By Sandy Anderberg
The Broncos have had a stellar start in their 2016 football season. Before entering the game with Memphis, the Broncos were 8-0 looking to add one more to their winning record and be in the driver’s seat for a District Championship. But the Cyclones had plans of their own and were able to capitalize on three key turnovers to get the 30-14 win over the Broncos in Cyclone Stadium last Friday night.
The Broncos jumped all over them early and earned the first six of the night when Clint Franks hustled across the goal line from 34 yards out. Clay Koetting added the bonus to put the Broncos up by seven.
After going scoreless in the first quarter, Memphis answered back with 18 points to take an 11-point lead at the break. They went on to add two more in the second half of play to only one more score for the Broncos. Preston Elam caught a 56-yard pass from Damarjae Cortez to five the Broncos 14.
“It was a tough game for us,” head coach Gary Jack said. “It was hard fought and had it not been for turnovers, it could have been a different turn out.”
The Broncos trailed at the end of the first half for the first time all season and it was a spot they were not used to being in.
“Trailing to Memphis was a new adventure for us,” Jack said. “We hadn’t been behind all year. We just could never recover.”
Jack felt the Bronco defense played well and their numbers showed that.
Justin Christopher had 13 tackles and a fumble recovery, while Koetting racked up 11 tackles with one caused fumble. Marshal Johnson grabbed seven tackles, Nick Shadle and Bear Smith each had nine, and Seth Greer and Andy Davis had six each.
“Defensively, we played well,” Jack said. “Offensively, they shut us down, and we gave them a short field. We have to eliminate the turnovers.”
The Broncos will have the opportunity to regroup and claim the second seed in the playoff race. They will take on Wellington in their last regular season game this Friday night in Bronco Stadium.
“We are in the playoffs,” Jack said. “We are playing for that second seed. We have a lot of good things going for us and we have to move the ball better. We have to continue do play hard. We had a couple of injuries, but we will have to regroup and play hard.”
The game this Friday will be the last home game for the Bronco seniors and will begin at 7:00 pm. at Bronco Stadium.
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