Turning the Tide at Broad Run

In 2021, the Broad Run Football Team stood 4th in the state rankings after a prestigious 13-2 season with one of the highest scoring offenses in the region. However, the momentum didn’t last as the Broad Run Spartans began to spiral. Over the next three years, the Broad Run Spartans fell to 222nd in the state rankings, losing 24 of their last 31 games. For a program once viewed as one of Virginia’s most consistent contenders, this stretch feels like a fall from grace. Entering the 2025-2026 season, the program is in the middle of a prolonged slump, having lost 10 straight games stretching back to last year. Their most recent win came in a 56-0 shutout over the Park View Patriots. Now, the Spartans are searching for answers, and the best way to find them may be by hearing directly from the players and coaches on the field. 

For Head Coach Barnisky, Broad Run’s season isn’t defined by its losses but by lessons learned through accountability and preparation. “I know the wins and losses haven’t taken care of themselves yet, but I still feel like we’re on the right track and headed where we want to go.”  Coach Barnisky remains confident in his players’ work ethic and growth, noting that they continue to push each other and improve in practice every day. Determined to reduce costly mistakes, the team shows up to practice prepared, always working to improve. “How you prepare is going to be your performance. If you put A-level preparation into practice, you’re going to get an A-level performance in the game.” Many players have stepped up as leaders, putting the team first, which reflects the team’s maturity and sense of responsibility, with everyone committed to getting their first win of the season. “The reason I get out of bed every day, and I’m sure it’s the same reason why they do, is to win. We want to finish 4-0; it doesn’t matter how the season started,” Coach Barnisky said. It’s a reminder that success isn’t about how you start, but how you finish. 

We decided to dive into the players’ perspective on how they felt standing at 0-6. Star running back Caleb Pavlus reflected on the team’s performance, saying, “It always starts from the beginning because anything can happen. You have to start out fast. You can’t start the games out slow and that’s been our main issue.” According to data collected from MaxPreps, Broad Run has averaged 10 points in the second half, compared to just 3 points in the first half. This is a clear sign that slow starts are affecting outcomes. Youngwan Kim, a nose tackle who has been on the varsity roster since his freshman year, added, “I try to prepare pregame by avoiding being negative and communicating with my teammates positively. We still have a chance. The season isn’t over yet.”

When asked what it meant to represent Broad Run football, Caleb said, “It means a lot to me because this whole team is a brotherhood. You have to set an example for others because you are what your school, last name, and teammates represent.” Youngwan, also believing that representing Broad Run meant everything, added, “I love our coaches too; they’re good for our team.” It’s clear this Broad Run team remains driven, persistent, and hungry for a win. Playing for each other, they continue to believe that it’s only a matter of time before they rewrite the narrative of their season by finishing strong.

Now that we’ve heard from both the players and Coach Barnisky, we are able to get a deeper understanding of the “behind the scenes” of what the team is doing to play their best football. Coach Barnisky said, “We’re just going to keep working and figure out how to get over that hump and finally win.” While there are still areas to improve, from stopping big plays on third/fourth down to maintaining consistency for four full quarters, the Spartans are making progress, especially in areas like run defense. Coming off the bye week, Coach Barnisky has been implementing new wrinkles to the game plan to catch the opponents off guard. Execution remains key. If the team is able to put it all together a win against Loudoun Valley on Friday it would give them momentum heading into the final three games. Coach Barnisky added, “We’re excited both offensively and defensively coming into Loudoun Valley.” Once Broad Run can play a full four quarters, we can expect them to upset teams that most people aren’t expecting them to beat. With focus, leadership, and determination, this team is still writing their story, with the next few games set to define their season. As Broad Run lays the groundwork to restore its winning culture, the program’s spirit and competitiveness suggest brighter days ahead.