Broncos prep to face Mabton in First Round State Playoffs

The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Broncos have earned a trip to the First Round State Playoffs, following a decisive victory against Kettle Falls in the Crossover game.

The Broncos hosted the Bulldogs on Jimmie Snider Field on Nov. 6 where they earned 49-13 win to move into the state playoffs.

The win moves LRS into the First Round State game against the Mabton Vikings on Nov. 13. The Broncos host the game and the winner continues on into the Quarterfinals.

The Kettle Falls match up served as an opportunity for the Broncos to welcome back quarterback Bryce Esser, following a six-week hiatus due to a health issue.

During the Crossover game, Esser rotated in the quarterback position with Jacob Saetre in an effort to help Esser transition back into the starting role.

Head Coach Greg Whitmore said while Esser is a little rusty, he managed to continue to be a leader for the team and provide the team with depth. The ability to use Saetre as a running back added another dimension to the team, and Whitmore said he is pleased with the performance by both athletes.

The focus for Esser is going to continue to improve his footwork and timing in order to help lead his team to victory in the post season.

Whitmore said initially the team will continue to utilize both Esser and Saetre in the quarterback position and see what opportunities the rotation can provide for the Broncos.

The Broncos dominated the game from the beginning, proving to be the stronger opponent and refusing to play down to Kettle Falls. By the end of the first quarter, the Broncos had racked up a 22-0 lead that would prove impossible for the Bulldogs to match.

The Broncos’ scoring drive began in the first two minutes of the game after the LRS defensive squad forced the Bulldogs to punt on the first series of the game. Mason Brausen ran in a one-yard touchdown, and Saetre hit the point after kick.

On the next possession, the Broncos marched down the field and put up the second touchdown of the night with 7:44 left in the first quarter. Saetre ran into the end zone on a seven-yard play, and Brausen scored on the two-point conversion run.

Esser worked back into the rotation by connecting with Alan Field on a three-yard pass play in the end zone. The point after kick by Saetre was good, and the Broncos moved ahead 22-0 with 2:42 left in the first.

The Broncos maintained control of the tempo of the game and worked their way down the field.

After half of the quarter had passed, Saetre completed a two-yard touchdown run and hit the point after kick to add to the LRS advantage.

The second quarter the Broncos made various adjustments to test out new positions and plays.

A switch in the backfield of having Saetre in a new position as safety caused confusion for the team. Kettle Falls took advantage of the Broncos’ error and converted a 30-yard pass play for the first Bulldogs touchdown with less than two minutes remaining in the half.

The Broncos did not waste any time offensively and quickly responded to the Bulldogs touchdown. Esser completed a 10-yard pass to Dylan Becker in the end zone. Saetre missed the point after kick and the Broncos went into halftime with a 35-6 lead.

After halftime, the Broncos did not let up and continued to remain focused on the field. Early in the quarter, Brausen scored on a five-yard touchdown, followed by the point after kick by Saetre.

Andrew Witt also scored for the Broncos with 3:51 left in the third. Witt scored on a 12-yard run, and Saetre made the point after kick, ending the Broncos scoring drive for the evening.

The junior varsity athletes played the remainder of the game for the Broncos when the 40-point mercy rule went into effect.

Midway through the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs scored a single touchdown against the Broncos JV after making continuous progress down the field.

The Broncos continued to win the turnover battle, recovering one of the Kettle Falls fumbles and snagging an interception. The Broncos did not have any turnovers during the game, a trend Whitmore hopes the team continues into playoffs.

Esser led the team in passing with 88 yards on seven completions. Saetre led the team in rushing yards with 73, followed by Damien Rouleau with 46 yards. Witt ended the night with 42 receiving yards on two receptions.

The Broncos are now preparing to face Mabton in the final home game of the season. Whitmore said the Vikings have a good quarterback and they are an illusive team, but not a big team.

The key to success is containment of the quarterback, Whitmore said, and continuing to play a high intensity game.

Whitmore said he expects a tough and physical match on Friday night between the two teams.

While the Broncos have only had two contested games this season, Whitmore is confident the team is ready for competition because of those two games and their past experiences in previous seasons.

The Broncos have to remain vigilant and focused in the playoffs, Whitmore said, and the team also needs to remain healthy. While the team suffered from a few minor injuries last week, Whitmore is grateful the team is healthy and prepared for the playoffs.

The Broncos host Mabton on Jimmie Snider Field on Friday, Nov. 13, with kickoff at 6 p.m.