Broncos win 2B title, 7-0

TACOMA - It's hard to imagine the first play from scrimmage deciding a game - one for the state championship at that - but Lind-Ritzville/Sprague senior running back Connor O'Neill's 69-yard touchdown run lifted the Broncos to a 2B state title.

LRS extended its win streak to 26 games and were crowned state champions for the second time in as many years, defeating Morton-White Pass 7-0.

"Quite an accomplishment for these kids," head coach Greg Whitmore said. "The final was not really the way I would've written the script, but everything looked pretty even on paper and it sure turned out that way."

Not many would've predicted a defensive struggle between two teams who averaged 46.6 and 39 points throughout the state tournament entering the championship game. However, the LRS defense - who had only given up 27 points in three games - held the Timberwolves in check Saturday night allowing the lone score to stand up.

"It always starts up front at the line of scrimmage," Whitmore said. "We have a good defensive line and we have athletes behind them too."

Morton-White Pass threatened to tie the game with a late drive, but sophomore defensive back Jacob Saetre intercepted a pass by Timberwolves quarterback Rylon Kolb to seal the win. Also serving as LRS's athletic director, Whitmore will turn his sights toward basketball season, but he won't take too much time before preparation for the 2014 campaign begins.

"Probably over Christmas break and stuff I'll start putting the names in that we'll have back for next year and start looking at where we want kids to be and making us as competitive as can be."