Lancers upend Broncos, 27-26

SPANGLE — The Northeast 2B’s top-ranked Broncos boys football team was stunned Friday night, Sept. 9, in a 27-26 loss to the Lancers.

It’s the first regular season loss for the senior-laden Broncos since the 2020 season.

With the win, the Liberty (Spangle) Lancers (2-0) moved into a first-place tie in the NE2B with the undefeated Davenport Gorillas and the Jenkins (Chewelah) Cougars.

Meanwhile, the Lind-Ritzville/Sprague/Washtucna/Harrington (1-1) boys dropped to the league’s No. 4 spot, tied with Reardan.

In the game at Liberty, the Bronco boys jumped out to an early lead, putting 13 points on the board in the first quarter.

A missed first-quarter PAT would be the difference in the game.

In the second quarter, the Broncos added another 7 points, but the Lancers charged back with 21 points of their own.

At half-time, the Lancers led 21-20.

Defenses prevailed on both sides of the ball in the third quarter, which ended with the score still at 21-20.

In the fourth quarter, both Lind-Ritzville and Liberty added six more points, both missing PATs, leaving the final score at 27-26.

Individual stats for the teams were not released.

This Friday, Sept. 16, Liberty will host the winless Colfax Bulldogs (0-2) and the Broncos will head to Pasco to play Tri-Cities Prep (1-1). Kickoff for both games is at 7 p.m.

Tri-Cities Prep is coming off a 23-18 loss to Asotin (1-1) on Friday, Sept. 9. The Jaguars opened their season Sept. 2 with a 20-7 win over Umatilla, Ore.

Tri-Cities Prep plays in the Eastern Washington 2B-East league. Dayton-Waitsburg (2-0) leads that league.

Other area teams

In other area football matchups, the Class 2A Othello Huskies (1-1) lost 14-0 to the perennial Class 1A powerhouse Royal Knights (2-0) on Friday, Sept. 9.

The Huskies held the Knights scoreless in the first half, but gave up a touchdown in the third and fourth quarters in the loss.

The Huskies lone win, so far this season, was a 55-0 rout of the Connell Eagles on Saturday, Sept. 3.

Othello next faces the Ephrata Tigers (1-1); meanwhile, Royal plays the Zillah Leopards (1-1). Both games are on Friday Sept. 16.

The St. John-Endicott/LaCrosse Eagles (1-0) had a bye last week.

The Eagles opened their season Sept. 2 with a 55-0 win over the Garfield-Palouse Vikings (0-2).

St. John-Endicott will host the Tekoa-Rosalia Timberwolves (1-1) on Friday, Sept. 16, in an 8-man football matchup.

The Timberwolves are coming off a 62-22 win over Garfield-Palouse.