Lind-Ritzville-Sprague Broncos set sights high in 2012

When asked what his team goals were for the 2012 football season, Greg Whitmore, now is his eighth year at the helm of the Lind-Ritzville-Sprague Broncos (LRS) was short and to the point.

"We want to win our league ... he said ... and be state champion."

Judging by the team's success the past decade, those goals are well within reach.

The Broncos have been to the big show five out of the last 10 years. They were runner-up to Reardan having lost a heartbreaker to the Indians 17-14 in 2002. Two years later LRS beat DeSales 25-21 to claim the state 2B title. In 2005, the Broncos lost to DeSales in the semifinal game and had back-to-back first round losses to Asotin in 2006 and 2007.

Lind-Ritzville-Sprague returned to the tournament in 2010 after a three year hiatus and beat Kittitas 12-0 in the first round, but lost to Colfax in the quarterfinal game.

In 2011, the Broncos beat Manson 34-7 in the first round, but was turned back by eventual state champion Waitsburg-Prescott 42-7 in the quarterfinals.

The Broncos lost seven players to graduation this year, which could present some problems but Whitmore says his team should be able to compensate for their loss.

"We finished 9-2 last year and placed second in the NE 2B Bi-County league, but I think we should be even better this year due to our younger kids gaining valuable experience last season," he said. "We have good team speed, good talent at skill positions, and a very good defensive line."

The offense behind the solid play of Tyler Fredrick Jr. and Jacob Anderson will be led by QB Dylan Hartz, RB Connor O'Neil and WR Ryan Whitmore.

Hartz threw for 1,188 yards and 11 touchdowns, and ran for 390 yards and five TDs. O'Neil, the second leading rusher on the team last year, finished with 673 yards and nine touchdowns. He also had 264 receiving yards and two TDs. Whitmore had 333 receiving yards and three touchdowns and averaged 16.7 yards per catch.

"Dylan is a real key for us .... He's like another coach on the field," Whitmore said. "Connor is very explosive. Every time he touches the ball he can score. And Ryan's 6"5 inch frame makes him a solid target for Dylan."

Whitmore said Fredrickson has great feet and is very athletic for his size, and that Anderson is the teams most improved lineman.

The defensive looks to be a real strength for the Broncos if the team plays anything like it did last year, Lind-Ritzville-Sprague limited the opposition to 91.5 yards rushing and 99 yards passing per game.

The opportunistic unit produced 10 interceptions, had 13 fumble recoveries and 11 sacks.

Whitmore expects the Colfax Bulldogs to be the odds on favorite to win league this year and said Reardan is also a great rivalry for the Broncos.

This year's team captains are Hartz, O'Neill, Anderson and Matt Fryberger.

The Broncos open their season on the road against Warden Sept. 7. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.