Broncos to host Asotin in playoff opener Friday

It was a 46-8 victory that was even sweeter than what the scoreboard was declaring. The LRS Broncos had handily defeated Liberty, finished the regular season with an unblemished record and finally celebrated as the undisputed league champion.

Last Friday’s win at Jimmie Snider Field cleared the way for the Broncos to enter the playoff cycle and they did so in grand fashion with scores from several players.

Matt Fryberger opened the scoring assault with a 35-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Dylan Hartz. Matt Leffel delivered the point after kick.

Tyler Frederick was the next member of the team to score on a one-yard jaunt in the first quarter. Leffel delivered another successful point after touchdown giving the Broncos a 14-0 lead.

In the second quarter the Broncos would score three times, led by Cort Ruzicka who zipped in the end zone on a 19-yard run. The point after kick missed.

Tyler Greenwalt, enjoying a great senior night, took a 30-yard pass from Hartz in for the next score. Leffel’s kick was good.

Dustin Kommes capped the first half scoring with a one-yard run. Leffel added the extra point.

In the third quarter, the Broncos would put six points on the board thanks to a Greenwalt kickoff return of 79 yards.

Hugh Hennings scored the final touchdown of the night pushing his way in from one yard out.

As a team, the Broncos were dominant on offense and defense. Hartz threw for 197 yards on 14 completions. Kommes led the rushing crew with 81 yards on 11 tries. The running game generated 140 yards of offense.

Jacob Saetre led all receivers, catching two passes for 45 yards. Fryberger caught two passes for 42 yards. Greenwalt hauled in two for 37. Ryan Whitmore snared five passes for 33 yards.

While the Broncos had 337 yards of total offense, Liberty was staggered by the defense. The Broncos allowed just seven yards rushing and 68 yards passing.

“Our defense has been outstanding,” head coach Greg Whitmore said. “We have not allowed a first quarter score all year. Hopefully the defense can always keep you in a game.”

The LRS Broncos, 8-0 overall, 5-0 league, begin a new chapter in their 2012 gridiron season this Friday when they host Asotin at 7 p.m. for the Northeast District 7 versus Southeast District 9 crossover game. This battle pits the No. 1 NE seeded Broncos versus the No. 5 SE seeded Panthers.

The panthers are 1-5 this season, having just lost to DeSales, 28-0.

The Broncos will still need to take care of business in this crossover playoff as the loser’s season ends Friday night.

“They are darn good for a number five seeded team. We have a long history of wins and losses against them,” Whitmore said.

With a win, the Broncos will advance to the First Round of the WIAA 2B State Championship Football Bracket. They will face the winner of the Colfax versus Tekoa-Oakesdale/Rosalia game.

TOR finished second overall in the Southeast 2B standings behind Waitsburg-Prescott with a record of 7-1 overall and 4-1 in league play.

The Colfax Bulldogs finished third in the Northeast 2B standings with a record of 5-2 overall and 3-2 in league. Look for more on the Asotin game in next week’s edition of The Journal.