Broncos stump WP to win semis, 21-7, advance to title game

Three touchdowns in the first quarter and huge plays by the defense throughout the game, resulted in a sweet victory for the LRS Broncos when they squared off against Waitsburg-Prescott on Saturday. The team walked off the field with a 21-7 victory and a pass to play in the WIAA 2B Gridiron Classic State Championship game this Friday against Morton-White Pass.

The Broncos were thrilled with the win, but almost immediately focused on the task at hand, tackling a tough west side team that has a relentless ground assault, bolstered by a stout offensive line and a stingy defense. MWP comes into the title game allowing just 4.3 points per game, while scoring an average of 42 points.

Head coach Greg Whitmore knows the running game is MWP’s key. During semifinal action last Saturday, La Conner fell to MWP 12-0, but proved that the running game can be silenced. La Conner allowed just 56 yards rushing.

“We have got to stop the run. This is really going to be key,” Whitmore said. “La Conner in the semifinals stopped the run. They only had 50 yards rushing and that has not happened to Morton-White Pass in a long time. Morton-White Pass had to score throwing the ball and they did.

“It’s going to be all about stopping the run and forcing them to throw. They can throw. But they’re not a DeSales or a Waitsburg-Prescott as far as throwing,” Whitmore said. “They have two of the best runners in the state. We’re going to be in deep weeds if at the end of the game they’ve only thrown it four or five times because that means they are running the ball.”

Whitmore also expects MWP to be favored. He’s okay with that. The Broncos have been the underdog several times this season and in previous seasons.

“We will be the big underdog,” he said. “No one’s going to believe, other than our fans and our kids, that we can win the game. We’re battered. We’re bruised, but when you have a wounded animal backed in the corner and no one believes in them, especially when you play together as a team, good things will happen.”

The LRS defense will need to keep MWP out of the end zone, while the offense will aim to break down the opposing team’s defense and find a way to score as often as possible.

“We have to put some points on the board we have to keep the chains moving,” Whitmore said. “They have scored a ton of points off teams. We certainly have had some more battles than they have.”

Saturday the Broncos took to scoring with the help of Connor O’Neill’s agility. O’Neill scored on a seven-yard sprint into the corner of the end zone. The point after kick was missed.

On the next drive the offense looked to Cort Ruzicka who hauled in a Dylan Hartz pass and ran in from 20 yards out. Hartz then tossed a quick pass to Ryan Whitmore for the two-point conversion and a 14-0 lead.

Hartz had a huge game, including a first quarter interception that he ran in for 20 yards and a score. Matt Leffel’s kick was good for the extra point to bring the lead to 21-0.

Hartz completed 11 of 17 pass attempts for 236 yards and a touchdown. He had two interceptions and a fumble recovery.

“He did everything for us. The last couple of weeks Connor kind of stole the show,” Whitmore said. “I’m sure they were keying on him. I knew, it was only a matter of time before Dylan got in a groove and got comfortable. He’s proud and tough and just a great athlete. It didn’t surprise me that in big situations he makes big plays. I saw it from the third grade. I was his peewee basketball coach and I saw him coming down the court shooting threes as a third grader. If a third grader can be poised he was. You knew he was going to be that type of player all the way up.”

O’Neill still managed to rack up 75 yards rushing on 19 carries, despite WP’s best efforts. O’Neill also had 63 receiving yards from three receptions.

“It has been fun,” O’Neill said of the season. “We were expecting to be decent this year coming out and this is just surreal now. Going to the championship has obviously been our dream and our goal the whole year and now it’s coming true. It’s pretty great.”

O’Neill said the highlight of the game for him was how the entire team played.

“The whole team flying around, flying to the ball. Dylan made big plays. It gets me pumped up when the teammates make the plays,” he said. “We just pump each other up. I thank my teammates, the lineman for making it all happen. We have the best team chemistry I know of. It’s crazy. We all love each other and we’re all so proud to be going to the championship.”

Ruzicka tacked on 23 yards rushing on six carries. Ruzicka caught six passes during the game for 126 yards and a touchdown. Ruzicka also hauled in an interception on defense.

“Cort had a couple of big plays off screen,” Whitmore said. “Waitsburg-Prescott was focusing on Connor so we ran some counter passes so Cort was open. Most of those were short passes and good long runs. That’s good.”

Tyler Greenwalt caught 13 passes for 40 yards.

After the early scoring spree, the game became a battle of the defenses. The Broncos moved the ball almost at will, but came up short several times when it came to putting points on the board. Whitmore said the team will need to fix it to be successful this week.

“Our kids were poised they played well. Our defense kept us in it. Our offense was moving the ball we just didn’t finish plays,” he said. “We talked about it at half time and usually we’re pretty good at that. Whether it was caught up in the big moment, we knew we couldn’t turn the ball over and we did into the end zone. We dropped a pass in the first half that makes it 28 (points). We just didn’t finish and luckily our defense played great again. This point in the season you just want to advance. You will do it any way you can.”

The defense held WP to 112 yards passing and just 71 yards rushing.

All season the team has been tight, unified and supportive of one another. Hartz said the team unity is a key to their success.

“Lynch told us to play as one heart beat,” he said. “One guy goes down, keep the heart beat going without skipping a beat. We’re just trying to keep on moving on to the dome.”

Saturday’s win was an emotional one for the whole team, especially the head coach. After the game, he shared his emotions and a few tears with the team, as he honored his father.

“He was my biggest fan. Growing up he attended every game,” Whitmore said. “He didn’t get a chance to watch his grandkids play but he’s been smiling down on us. He would have been proud of this team. This would have been his 51st wedding anniversary (last Saturday). It’s emotional.”

Hartz said the entire team felt those emotions.

“I see coach crying because it’s so emotional for him. It just makes me want to cry because it’s so special to him. It’s special for all of us. I can’t believe we’re finally here,” he said.