Broncos football turns back Warden Cougars

WARDEN - The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague (LRS) Broncos got their first real test of the season as they hit the road Friday night to take on the Warden Cougars in a nonleague contest.

And the team passed with flying colors as the LRS came away with a hard fought 21-14 win.

"It was an ugly win," coach Greg Whitmore said. "But an ugly win is better than a pretty loss."

Ugly in regard to the amount of turnovers as a total of eight were committed in the game; six by the Broncos and two by the Cougars, which had a big impact on the outcome of the contest.

"The turnovers were really disappointing," Whitmore said. "Warden's pressure on our quarterback resulted in three interceptions and we lost three three fumbles as well. We won't win many games if we keep turning the ball over like that."

The game was scoreless in the first quarter, but the second 12 minutes of action saw 21 points hung on the board.

The Broncos stuck first on a 1-yard dash by Dustin Kommes (Kommes run) to take an 8-0 lead.

Warden answered back with a 4-yard TD pass from Jerry Reyes to Osvaldo Alba (Orlando Alba kick) to get within one, 8-7. But a 20-yard touchdown pass from Dylan Hartz to Ryan Whitmore (kick failed) put the Broncos up 14-7 at the half.

The Cougars came out determined in the third quarter to tie the game 14-14 on their initial possession on a 50-yard pitch and catch from Reyes to Adam Hanson (Alba Kick).

But the Broncos answered back with a Kommes 1-yard run (Dustin Norton Kick) to retake the lead 21-14.

Neither team scored in the fourth quarter as LRS hung on for the win.

Hatrz led the offensive attack for the Broncos completing 13 of 27 passes for 167 yards and a touchdown. He also had 70 yards rushing. Kommes added 62 yards on the ground and two TD's, and Whitmore finished with six catches for 102 yards and a score.

"Ryan turned in a pretty good game," Whitmore said. He's pretty athletic and was able to avoid six or seven sacks. Dustin (Kommes) ran the ball well and Ryan (Whitmore) had a good outing too. Fortunately we did enough (on offensive) to overcome all the mistakes we made."

The Broncos defense gave up 227 total yards, 216 passing and 11 rushing.

The win for the LRS improves their record to 1-0.

The Broncos are back in action Friday when the team hosts its season opener in a nonleague contest against Kittitas at 7 p.m.

"We got a glimpse of Kittitas at our jamboree," Whitmore said. "They had Reardan on the ropes Friday, but ended up losing, so I expect our game to be a real barnburner."

Reyes finished with 11 completions in 38 attempts for 200 yards and two TD's for the Cougars. Hanson rushed for 26 yards and added 97 receiving yards and a touchdown. Osvaldo Alba had one reception for 40 yards and a score.

The loss for Warden drops the Cougars record to 0-2. Both defeas were nonleague games.

Warden opens league play Friday when the team hosts Royal at 7 p.m.