Broncos to meet Adna in state semis

Playing on a frozen Cheney High School football field, the LRS Broncos earned their right to play in the WIAA 2B State Semifinals with a 43-0 win over the Colfax Bulldogs.

For the second time this season, the Broncos produced a shutout win over the Bulldogs. This time during a playoff situation that ultimately ended the season for the Bulldogs.

The Broncos’ win sets up a meeting with the Adna Pirates at Moses Lake Lions Club Field on Saturday, Nov. 30, at 4 p.m. The winner of the contest will advance to the WIAA 2B Gridiron Classic to face the winner of the Morton-White Pass versus Raymond semifinal game. The championship contest will be played in the Tacoma Dome on Saturday, Dec. 7.

Head coach Greg Whitmore is looking forward to this week’s game and the opportunity to prepare for a brand new opponent.

“It takes a little more time to prepare, but that’s the fun part of coaching,” Whitmore said.

So far through the playoffs, the Broncos have faced teams they are familiar with, teams they have played several times before. Adna is a new opponent Whitmore and his Broncos have never faced.

Whitmore and the LRS coaching staff have watched the Pirates and reviewed game film in preparation for this week’s workouts.

“They have the same formation as Reardan with good speed and decent size,” Whitmore said of Adna. The Pirates are predominantly a running team, having thrown just six passes in the past two games. “They run the option and are going to be a lot like Reardan. The westside has typically been a run first league. It’s kind of a tradition in the Southwest League.”

Adna defeated Reardan last Saturday, 14-7, in a quarterfinal match up.

“Both tailbacks run hard and run fast,” Whitmore said. “They like to get to the outside and if they do, they can hurt you.”

When asked about his game plan for the day, Whitmore said the details were still being developed.

“I have things in my head that will evolve this week,” he said. “We may run things a little differently than we do.”

On defense, he said it will be all about assignment football for each player.

“In assignment football you have to be disciplined throughout the game,” he said. “We have to communicate with each other so that we are not blowing assignment. We have to make sure we don’t get caught.”

At times last Friday in the early moments, Colfax gave the Broncos some challenges. Their defense made plays against the LRS ground assault.

“One thing, they know us well,” Whitmore said. “At times they blitzed at the right time to stop a run play. We had to grind out the first drive.”

In fact, the Broncos were faced with a fourth down and five play. With the punt team on the field, Whitmore called for a fake punt.

Tyler Frederick took the ball and squeezed through the Colfax line for a first down. That set up the first touchdown of the night when Connor O’Neill scored on a five-yard run. Matt Leffel’s extra point kick was good.

O’Neill found his way into the end zone one more time in the first quarter on a 65-yard spring. Tyler O’Brien ran it in for a two-point conversion and a 15-0 lead.

In the second quarter, receiver Ryan Whitmore took a 52-yard Dylan Hartz pass in for the score. Leffel’s kick was good.

The final score of the first half came on a three-yard O’Neill run. Leffel’s kick made the score 29-0.

In the third quarter Frederick enjoyed a birthday present. He was moved from the offensive line to be a fullback, and scored on a two-yard run. Leffel’s kick was good.

“We call it the Freddy Formation,” Whitmore said. “After all Tyler has given us and as athletic as he is, it’s fun to give the ball to him.”

Whitmore didn’t know it was Frederick’s birthday when he called the play. He didn’t find out until afterward when the fans and cheerleaders sang “Happy Birthday.”

Jacob Saetre finished the scoring with a 27-yard scramble, playing from the quarterback’s spot. Leffel’s kick was good.

For the night, O’Neill collected 125 yards and three scores on 18 carries. Cort Ruzicka provided 61 yards on 10 carries and Hartz rambled 19 yards on four carries.

Saetre finished with 27 yards on one carry with a score.

Hartz was 12 of 20 passing for 180 yards and a score.

Whitmore caught two passes for 70 yards and a TD.

Logan Morley hauled in three catches for 38 yards and O’Neill caught four for 37 yards.

The LRS defense held Colfax to under 100 yards rushing and just 11 yards passing.