Reardan Takes Command

Given the opportunity, Reardan took control of the Northeast B-11 football race.

The fourth-ranked Indians forced four turnovers to turn homecoming into a 20-12 win over No. 2 Ritzville on Friday night at Joe B. Johnson Field.

“The biggest truth, is when they had opportunities, they scored and when we did, we didn’t all the time,” Ritzville coach Mike Lynch said. “It was a game of missed opportunities.”

Both teams entered the game undefeated in four games, two in league play.

The Broncos’ touchdowns came off an 80-yard drive in the first quarter and a 61-yard sprint by Nick Potrey in the third.

Reardan only had to go 15, 64 and 31 yards.

“Actually, we’re kind of a big-play team,” Reardan coach Dan Graham said. “It didn’t show tonight.”

Instead, it was a big-play defense.

A fumble recovery by Tyson McCall on the 15 set up a Reardan touchdown that gave the Indians a 7-6 lead at halftime.

After Potrey - who ran for 128 yards - scored, Reardan responded with a drive that included its only pass completion to help overcome a holding penalty and a facemask penalty on the Broncos. That made it 13-12 with 9:39 to play.

Then McCall tipped a pass that Nate Krupke intercepted at the 31, setting up the final score with 5:26 to play.

Besides that, when the Broncos picked off a pass at the Reardan 44 in the first quarter, the defense held. When Ritzville was driving at the end of the half, McCall picked off a pass in the end zone. The defense also held on a fourth-and-1 at its own 7 early in the second half. And on the Broncos’ final drive, Rocky Soliday had a pick at the 14.

“Basically, we knew we had to keep the defense fired up,” said McCall, a 5-foot-9, 185-pound junior, who plays center on offense. “We knew if we put our heads down, they’d see that and take advantage of it. When you’re that jacked up, that’s what’s going to win football games, defense. You have to take advantage of their mistakes.”

The defense had to step up because the Broncos ground out 273 yards, 102 more than Reardan.

“We felt a little shaky at times,” Reardan quarterback/defensive back Davey Bocook said. “The defense made plays and the offense capitalized. The offensive line did a great job for how big they are.”

Graham added, “Those (Ritzville) guys are so well-coached, and they’ve been together so long. We haven’t had to play anybody with that much intensity and that much quicks. It was good for us. And good for them; they haven’t had any close games, either. I wish we could play them every other week.”

The Broncos held Reardan to 156 yards rushing. Aaron Landreth had 58 and David Wynecoop 54. Each had a 2-yard TD run. Bocook scored the final TD on a 1-yard sneak.

“This was a great football game,” Lynch said. “The people who got to see it, no matter which side they were on, got a treat. I just wish we could have won.”