Lind-Ritzville/Sprague ready to continue historic streak

by CONNOR VANDERWEYST & Herald Sports Editor
Staff Writer | September 4, 2014 7:33 AM

RITZVILLE - At the 2B level, it doesn't get better than Lind-Ritzville/Sprague football.

The Broncos currently have an active 26-game win streak and are back-to-back 2B state champions. LRS' run is the third longest active streak in Washington, just behind Lynden and Bellevue.

Lynden is just ahead of the Broncos with 27 wins in a row.

Not sure if Bellevue's 54-game streak has anything to worry about.

But head coach Greg Whitmore isn't much of a history buff. He'd rather focus on the present.

"We're not going to talk about that (the streak) very much," Whitmore said. "That is the stats, but like we did last year, these guys are 0-0. A lot of new faces, graduated a lot of players and we start a new season and now we want to start our winning streak all over again. Come September 6 we want to be 1-0."

Those graduated include impact players Ryan Whitmore, Tyler Frederick, Dylan Hartz and Connor O'Neill.

Now, it's time for players like Cort Ruzicka to etch their name into the Bronco history books.

"That last class was very talented and carried us and some of these kids played, but there's going to be some kids that didn't play as much. They had roles and everything else, but this year it's their year."

During LRS' 56-13 semifinal win against Adna a year ago, Ruzicka gave his coaching staff a glimpse of what they'd see all next year.

Ruzicka carried the ball for 124 yards - good for 7.8 yards per carry.

Now, Ruzicka has looked great, according to Whitmore, and has been elected a captain.

"Good leader. He'll actually be moving positions and be in a different position for us, but it'll make him even more of a weapon for us. He'll be one of our go-to players. He'll be the guy that teams will want to try to stop."

Despite the departure of some of their explosive weapons, the Broncos have no signs of slowing down.

"Even though it's not the same faces, they still believe - just like the last two years and every year - our kids believe they're going to win a third streak championship," Whitmore said.