Broncos smash Manson

The first half wasn’t pretty, but the Broncos’ offense erupted in the second half and rolled to a 34-7 win in the first round of the WIAA 2B State Football Championships last Friday at Manson.

The win sets up a game at 12 p.m. Saturday at Edgar Brown Stadium in Pasco between the Broncos and Waitsburg-Prescott. The Cardinals are the top ranked 2B football team in the state and will look to give the Broncos’ defense fits on Saturday.

Admission to the game is $8 for adults and $6 for students and seniors. Students must have their ASB card.

Headed for battle with an undefeated W-P team, head coach Greg Whitmore knows the Broncos will need to construct a perfect game plan and execute the plan on game day, much like they did to topple Dayton 12-0 in a district crossover game two weeks ago. Dayton lost in regular season action to the Cardinals by one point.

We will have to control the quarterback,” Whitmore said. “We need to make them move the ball down the field. We can’t give up huge pass plays. We have to make them earn it all the way down the field.

Waitsburg-Prescott’s offense revolves around quarterback Zach Bartlow.

During their playoff meeting with Brewster last Saturday he completed eight of 14 passes for 113 yards. He also rushed for 81 yards on eight carries.

“We have to pressure Bartlow and not let him get comfortable,” Whitmore said.

The Cardinals also come packed with a tenacious defense.

“Points could be at a premium,” Whitmore said, acknowledging that his own team’s defense has stifled several teams this season.

“We’re definitely the underdog and very few people outside of our circle believe we can do it,” Whitmore said. “We will have to definitely execute a lot better than we did last Friday. We’ll have to play a darn good game and not turn the ball over.

At Manson, the Broncos scored just one touchdown in the first half as the team looked sluggish off the bus. Turnovers were also an issue for both teams.

Connor O’Neill scored on a one-yard run in the first quarter. The extra-point attempt was no good.

The Broncos were intercepted twice and gave up one fumble. Manson was intercepted three times and lost one of three fumbles.

For the Broncos’ defense Matt Fryberger snared two of the interceptions. Brent Stromberger grabbed the other. Tyler Frederick, who seems to be at the right place at the right time, picked up the Manson fumble.

At the start of the second half a freshly energized team was given the momentum when Fryberger ran the opening kickoff back 85 yards for a score. Chris Steinmetz caught a Dylan Hartz pass for the two-point conversion.

Steinmetz then scored on a four-yard jaunt in the third quarter.

The Broncos put two more insurance touchdowns on the score board in the fourth quarter.

The first came on a five-yard run by Hartz. Salvador Huitron’s kick was good.

Ryan Whitmore capped the game with a four-yard reception from backup quarterback Tyler Greenwalt. Huitron’s kick was good.

For the night, Hartz was 9 of 17 passing for 113 yards. He also had five yards rushing on five carries.

Steinmetz had 48 yards rushing on 16 carries.

O’Neill provided 28 yards on nine carries while Drew Wilke led the team with 53 yards on six carries. Keanu Niezwaag had four yards on two carries.

Jake Dewald hauled in four passes and racked up 85 yards in the game.

TheBroncos generated 255 yards of offense while holding Manson to just 87 yards.