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Broncos bolt to 6-0 record

Friday, 03 October 2008

Photo: Western Brown’s Hakeem Andrews hypes up the Bronco defense.

By WADE LINVILLE
Sports editor, The News Democrat

MT. ORAB – The Western Brown Broncos are now 6-0 after downing the Goshen Warriors, 28-7, on the road last Friday night.

The Bronco offense barreled its way for 330 yards against the Warriors in week six, with 173 of those yards collected by senior running back Shawn Davis, who now has a total of 19 touchdowns on the season (all but one on carries) and seven point-after kicks.
Davis has racked up just over 1110 yards on the ground this season, and is inching closer every game to the single-season school rushing record set last year by Blake Naylor. Davis will have at least four more games to set a new single-season rushing record at Western Brown, depending on whether the Broncos are able to earn a berth in the post-season playoffs. In the Cincinnati Enquirer Coaches’ Polls, the Broncos were ranked seventh in Division II following Friday’s win over Goshen.
The Bronco offense looked to be striking on all cylinders once again Friday night, but it was the Bronco defense who wreaked the most havoc against the Warriors.
“Let me tell you something about (our) defense tonight, it was definitely a group effort,” said Sizer. “We were on fair break this week, so we got to spend some extra time watching tapes and so forth. Our (coaching) staff is so diligent about looking at keys and responsibility on the options. This was definitely a great week of preparation by the defense because of the entire staff.”
As the Broncos begin to gather much attention this season with their flawless record which could help them earn a spot in the state playoffs, Western Brown head football coach Don Sizer and his crew of experienced players are focusing on each game as it comes.
“It’s been my experience that every time you look ahead like that, and start trying to do predictions and so forth, it takes a lot of your attention away from the task at hand,” said Sizer. “We’re just going to do them one at a time, and give it our best each and every week. Like we talk about every day, if you do the small things, the big things will take care of themselves.”
While Davis is racking up some impressive stats as the season rolls along, he can’t take all credit for the Broncos’ offensive success. Senior quarterback Travis Taylor has racked up more than 500 yards on the ground this season and rushed for nearly 100 yards in the win over Goshen.
On defense, Western Brown senior linebacker Ryan Hopkins hammered the Warriors for 14 tackles in Friday’s victory Hopkins also had two deflected passes, an interception and a fumble recovery against the Warriors.
Senior defensive lineman Hakeem Andrews collected 10 tackles, playing a huge role in the win over Goshen, as did Davis and Rob Evans who each collected 11 tackles in Friday’s bout. Western Brown’s Ryan Berry collected eight tackles in Friday’s win.
The Broncos certainly got exceptional efforts in several areas on both sides of the ball in Friday’s win, and Sizer was pleased to see his team put together their best performance on the road this season to top Goshen in week six.
“Whenever you come into Goshen, it’s a great football atmosphere and an unbelievable facility they have. You’re always going to have a great experience.. win lose or draw, and Goshen is usually pretty good so we’re very happy to come out with a win,” Sizer said following Friday’s game.
The Broncos’ first score in the win over Goshen came with 6:19 to go in the first period, and it was Davis who reached the end zone off an 87-yard carry to light up Western Brown’s side of the scoreboard. Less than a minute later, Western Brown’s Dane Boggs recovered a Warrior fumble to give the Broncos possession at the Goshen 27-yard line. Taylor then put the icing on the cake, taking a 27-yard touchdown carry with 5:20 to go in the first. Western Brown kicker Brad Rhodes was on target as usual, driving both kicks for the point after through the uprights to help give the Broncos a 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.
After holding the Warriors scoreless on a drive early in the second period, the Bronco defense forced one of six Warrior turnovers and took over near the Warriors’ 35-yard line. On the seventh play of the Bronco drive, Taylor reached the end zone again with a 16-yard run with 6:41 to go before halftime. After Rhodes’ successful kick for the point-after, the Broncos were up 21-0.
In desperate need of a score with 22 seconds to go in the first half, the Warriors found themselves on their own 45-yard line in a second down and 10 to go situation. As Warriors quarterback Nate Parriman went back to pass, only to have Hopkins break through Warrior blockers to block the pass and catch the deflection before the ball hit the turf. Hopkins’ pass deflection and interception gave Western Brown possession to end the first half, and the Broncos held a comfortable 21-0 lead to start the second half.
It took the Broncos a minute and a half and four plays to march down the field 85 yards for their fourth touchdown drive of the night, a drive that began at the Western Brown 15-yard line and ended with a 65-yard touchdown run by Davis. After Rhodes’ on-target kick for the extra point, the Broncos were up 28-0 with 8:10 to go in the third period.
The Warriors didn’t make a mark on their side of the scoreboard until 2:36 to go in the third quarter, and that score was the result of a 55-yard drive that ended with a five-yard touchdown run from Goshen junior Tanner Schulte. After making good on the kick for the extra point, the Warriors still trailed the Broncos 28-7 late in the third frame.
The Warriors felt the game slipping away as they took the field in the fourth quarter, and put together a gutsy drive the ended just shy of another score. Starting the drive on their own 15-yard line, the Warriors pulled through on two fourth down conversions to keep the ball moving in their direction. But the Warrior offense ran out of steam after making it clear to the Western Brown 10-yard line, and were stopped by the Bronco defense on a fourth and four to go situation, resulting in a turnover on downs with 6:25 left on the clock.
The Bronco offense were held short of a first down on three straight plays, and punted the ball downfield with just over four minutes to go in the fourth frame. The Bronco defense responded by stifling the Warrior offense on four straight plays, resulting in another turnover on downs. That marked the Warriors final attempt for an additional score in Friday’s SBAAC bout, and the Bronco offense looked to run down the clock after taking over on its own 45-yard line. The Broncos held on for a 21-point win, journeying home with another exceptional performance under their belt.
With week six of high school football now in the books, there are two teams in the Southern Buckeye Athletic/Academic Conference that hold a perfect record - Western Brown and New Richmond. It is highly likely that this year’s SBAAC American Division title will come down to week nine (Oct. 17), when the Broncos venture to New Richmond High School to take on the Lions. But the Broncos have other priorities in mind before facing the Lions in mid-October, including this Friday’s game at Washington Court House and the Oct. 10 bout at Bethel-Tate High School.
As soon as Friday’s game ended, the Broncos were already making preparations to face Washington Court House in another road game.
“They’re a perennial powerhouse,” Sizer said of the Washington Court House varsity football squad. “Some years they have a lot of victories and some year’s they have five or six, but they’re always a really good team. They’re well-coached, (and have) a lot of (good) athletes.
“It’s a football city and when that band gets going…watch out. If you let their momentum get the best of you, it could be a long night. We’ve had some great games, and I expect it to be another great game.”

Western Brown 14 7 7 0 - 28
Goshen 0 0 7 0 - 7