I’m sitting in the Lane Stadium press box with News & Advance prep writer Ted Allen. We’ve got about 10 minutes before Amherst and Broad Run kick off in the Group AA, Division 4 state championship game.

Before I get started on the Lancers, let me congratulate Altavista for its 27-7 win over J.I. Burton earlier today in the Group A, Division 1 championship game at Salem City Stadium. The Colonels closed out their 13-1 season with their first-ever state championship.

That’s the second state title for Altavista coach Mike Scharnus, who also led Rustburg to a Group AA, Division 3 championship in 2000.

Now on to Amherst’s game. Here are a couple of pregame observations. Check back here often, as I’ll be doing periodic updates during the game.

**I think Broad Run traveled more players here than Marshall did for its game against Virginia Tech back in September. I’m not kidding. There’s got to be at least 70 kids warming up on the field as I write.

**It should come as no surprise that Amherst’s fans outnumber Broad Run’s. The Lancers had a considerably shorter drive than the Spartans, who hail from Ashburn. Still, there’s a good turnout for both sides.

**Amherst is the home team, and it’s wearing its black jerseys and maroon pants. Broad Run is wearing all white.

**For a little historic perspective, this is Lancers seventh state championship game appearance and their fourth since 2006.

Here are their all-time state championship game results:
2008 (AA, Division 4) Broad Run 13, Amherst 0
2007 (AA, Division 4) Amherst 56, Sherando 10
2006 (AA, Division 4) Amherst 34, Louisa 27
1998 (AAA, Division 5) Hampton 35, Amherst 0
1995 (AA, Division 4) Amherst 56, Sherando 12
1994 (AA, Division 4) Spotsylvania 26, Amherst 0

**Northside pulled out a dramatic 20-17 win over Bruton in the Group AA, Division 3 title game earlier today at Lane Stadium. Northside’s Adam Hardister blocked a 26-yard field goal attempt by Bruton’s Ben Arbino with nine seconds left.

END OF FIRST QUARTER … 0-0 SCORE
Amherst’s defense is playing lights out. Its offense … well, that’s another story. The Lancers have turned the ball over twice inside their own 35-yard line, but Broad Run got no points out of either turnover.

The Lancers have run only six offensive plays. They turned the ball over on their second play of their first possession and again on their second play of their second possession. They currently have the ball at the start of the second quarter.

SECOND QUARTER UPDATE: Broad Run just scored to go up 7-0 with 6:43 left before halftime. Quarterback Connor Jessop connected with wide receiver Adrian Flemming for 12-yard touchdown completion.

ANOTHER SECOND QUARTER UPDATE (4:15 left before half): Broad Run’s Eric Peeler was just helped off the field with a leg injury. It doesn’t look good. He couldn’t put any pressure on his right leg. He has 15 carries for 75 yards so far in this game. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Peeler, a Pittsburgh commit, was playing linebacker when he was hurt.

AMHERST TIES GAME WITH 2:35 LEFT IN SECOND ON 4-YARD MARIO VAUGHAN RUN. His touchdown was set up by 16-yard catch and run by Anthony Rose. He caught a screen pass in the right flat, reversed field and followed his blockers to the 5-yard line. Kirby Anderson converted a fourth-and-1 on the very next play with a QB sneak.

HALFTIME UPDATE: We’re all knotted up at 7-7 here in Blacksburg. Amherst should consider itself lucky it’s in this ballgame, considering it turned the ball over four times (2 INTs, 2 lost fumbles).

Other than the turnovers in the first half, the biggest storyline was the apparent right leg injury to Broad Run running back/linebacker Eric Peeler. The Pittsburgh commit was injured while making a tackle in the second quarter and was wincing in pain as he was helped off the field. The last time I saw him, he was laying on a trainer’s table with his right leg slightly elevated by some sort of pillow. We’ll see if he can come back. It’ll be a big blow if he can’t.

Some quick halftime stats:
Vaughan has 45 yards and a TD on six carries … Devonte Brown already has seven tackles. … Kirby Anderson has two tackles for loss to offset the two interceptions he threw. … Broad Run leads the time of possession battle 15:31 to 8:29. It held a 10:08 to 1:52 advantage in the first quarter. … The Lancers have 119 total yards, 103 of which have come on the ground. The Spartans have 80 total yards on 32 plays. … Broad Run is 1 of 7 on third downs. … Peeler has 71 yards on 15 carries. … Spartans QB Connor Jessop is 5 for 10 for 27 yards and a TD.

THIRD QUARTER UPDATE: Broad Run just went up 14-7 with 6:30 left in the third. Jessop threw another 12-yard touchdown pass, this time to tailback Derril Thomas.

THIRD QUARTER UPDATE NO. 2: Amherst punter Anthony Fletcher just pinned Broad Run back to its own 1-yard line.

END OF THIRD QUARTER: Still 14-7 Broad Run, but Amherst is driving. The Lancers just got a 35-yard run off right tackle by Mario Vaughan and currently have a third-and-6 from the Spartans’ 24.

TYLER DAWSON COMES THROUGH: The Amherst kicker just nailed a 39-yard field goal with 11:16 left in the fourth quarter to make it 14-10.

FOURTH QUARTER UPDATE: David Weaver just caught Jessop’s third touchdown pass, this from 25 yards, to put Broad Run up 21-10 with 8:05 remaining. The clock is ticking for the Lancers. We’ll see how they respond.

FOURTH QUARTER UPDATE NO. 2: The Lancers responded quickly with a touchdown drive. Vaughan just scored his second touchdown on a 2-yard run with 4:04 left in the game. A 2-point conversion run attempt by Kirby Anderson was unsuccessful. The score is now 21-16.

GAME OVER, FINAL SCORE 21-16: Amherst got to the Broad Run 35, but on fourth-and-13, Kirby Anderson’s pass sailed over Anthony Rose’s head. The Spartans have beaten the Lancers for the state championship for a second straight year.