Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Broncos prep for Dayton

The win was a soggy one, but just as sweet Friday when the Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Broncos dismantled the Davenport Gorillas during senior night and the final regular season game of the year, 40-19.

The win confirms the Broncos standings in league play, finishing in second place behind Colfax. The Broncos have lost just one game this year.

Now they are preparing for a crossover playoff battle with Dayton from District 9 this Friday. The Broncos’ second place finish in league gives them the home field advantage as they inch their way into the state playoff bracket.

Head coach Greg Whitmore has been studying plenty of film of Dayton and the team is doing its homework in hopes of knocking off the No. 3 seed from District 9.

“They are talented,” Whitmore said.

The proof of Dayton’s skill is in the results of its two loses to Waitsburg-Prescott and DeSales in league play. In both games they lost by just one point. Waitsburg-Prescott was the class of District 9 this season and that contest ended in a defensive battle, 7-6.

The Broncos have had two massive league battles this season, losing by just one point to Colfax and defeating Reardan by one point.

Dayton has great senior leadership and talent,” Whitmore warned.

The offense and the defense is anchored by a 6 foot 2, 265-pound player who can work from just about anywhere on the line and cover the entire field with the speed of a running back.

“Kroft Sunderland is as good a lineman as we’ve seen all year,” Whitmore said.

Dayton’s quarterback is versatile and lethal as a passer and as part of the running attack. The backfield features a bruising running back and a speedy tailback, all similarities to the Broncos’ successful offense.

Whitmore intends to send the blitz and pressure the Dayton quarterback. The blitz has been productive for the Broncos since they made defensive adjustments following the Kettle Falls game.

One thing Whitmore likes is the notion that Dayton has not played the Broncos and may not have a great knowledge of what to expect, unlike the District 7 opponents the Broncos face year after year.

During Friday’s win, Dylan Hartz took a quarterback keeper in the end zone for the first score of the night from two yards out. The point after was no good.

The Broncos then racked up a safety in the second quarter with a gang tackle.

Chris Steinmetz scored one of his three touchdowns in the second quarter on a six-yard run. The two-point conversion came up short.

In the third quarter Steinmetz scored on a 13-yard run play. The point after was missed.

Tyler Frederick created some third quarter excitement when he snagged a Davenport screen pass and ran in for the Broncos first defensive touchdown of the year.

Steinmetz scored again in the third on a one-yard run.

The Broncos final score of the night came on a blocked punt when Brent Stromberger pounced on the ball in the end zone for a touchdown. Salvador Huitron provided the extra point kick.

For the night, Hartz completed 9 of 15 passes for 117 yards with one interception.

Steinmetz ran 16 times for 95 yards. Connor O’Neill ran eight times for 53 yards. Hartz scrambled several times during the game racking up 75 yards on 10 carries. Tyler Greenwalt tallied 27 yards on three carries and Drew Wilke was able to contribute 27 yards on six carries.

O’Neill led receivers with 55 yards on five catches. Ryan Whitmore had two catches for 50 yards and Steinmetz hauled down a pair for 12 yards.

On defense, Jacob Anderson and Stromberger had fumble recoveries and Frederick had the lone interception. The defense limited Davenport to 23 yards rushing on 16 carries. The Gorilla’s passing game tallied 175 yards on seven completions. Eighty-four yards of which came on a fourth quarter touchdown pass.