Good Teams Left...

Congratulations goes out to the Broncos of LRS after two big victories over Reardan and Colfax. Both victories were huge to say the least. Shutting out the Indians on Jimmie Snider Field was a significant feat. But to follow that up with a long road trip to Colfax where a league championship was on the line would not be easy.

In order to earn a league championship you need to knock off the reigning king of the hill. Reardan’s victory over the Bulldogs nearly three weeks ago prepared the Broncos for two specific items of importance. 1.) Reardan was not going to be a pushover and 2.) Colfax was not used to losing and would be ready for the Broncos when they came to Whitman County.

This group of juniors and sophomores had success against the Junior High Bulldogs a few years back and that success would play out last Friday night. After losing the lead twice, LRS would wear down the C-Dogs and defeat the two main obstacles to a league championship on successive Friday nights. This too was not an easy task, just ask Reardan about that one.

The playoff road will start with the crossover games a week from tomorrow night. That road will not be a smooth one as there are several District 9 squads that are very good and none will be easy.

DeSale’s looks like it is finding its way in the end zone after dropping a close game to Waitsburg-Prescott. They put the hurt on Tekoa-Oakesdale/Rosalia and Tri-Cities Prep (TCP). A few weeks back the Broncos couldn’t put away the TCP Jaguars until overtime when they stopped a two-point conversion a yard short of pay dirt.

The Irish smacked the Jaguars last week 48-7, so DeSale’s looks very tough indeed. There is no doubt that each week that the Broncos participate in the playoffs they will need to be ready and they need to stay healthy. At this time of the year it is very difficult to not have a ding or two that slows players especially when it gets cold.

This has been a special season to say the least. When starting out this season the Broncos were without speedy Connor O’Neill and Cort Ruzicka sat out the first game, which affected the running game and the defense. Ruzicka played in the second game and he added a different dimension to the rush.

When O’Neill came back it took a couple of games for him to find his timing, and now he is starting to gain confidence and he has that extra gear that a lot of players really don’t have.

Dylan Hartz has been improving as a decision maker in the option offense. His passing will need to be a bit crisper as the Broncos face tougher competition in the playoffs. He has the talent to do just that.

The offensive line has improved a great deal from the first game of the season and they are now doing a good job of opening holes for the running backs. They have been doing a much better job of limiting holding and block in the back penalties, which are devastating to a great drive. In order for a team to be successful it needs to have a very good line. When the line plays as one it is tough to stop a good team from scoring and the Broncos like to score.

Defense may be the best part of this team because of strength, speed and experience in key positions. Anytime a team holds Colfax to 14 points and shuts out Reardan, you know a team’s defense is tough. Several other teams did not score on the first team defense and the teams that the Broncos will be facing in the near future know that.

Yes, there are a lot of good teams left that will be fighting for playoff spots and the Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Broncos are definitely one of them. It’s gonna be fun so tighten up the chin straps because there is rough roadway ahead.