Story by Brennan Waldorf —
Broadwater Academy has officially completed its first eight-man league season in a triumphant manner. “It was different but a lot of fun. Kids were just glad to play, man,” said head coach Eddie Spencer on the year.
The Vikings traveled to Powhatan, Va., to take on the Blessed Sacrament-Huguenot Knights on March 27, for the final game of the season. They defeated the Knights 60-41 completing the program’s first undefeated season in 54 years. The Vikings’ high powered, senior-driven offense bulldozed all its opponents this season and capped it off with a 33-point lead going into the final quarter against the Knights.
Senior Gunnar Gustafson put on a show for the last time in his Viking career, ending the game with 241 yards on the ground and two rushing touchdowns. Gustafson did just as much damage in the air with 155 receiving yards, four receiving touchdowns, and a passing touchdown to finish the day with seven touchdowns. Senior quarterback Brant Bloxom also starred for the Vikings, finishing the game with six touchdowns, five in the air and one on the ground.
Despite the shortened season, standout Gustafson ended the season with 887 rushing yards, 396 receiving yards, and 22 touchdowns. An astronomical number for the small sample size of just four games but it’s nothing new to Gustafson. “Gunnar is a special athlete. (I) knew he was going to be something when I first saw him in sixth grade. He was our go-to guy,” said Spencer.
Gustafson started his football career at Broadwater with the same group of seniors and built one of the biggest resumes the Vikings have ever seen. In his time with the Vikings he broke multiple school records including most rushing yards in a season with 2,588. He amassed 6,378 total yards in his career and found the end zone a whopping 69 times. The specialist was remarkable on returns, daring teams to kick to him throughout his career. He finished averaging 24.9 yards per return and 9.3 yards per carry for the Vikings.
The Vikings will retire 10 seniors this year. Next year the underclassman will have big shoes to fill as Broadwater will embark upon its first full eight-man season. “It’s going to be hard to replace them (seniors), a great group of kids,” said Eddie Spencer of his senior class.
