Broncos conclude football season with victory over Davenport

The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Broncos ended their season on a positive note, earning a 40-8 win against the Davenport Gorillas. The final season game did not have any weight in the playoffs, but instead allowed both teams with an opportunity to compete in 10 games this season.

The Broncos hosted the Friday night game and Davenport jumped out to a quick lead by posting the first points to the board. With less than two minutes off the clock, the 44-yard touchdown run put the Gorillas up 8-0 over the Broncos.

After moving the ball downfield, senior Chandler Widman put the Broncos first points on the board with a five-yard touchdown run. Pius Prosinecki hit the point after kick, and the Broncos continued to trail Davenport 7-8.

Head Coach Greg Whitmore said the remainder of the game went heavily in favor of the Broncos, as the Gorillas were plagued by turnovers. The Broncos used Davenport’s errors to their advantage and quickly built up a substantial lead.

Both teams have struggled with maintaining a full roster this season because of injuries, Whitmore said, but Davenport lost more key players than LRS. The loss of their starters put Davenport at a disadvantage, and allowed the Broncos with the benefit of being able to play second string players for the coaching staff to get a look at next year’s football team.

Widman continued to be a leader for the team throughout the game, and earned his second touchdown of the night early in the second quarter off a 15-yard pass play by Bryce Kelly. Prosinecki’s kick was good, and the Broncos moved ahead 14-8.

The second quarter proved to be a successful 12 minutes for the Broncos, when Widman ran in another touchdown for the Broncos. The point after kick was good by Prosinecki, and the Broncos set out to post one more score before halftime.

Senior Damien Rouleau earned his final high school touchdown with a four-yard run for the Broncos with 4:16 remaining in the half. Prosinecki’s kick was good, and the Broncos moved into halftime with a 28-8 advantage over Davenport.

The second half allowed the Broncos to put their second string players into the game and evaluate who would play in what positions in the upcoming season. Whitmore said the Broncos were able to do what they wanted: end the season with a win and have the younger athletes compete in order to get a look at the future LRS program.

Whitmore said the Broncos coaching staff rotated athletes into a variety of positions to see who would succeed in what role. The coaches paid close attention to the younger athletes, and Whitmore said after the game, they began making plans for next year’s season.

While Davenport suffered the loss of key players, Whitmore said they are a young team with a lot of talent. Though the Gorillas had a tough season, Whitmore said they are a team not to be taken lightly, and they are set up to have a successful season next year as their players develop as athletes.

The second half went in favor of the Broncos, who posted two more touchdowns. The first occurred at the end of the third quarter with a 50-yard run by Bryce Esser, but his point after kick attempt was no good.

The final charge for the end zone was led by freshman Spencer Gering, who posted six points for the Broncos on a 97-yard run. Rouleau attempted the point after kick, but missed the uprights and the Broncos ended the night with a 40-8 win.

Both teams posted high rushing yards for the game, but Davenport did not have any passing yards in the match. Davenport ended the night with 280 rushing yards, while the Broncos accumulated 329.

Whitmore said Kelly had a successful night in the pocket, completing 12 passes for 122 yards and one touchdown. The Broncos will rely on Kelly as quarterback again next season, and Whitmore said they are expecting great things from the young athlete.

The key to the Broncos’ success proved to be winning the turnover battle, Whitmore said. The Broncos did not have any turnovers in the game, while Davenport had five.

Gering led the team in rushing yards with 160 on 10 carries, followed by Rouleau with 62 yards. Freshman Austin Thompson had 36 receiving yards for the Broncos on two receptions, and Rouleau had 31 yards on four receptions.

Whitmore said the game allowed the Broncos to end their season on a positive note, and let the seniors walk off the field with a good feeling. But, Whitmore said, the final game allowed the team to sit down together and discuss the season as a whole.

Whitmore said no one on the Broncos team felt like this year was a satisfying season for the team. The younger athletes agreed they do not want a repeat season next year, and understood this meant making improvements in the offseason.

The Broncos will be working as individuals and as a team to improve their skills, conditioning and strength before next season, Whitmore said. The athletes who put forth the most effort are expected to see increased playing time and help move the Broncos one step closer to a winning season.

Whitmore said the Broncos have had multiple freshmen step up to perform this season. Thompson provided the team with strong performances on both sides of the ball, while Spencer Miller showed consistency as the Broncos’ center.

Gering proved he has speed and footwork, Whitmore said, and he is also expected Cole Cameron to continue as a strong lineman for the team. While Garrett Frederick did not play in the final game of the season due to injury, Whitmore said he will continue to bring determination and aggression to the Broncos line.

Along with the freshman athletes, Whitmore said he is expected to see growth from Kelly in the quarterback position and work on utilizing Esser in the tight end position again next season. Also returning to the line up next year will be senior Mason Brausen, who missed the majority of the season because of a serious injury.

Whitmore said the team is now focusing on next year in order to put their “below standard” win behind them. The Broncos will focus on improvement in the off season, in hopes of being an unstoppable force on the gridiron at the start of next season.