Broncos fight to the end

By Sandy Anderberg

Dealing with the hard facts that their numbers are the lowest in the state and their roster consists of just a few upperclassmen, the Broncos fought hard against a great New Deal team in the first round of the playoffs, but fell short in their attempt to upset the seventh ranked team. The final was 21-56.

According to head coach Gary Jack; the Broncos’ game was tough against the New Deal Lions who have only one loss on the season.

“I am proud of our kids,” Jack said. “It was a tough game against a really good team. But we kept fighting.”

Senior quarterback Chance McAnear has been a fighter all year for the Broncos and put them on the board first when he scored on a 51-yard run in the first quarter. Marshal Johnson added the kick. The Broncos did not score again until the third quarter when Charles Mason took it in from one yard out and Johnson added another bonus kick. McAnear finished with 99 yards rushing and Mason racked up 175 yards in the game. The final Bronco score came in the fourth quarter when Tres Hommel found the end zone on a two-yard run with Johnson adding the extra point. The Broncos put up 355 total yards and McAnear was seven for twenty-three passing.

In the second quarter of the game, the Broncos trailed 7-21 when the refs called off what appeared to be a touchdown.

“A call went against us late in the second quarter that really hurt us,” Jack said. “It turned everything around. A score there would have kept us going.”

Jack said it appeared on film that the Broncos scored, but the referees said the Broncos did not have control of the ball.

“We continued to play hard,” Jack said. “But it really took the air out of us.”

Despite the call, the Broncos never quit and Jack was pleased with his player’s dedication to finish strong. He also thought the underclassmen did a great job for the Broncos.

“I was pleased with how our young kids played,” Jack said. “We had several freshmen in the game and they gained some valuable experience. We finished our season well and we have something to build on with our younger kids.”