Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
Davenport makes Top 10; Liberty just barely misses ranking
RITZVILLE – The Broncos boys football team heads into the Class 2B season ranked as the No. 3 team in the state by ScoreBook Live.
The Broncos only graduated one player from its 9-1 squad, which reached the playoffs last year.
This year, the Broncos team sheds Kahlotus, but adds Harrington to the sports combine that includes athletes from Lind-Ritzville, Sprague and Washtucna high schools.
Brenda Bermea will coach the team with Mike Lynch at his side.
Bermea is in his first year with the Broncos after coming off three season as an assistant coach for the Tonasket Tigers, another Class 2B team.
Bermea replaced Greg Whitmore, who has returned to his alma mater in Entiat as superintendent.
The Broncos are looking to quarterback Chase Galbreath and running backs Brock Kinch, Brody Boness and Hayden Melcher to lead the offense few other teams could handle last season.
Ahead of the Broncos in the Class 2B rankings are the Napavine Tigers and the Okanogan Bulldogs.
Napavine is ranked No. 1 and led by quarterback Ashton DeMarest.
Okanogan is a perennial Class 2B powerhouse. This year, the Bulldogs are led by quarterback Carter Kuchenbuch and running back Johnny Swartsel.
Other teams ranked in the Top 10 are the Onalaska Loggers, No. 4; Forks Spartans, No. 5; Kalama Chinooks, No. 6; Columbia (Burbank) Coyotoes, No. 7; Toledo Riverhawks, No. 8; Davenport Gorillas, No. 9; and Goldendale Timberwolves, No. 10.
Northeast 2B league rival Davenport finished 9-2 last season; with one of its losses to Ritzville.
The Gorillas are led by fullback Sam Schneider and quarterback Evan gunning, a third-year starter.
Another league rival is sitting just outside the Top 10.
The Liberty (Spangle) Lancers ended last year with a 5-4 record.
The Lancers are looking to make a deep run into the playoffs, too, this season.
The local boys will have an opportunity to see how they match up with Davenport and Liberty when they host the Bronco Jamboree on Saturday, Aug. 27.
The Broncos will play the Lancers in Spangle at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9.
On Friday, Sept. 23, the local boys will host the Davenport Gorillas.
In addition to those key matchups, the Broncos will play Colfax on Sept. 2, Tri-Cities Prep on Sept. 16, Northwest Christian (Colbert) on Oct. 1, Jenkins (Chewelah) on Oct. 7, Reardan on Oct. 14 and Asotin on Oct. 29.
A Class 2B crossover games for the playoffs will take place Nov. 4.
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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