on the pass and it's incomplete in the left corner of the end zone.

9 seconds left with 2nd & Goal upcoming.

 

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It's the two-sport standout Paul Moore (in baseball and football) flexing his muscles to allow Stone Bridge to maintain an 8-point lead going to intermission.

Some half-time numbers here shortly...

 

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Some stats at the break...

HALF:

Stone Bridge 14:
Mason Tatum - 8-12 for 95Yds. 1-0 TD/Int. ratio; 6Car. 73Yds.
Nick Mell - 6Car. 31Yds. TD
Jared Cole - 6Car. 16Yds; 2 Tackles, PBU
Tai Felton - 6Rec. 89Yds. TD
Payton Hunter - 1Rec. 6Yds.
Mikail Kamara - 4 Tackles (3 Solo), TFL
Gabe Perez - 4 Tackles (3 Solo)

Bulldogs - 32 plays for 201 total yards (20 rushes for 106 yards; 8-12 for 95 yards passing); 1 turnover on lost fumble; 5 penalties for 39 yards


Broad Run 6:
Mitch Griffis - 5-9 for 91Yds. 1-1 TD/Int. ratio 6Car. 15Yds.
Tim Baldwin - 10Car. 57Yds.
Jake Busser - 1Rec. 31Yds. TD
Luke Lindenfeldar - 2Rec. 42Yds; 6 Tackles (4 Solo)
Everett Drake - 2Rec. 18Yds.

Spartans - 25 plays for 163 total yards (16 rushes for 72 yards; 5-9 for 91 yards passing, 1 intercept); 2 turnovers with 1 lost fumble; 2 penalties for 25 yards

 

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It's Broad Run football to begin the second half and they'll start at their own 20 after a kick into the end zone by Stone Bridge for a touchback.

The Spartans are likely to feed Tim Baldwin more here in this 2nd half.

 

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Both Kamara and Paul Moore started to find their way into the backfield after about 4 or 5 Tim Baldwin runs good for 12-14 yards. Blocking up front broke down and Stone Bridge took advantage, now sensing a chance to go up multiple scores here early in the 3rd quarter.

 

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Uh-oh, fumble for Stone Bridge, their second lost one of the afternoon, as Zakias Moore puts it on the carpet and there to recover was either Luke Lindenfeldar or Chaz Allison (not 100% positive but think it was Lindenfeldar).

Broad Run now takes over at their own 28. However, they continue to have a hard time blocking that Paul Moore guy.

 

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Felton stepped it back up and a key diving catch by Payton Hunter can't be forgotten about on that series to give Stone Bridge a 4th & inches.

Kicker Hayden Baron just boomed his 3rd touchback of the day, meaning Broad Run will have to begin at its own 20.

 

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Payton Hunter gets it done on both sides of the football for Stone Bridge. Broad Run's defense looks as if it is getting a bit worn down against this strong running game and sturdy o-line of the Bulldogs, primarily in the trenches.

 

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https://virginiapreps.forums.rivals...-stone-bridge-10-2-at-1-broad-run-11-1.60459/

This offensive line for Stone Bridge is taking ownership of the game with Ben Ball, Chris Bradley and company having their way.

 

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Stone Bridge now with 185 yards on the ground in this one. Broad Run has to answer on this next series or it looks over to me.

 

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Mitch Griffis had 91 yards passing in the 2nd period. He didn't complete a pass in the 1st quarter. His only completion was for minus 3 yards in the 3rd period. The Stone Bridge pressure has come with a front four, while the secondary has picked him off twice as well.

Broad Run looking at a 3rd & long to begin the fourth and final stanza.

 

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On 4th down, Broad Run QB Mitch Griffis is dropped by Stone Bridge senior DT Dabryn Norris. That defensive front has 6 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, on the afternoon.

 

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Cole is listed at 5-9, 180 pounds and the junior has breakaway ability, adding another dimension to this Stone Bridge offense and ground attack.

This has been a much different game than the 26-20 Broad Run back in the regular season finale for these two Ashburn rivals.

 

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Broad Run moves the chains on 4th & 7 near midfield on a QB scramble with Mitch Griffis. But the Spartans don't have a great sense of urgency as they trail 35-6 to Stone Bridge.

It has been a stellar season for the Spartans. However, today Stone Bridge has been in full control, winning the battle up front and executing well with their running game and defense - both in coverage and with the pass rush. There have been opportunities for the Spartans to put points on the board, though they haven't finished drives - including one before the half - except the one time that Jake Busser found the end zone on a pass from Griffis.

 

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Luke Lindenfeldar with a terrific catch on a pass from Mitch Griffis, yet he takes a wicked shot from Nick Bell, the hard running ball carrier for the Bulldogs doubling on defense.

No flag was called on and fortunately Lindenfedlar is able to pop back up after the tough shot.

 

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Coach Mickey Thompson and defensive coordinator RJ Windows can't ask for much more from this Stone Bridge defense as they are closing in on the program's 12th regional title. This is their 18th regional title game trip by the way in 19 meetings.

 

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This figures to be the final region title matchup between Stone Bridge and Broad Run for a while. That's because next year Broad Run drops down to Class 4, along with Potomac District rival Tuscarora. Meanwhile, John Champe moves up to Class 6. Stone Bridge stays in Class 5.

 

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