Broncos quickly defeat Coyotes, 43-6

The last non-league game of the season for the Broncos was a blowout Friday at Kittitas. The varsity pounded the young Coyotes in the opening minutes and led the team to a 43-0 lead at the end of the first half.

As a result, the running clock rule was employed in the second half. Kittitas was able to score once against the Broncos’ junior varsity squad, which spent the majority of the second half on the field.

The abbreviated second half comes from a change in the rules for 2B football that was implemented last season. When there is a 40-point or greater deficit in the second half, the running clock is used to end the game in a quicker fashion.

The Broncos were relentless early and left the Coyotes, a team with 17 freshmen, reeling.

Connor O’Neill’s signature speed was front and center has he went 56 yards for a score on the Broncos’ first play on offense. The point after attempt was missed.

Ryan Whitmore scored in the first quarter, taking a pass from Dylan Hartz 18 years into the end zone. Matt Leffel’s kick was good for the extra point and 13-0 lead.

Hartz entered the scoring acting when the Broncos put six points on the board following a quarterback keeper. Leffel’s kick was good.

Leading 20-0, the Broncos scored one more time in the opening quarter on a 44-yard jaunt by O’Neill. Leffel’s kick was good.

The second quarter saw Hartz put on a display of his mobility. He ran 37 yards for a touchdown. The extra point was missed.

Jacob Saetre, in at quarterback, connected with Bridger Smith for the next score on an 11-yard pass play. Leffel’s kick was good.

Leffel has been getting plenty of point-after kick practice this season. Friday he also booted a 30-yard field goal to cap the Broncos’ scoring efforts.

The Broncos generated 296 yards of offense. Hartz was five for six passing and 36 yards.

On the ground, O’Neill led the team with 131 yards rushing on seven carries. Hartz tacked on 50 yards on three carries.

In the second half, Andrew Witt led the ground assault with 33 yards on seven carries. Damien Rouleau battled for 17 yards on six trips.

Whitmore led receivers with 24 yards on two catches.

On defense, the Broncos collected three interceptions and one fumble. They also broke up several Kittitas pass plays.

As a team the defense only allowed Kittitas 101 yards of offense.

The LRS offense scored its 43 points on just 36 plays with three first downs in the first half.

This week things become a bit more serious as the Broncos travel to Reardan for the first Northeast 2B League outing of the season. Head coach Greg Whitmore said his veteran team took care of business against Kittitas. While it was an easy win, he said the veteran Broncos executed well.

“In a game like that, there is a lot of margin for error,” he said. “In the game coming up there’s no margin for error.”

Reardan is best known for being strong running right at teams.

“We have to stop the run and force them to throw,” Whitmore said. “They are big and will come in with more size than us. If they don’t have to throw a bunch it means we’re going to have a long night.”

The Indians will typically line up in a full wishbone with three running backs and two tight ends.

“They run it at you backward and forward,” Whitmore said.

The Broncos expect to capitalize on athleticism and quickness to outsmart the Indians.

“I think we can move the ball,” Whitmore said. “Reardan is always one of the top teams in the league. There’s always playoff implications when we face them. I want to wake up on Saturday and celebrate being 1-0 for the week. We just have to take things one game at a time.”