Broncos bounce DeSales, to meet Colfax

The LRS Broncos ended DeSales’ state playoff experience in the first round Friday with a 41-14 manhandling of the Irish.

The win cleared the way for a rematch with Northeast 2B rival Colfax in a quarterfinal battle that will be played out on the field at Cheney High School on Friday, Nov. 22, at 7 p.m.

Three Northeast 2B League teams remain in the state playoff bracket.

Colfax defeated White Swan, 22-14, and Reardan prevailed over Oroville, 41-20.

While the Broncos meet up with the Bulldogs in the state quarterfinals, the Indians will get a chance to knock off Adna.

With a win over Colfax, the Broncos will advance to the state semi-finals to face the winner of the Reardan and Adna contest.

“Reardan and Adna, that’s a heck of a match up,” head coach Greg Whitmore said. “They are similar teams.”

Whitmore likes the idea that three teams from the league are still in the playoffs. Admittedly, he would prefer to face teams that the Broncos haven’t already played this season. If anyone knows what the Broncos do best, it’s the Colfax and Reardan teams.

Normally, Whitmore focuses on his own team when preparing for a game. This week will be more of the same.

“We made enough mistakes (against DeSales) that we will have a good film session and focus on how we can get ourselves better,” he said. “We will look at what Colfax did in our last meeting that slowed us down. The stakes are a lot higher. Colfax is another opponent that can send us home.”

The Broncos have been rolling over their opponents, DeSales felt that on Friday night during a wind ripped game that included periods of icy rain.

The Irish received the opening kickoff, looking to score first, but soon experienced the wrath of the LRS defense. The Irish had three plays and then punted the ball. Logan Morley’s 24-yard punt return put the Broncos within striking distance early, deep in Irish territory.

Connor O’Neill opened the scoring assault with a four-yard touchdown with 10:25 left on the first quarter clock. The extra point missed as the Broncos took a 6-0 lead.

The varsity has been potent and this game was no different as the Broncos posted 21 points in the first quarter and another 40 in the second quarter, while DeSales had no answer for the LRS defense.

The second score of the night came when Dylan Hartz fooled everyone, tucking the ball away for a quarterback keeper and a 16-yard touchdown run. O’Neill tacked on two points with a run, making the score 14-0.

Ryan Whitmore caught an eight-yard Hartz pass for the third score of the first quarter. Matt Leffel’s extra point kick was good.

Whitmore has seven touchdown receptions in the past three games.

The second quarter saw O’Neill doing what he loves, scoring on a 12-yard jaunt. Leffel’s kick made the score 28-0.

Whitmore grabbed a five yard pass from Hartz for the next touchdown and Leffel’s kick was good.

Cort Ruzicka capped the scoring night for LRS, battling his way into the end zone on a 38-yard effort. The kick missed giving the Broncos a 41-0 lead before the end of the first half.

The second half was a quicker pace with a running clock due to the 40-point rule.

The LRS starters spent the rest of the evening warming by propane heaters while the reserves battled the Irish starters. DeSales would score twice in the third quarter. The first came on a two-yard run and the second score was a fumble recovery for a score.

Ruzicka led the ground assault Friday with 148 yards on 12 carries. Whitmore said Ruzicka knows he will be a work horse in the postseason.

“He will have to carry the load, especially when we have to establish the run,” Whitmore said. “Other teams will start trying to take away Connor and Ryan. I was really pleased how Cort responded.”

O’Neill rambled for 66 yards on nine carries. Damien Rouleau collected 33 yards on six carries in the second half.

Hartz finished the night completing 6 of 7 for 60 yards and two scores.

Whitmore caught three passes for 35 yards. Ruzicka had one reception for 13 yards and O’Neill had two catches for 12 yards.