Broncos bring top card to Colfax homecoming

Last week’s round in the Bi-County football league put an extra charge on this week’s homecoming round at Colfax. The LRS Broncos, who shut out Reardan 34-0 last Friday, will bring an undefeated record to town with the aim of wrapping up the league’s top slot.

Host Colfax, which booked an explosive win over Mary Walker of Springdale last Friday at Schmuck Park, will be out to stop the Broncos for a possible first place tie going into the last league round.

Colfax and Reardan are now tied behind the undefeated Broncos at 2-1. A three-way finish in the NE would be resolved by the results of the leagues pre-season placing draw.

Teams in the NE are adjusting their sights to the playoff season where the first step will be an inverse matchup of the top five finishers in the NE and SE.

The SE, which was dominated by Waitsburg/ Prescott’s run to the state title last year, also has a scramble for the top slots. Tekoa/Oakesdale/ Rosalia sustained a 12-38 loss to DeSales last week and now is in a number-one tie with the Cardinals for the top slot on the SE end.

Colfax Coach Mike Morgan notes one “big game” indicator for the Friday’s Bronco-Bulldog bout is the addition of bleachers on the visitors side of the field.

“We expect there’s going to be a lot of people here,” Morgan noted.

Also, there’s a strong rumor afloat that the Voice of the Cougars, Glenn Johnson, will call the game Friday to keep in tune while the Cougars have a bye weekend.

The Colfax coach noted the Bronco football staff has been aiming at this season for several years. The Broncos early on recognized a group of players with a lot of talent and have worked to develop it.

Colfax players and coaches had an early season opportunity to scout the Broncos when they attended the pre-season jamboree, but the two schools never paired off.

Bronco Coach Greg Whitmore likes to use the pistol offense which spreads out players.

“It looks like it should be a passing offense, but I think they really run more of a rushing offense,” Morgan commented. He added the pistol offense causes an opponent to spread out its defense, and that results in less group stops and more one-on-one confrontations in an open field. It requires more proficiency on individual defensive players.

Dillon Hartz keys the Bronco offense at quarterback and Connor O’Neill figures to be their top running back. Coach Morgan noted the Bronco line also plays a key factor in dominating the game.

Jarradd Morley at 6-4 and 220 dominates the defensive line and rattled Reardan’s backfield for most of the night. Morley plays on the same side as defensive end Ryan Whitmore who is 6-6 and 190. Those two make that side of the field very difficult on opponents, Morgan said.

Ritzville uses a 4-3 set on defense which is similar to the set used by the Bulldogs.

Last Friday the Bulldogs returned to their home field and exploded for 32 points in the first quarter on the way to a 40-6 stop of the Springdale Chargers.

Colfax players were out to make up for last weeks close loss to Reardan. That was the first defeat for the Bulldogs in their NE grid career.

“They were out to make up for that loss, and they did it,” Morgan noted.

Levi Hardy ignited the charge with a 65-yard run off trap play in the first play of the game. Brandon Arneson scored the next TD on an 11 yard run at the corner and Kellen McNannay scored the third TD. The first quarter outbreak ended with McNannay picking off a Charger pass and going 79 yards for a TD.

“A lot of that was the result of our line. They just dominated the front to set up those plays,” Morgan commented.

Colfax scored their last TD after the break when QB Brady Ellis hit Cole Klaveano on a TD pass play.

Springdale’s lone score came in the fourth quarter with Kyle Cummings breaking for 15 yard against the Bulldog reserves who again logged a bundle of game time in the second half.