Broncos stampede over Booker

By Sandy Anderberg

With their district season looming, the Clarendon Broncos are riding high on the positive momentum they have established in their pre-district schedule.

Making a solid statement in their first six games, the Broncos are in control of their game and district season. According to head coach Gary Jack, no team has gotten a 5-0 start since around 1992. Their 61-0 blowout against Booker has set the tempo and given the Broncos the confidence they need going into the second and most important half of their season.

Up by 35 points after the first eight minutes, the Broncos were able to coast to a big Homecoming win in Bronco Stadium Friday night before a huge crowd of supporters.

Quarterback Damarjae Cortez was unstoppable as he threw for 176 yards going six for seven and knocking down five touchdowns in the first quarter of play. Cortez threw a 41-yard strike to Andy Davis early in the game for the first six with Clay Koetting adding the kick. Keandre Cortez scored next on a 48-yard pass from D. Cortez, and Bryce Grahn caught the D. Cortez pass for two on the conversion. Bear Smith and Jacob Jeffers posted the next two touchdowns on a 37 and 20 yard pass respectively with Koetting adding the kick. K. Cortez struck again when he grabbed a 35-yard pass from D. Cortez to end the first quarter scoring frenzy.

“Damarjae had a great game for us,” Jack said. “He threw five touchdown passes in the first quarter and also took the ball in from 75 yards out on the first play of the third quarter. He had a big night.”

Koetting scored from six yards out in the second quarter and D. Cortez took it in for the bonus. D. Cortez added the next score on a 75-yard run and Ryan McCleskey added a 10-yard run in the third. McCleskey got the call again in the fourth and took it in from 27 yards out for the last Bronco score.

The Broncos offense went crazy racking up 471 yards with 289 of them on the ground. The Kiowas were helpless in any effort to stop the strength of the Bronco offense.

“Our offensive line did a great job blocking for us,” Jack said. “And we’ve got guys doing a great job catching the ball because of it. Seth Greer, Taylon Knorpp, Isaac Dunham, Justin Christopher, Nick Shadle, Marshal Johnson, and Jacob Jeffers all did a great job. Our offense really clicked.”

Booker struggled offensively and only mustered 28 total yards in the game.

“Our defense is playing well,” Jack said. “Dalton Benson and Nick Shadle each had 10 tackles, Daquawne Oliver, Jacob Jeffers, and Bear Smith each had seven, and Caton Grahn had six. A lot of guys got a lot of playing time and up and down the board, we did well. Our defense capitalized on mistakes from their offense.”

The Broncos will be off this Friday night, but in two weeks, they will begin district play. According to Jack, the district schedule will be a tough one, but he feels the Broncos are ready.

“It was a good homecoming win for us. There were lots of positives and we’re pretty excited. We are definitely playing well right now. We are getting better in all phases.”

The Broncos travel to Lockney Friday, Oct. 1, with a 7 p.m. kickoff.