Freeman's Cody Cayce (#5) charges through a mud-soaked Jimmy Snider Field, breaking through Lind-Ritzville/Sprague's defense for the first score of the game on Friday, Nov. 1. Cayce's early touchdown set the momentum, as the Scotties won, 20-0, in a tough, slippery matchup.
RITZVILLE - The Bronco boys football team kept pace with the No. 4-ranked Freeman Scotties on Friday night, Nov. 1, but they just couldn't get points on the board.
The Scotties won, 20-0, on a wet, muddy Jimmy Snider Field.
"If wish we could find a way to break through," Broncos Coach Brandan Bermea said. "But I'm really proud of our guys."
Freeman Coach Mike McKeown also praised the Broncos for a great game.
It was a fun way to end our season, coming into a different environment," he said. "We knew they had an awesome running back (senior Brody Boness)."
McKeown called the game the "mudbowl."
"It was really good for our kids," he said. "It was great to see all the kids all muddied up, and excited."
The slick, wet, muddy field forced both teams to try to keep the ball on the ground. It also contributed to five Bronco turnovers - 1 fumble and 4 interceptions.
After a scoreless first quarter, Freeman's Cody Cayce got the Scotties on the board first with a 4-yard dive with 10:15 left in the first half. The ensuing PAT was good, and Freeman led 7-0.
Before the half ended, Giovanni Sutherland struck gold on a 5-yard dive with 7:08 left on the clock. The Scotties had a bad snap and a conversion attempt failed.
At the break, Freeman led 13-0.
The final score of the game came on a 4th and 4 at the Broncos' 20.
Freeman's Logan Schultz competed a pass to Vance Coyner, who raced the rest of the way into the end zone with 6:13 left in the third quarter. The PAT was good, and the Scottied led, 20-0.
The Broncos didn't go down without a fight, however.
And with 10:47 left in the game, the Broncos were in scoring position.
But a Freeman interception at the 8-yard line ended the drive, and neither team would move into scoring position again.
"We're improving," Bermea said after the game. "We're digging deep and we're doing a great job. We're just coming up a little short, and that's my fault."
Bermea credited his seniors for a season well-played. Seniors include Brody Boness, Brix Curtis, Carson Kubik, Zach Klein, and Brock Tracy.
"They are really hard-workding guys," he said. "I'm going to miss them when they're gone."
Cameron Boness led the Broncos passing attack, completing 7-of-18 passes for 60 yards and 3 interceptions. Klein completed 1 pass for 2 yards and Brody Boness went 0-for-1.
Freeman's Schultz completed 5-of-15 passes for 113 yards and 1 touchdown.
On the ground, Bronco Brody Boness carried 34 times for 104 yards; his longest carry was 30 yards.
Lind-Ritzville/Sprague teammates Cameron Boness carried 1 time for 7 yards, Kubik 3 for 3 yards, Klein 3 times and Cole Rouleau had 1 carry.
Freeman had 37 rushing plays for 146 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Receiving, Klein caught 3 passes for 50 yards, Brody Boness caught 3 for 13 yards, Kubik 1 for 2 yards and Alex Killian caught 1 pass for minus-3 yards.
Freeman's receivers caught a total of 5 passes for 113 yards and a TD.
The Broncos ran 63 plays for a total offense of 176 yards; Freeman ran 52 plays for a total offence of 259 yards.
On defense, seniors Tracy and Brody Boness led the Broncos with 5 tackles each, followed by Jerod Harder with 4. Klein, Kubik and James Near each had 2 tackles and Kaleb Kuykendall, Clyde Harness, Douglas Olson and Hayes Hennings each had 1.
One game left
Lind-Ritzville/Sprague (3-6) will play one more game this weekend.
The Bronco boys travel to Chattaroy to play the Riverside Rams at 2:30 p.m. The game follows a bout between Kettle Falls and Reardan, also at Riverside High School. That game starts at noon.
"I'm homeing to send these players out the right way with one more W," Bermea said.
Freeman (8-1) will be playing a cross-over game to get into the state 2B playoffs. The Scotties' opponent had yet to be decided at press time.
Looking back at the Class 2B season, Freeman Coach McKeown said the "competition is great."
Last year, the Scotties competed in Class 1A.
"We're just in a spot this year to have a very experienced upper-class (football team)," he said of the Scotties' success in a smaller-school division.
Roger Harnack is the owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. Having grown up Benton City, Roger is an award-winning journalist, columnist, photographer, editor and publisher. He's one of only two editorial/commentary writers from Washington state to ever receive the international Golden Quill. Roger is dedicated to the preservation of local media, and the voice it retains for Eastern Washington.
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