Broncos football falls against tough Asotin team

The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Broncos football team ended its regular season on Oct. 26 with a 35-13 loss on the road to the Asotin Panthers, but fans will still have one more opportunity to see this year’s team in action.

The Broncos (2-6 overall, 0-4 in league play) will host the Kettle Falls Bulldogs (0-9, 0-6) from the North Division of the Northeast 2B conference on Nov. 2. Kickoff at Jimmie Snider Field is currently scheduled for 6 p.m.

“We’re lucky for our seniors and our program to get another home game,” said head coach and athletic director Greg Whitmore. “It’s an opportunity for us. It’s a very winnable game and it’s a chance for us to go out and leave this season on a positive note and help lead us into next year. We’re looking forward to it … and we hope to come out strong and get some of our young kids in, too.”

Whitmore said that Asotin, who advanced to the district playoffs, simply was more athletic, more physical and had more depth than the Broncos.

“We had to play a perfect game and hope they didn’t play a perfect game to have a chance to go on the road on a long trip and pull an upset,” said Whitmore. “And we didn’t play perfect, not in the first half. They played well, moved the ball. We couldn’t get them off the field, offensively.”

LRS went into the half trailing 28-0 against Asotin (7-2, 3-1), but outscored the Panthers 13-7 in the second half. Quarterback Bryce Kelly completed 15 of his 27 passes for 159 yards, including two touchdown passes. He connected with wide receiver Spencer Gering for a 35-yard touchdown pass midway through the third quarter, and found fellow senior Shontz Yaeger for a nine-yard score in the fourth quarter.

“We didn’t really change anything offensively or defensively,” said Whitmore. “We just told the kids to keep scratching and clawing and earn some respect. Our goal was to go and out win the second half, and really we did that. So I was pleased with that, and we came out of there feeling a little bit better.”

The Broncos again had difficulties running the ball, as they rushed for just 21 yards on 17 attempts. The Panthers meanwhile rushed for nearly 200 yards on the ground as they handed the ball off 44 times compared to just 17 passing attempts.

Asotin dominated the time of possession as they held the ball for nearly 31 of the game’s 48 minutes, tiring out the Broncos defense. The Broncos offense was only able to convert three of their 11 third down attempts, and one of their three fourth down attempts.

“A lot of it is having third and longs and the inability to run the ball on first down,” said Whitmore. “That had a lot to do with it.”