Broncos edge Colfax, 15-14

COLFAX – The game had all the makings of an upset - an undefeated top-ranked team, two solid defenses, a rain that made the field slick and an underdog looking for a post-season berth.

But the Lind-Ritzville/Sprague/Washtucna Broncos pulled out a narrow victory over thewell-coached, hungry Colfax Bulldogs, 15-14, on Thursday night, Oct. 28.

"We told the kids all week that Colfax has great, great coaches and they know us so well, they're going to take away what we do best," Broncos Coach Greg Whitmore said. "And they absolutely did."

"We had opportunities. We had lot and lots of opportunities," Bulldogs Coach Mike Morgan said. "But we came up 1 point short."

Both coaches commended their opponents for a well-played, well-fought game. They also both said their proud of how their own players did.

"We played great," Morgan said. "We played our hearts out. I'm proud of our boys."

"We had to come out here and match their intensity," Whitmore said. "And we did."

The game started out as a defensive battle, with both the Broncos and Bulldogs having drives stall with a score.

The first quarter ended without a point on the board.

It would take more than 3 minutes of the second quarter to see a score.

With Lind-Ritzville (now 8-0) on the march, junior quarterback Chase Galbreath hit running back Hayden Melcher on a touchdown pass.

The point-after kick was good, and the Broncos took a 7-0 lead with 8:37 left in the first half.

Colfax (5-4) responded.

And on a 34-yard sweep to the left, team captain and senior running back raced 34 yards for a touchdown.

Colfax opted for a 2-point conversion with 5:03 left in the half.

The Bulldogs would take an 8-7 lead into the intermission.

The rain started falling heavier at halftime, and the field became slick.

Most of the third quarter would pass before either team could get into the end zone again.

But with 2:57 to go in the quarter, Colfax junior running back Mason Gilcrhist took a handoff and ran 61 yards before being brought down at the Lind-Ritzville 5-yard line.

Senior quarterback Damian Demler finished the drive with a 5-yard pass to J.P. Wigen for the score.

The point-after failed and Colfax took a 14-7 lead to close out the quarter.

The teams battled back-and-fourth early in the fourth quarter.

But with 6:10 left in the game, freshman Brody Boness found the end zone on a 7-yard trap play.

Coach Whitmore was faced with a decision – kick the PAT and possibly tie the game, or go for 2 points and a win.

He opted for the 2-point conversion, and Galbreath connected with a receiver to take a 15-14 lead.

Galbreath passed for 195 yards and 1 touchdown in the win.

Brock Kinch caught 7 passes for 88 yards to lead the Broncos receivers. On the ground, Boness rushed 16 times for 42 yards and a touchdown.

Meanwhile, Colfax's Demler threw for 46 yards and a touchdown and Gilchrist carried the ball for 230 yards.

Braydn Heilsberg had 33 yards receiving for the Bulldogs.

After the game, the coaches joked briefly about the call, with Morgan asking Whitmore if it was an easy decision to go for 2.

Morgan called the Broncos the "best team we've faced all season," and wished Whitmore good luck heading into the playoffs.

"We'll celebrate this win, then watch film," Whitmore said, noting his team learned a lot from the game.

"We made a ton of mistakes. And it's the first time we've lost the turnover battle," he said. "But our kids never gave up. They are mentally tough."

Whitmore said the Broncos this week will focus on getting healthy and prepared for a crossover game this coming Friday or Saturday.

The Broncos will host either the Tonasket Tigers or the Manson Trojans – they were scheduled to face off in Tonasket on Tuesday night after The Journal went to press.

"We are beat up, battered and bruised," Whitmore said. "But we'll be ready."

Author Bio

Roger Harnack, Publisher

Roger Harnack is co-owner and publisher of Free Press Publishing. An award-winning journalist, photographer, editor and publisher who grew up in Eastern Washington, he's one of only two Washington state journalists ever to receive the international Golden Quill for editorial/commentary writing. Roger is committed to preserving local media, and along with it, a local voice for Eastern Washington.

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