Boness scores five TDs in Broncos' win

RITZVILLE – After scoring seven touchdowns in the first three games of the season, Lind-Ritzville/Sprague senior running back Brody Boness rushed for five more Friday, Sept. 27 in the Broncos' 34-13 win over Reardan.

Boness showed his strength on the Broncos' first possession of the game when he took the handoff up the middle, shook several tackles and rambled 18 yards into the end zone for the first Lind/Ritzville/Sprague/Washtucna touchdown.

On the Screaming Eagles' ensuing possession, Reardan senior quarterback Rysen Soliday hit senior Zander Thornton on a screen pass that Thornton carried 32-yards into the end zone to knot the score at 6-6.

On the Broncos' next possession, Boness showed his speed, taking the handoff from his brother Cameron Boness and outrunning the Reardan defense on a 72-yard sprint to the end zone. After Beau Fode converted the extra point, the Broncos closed out the first quarter leading 13-6.

Three minutes into the second quarter, Soliday took to the air again. He hit Thornton on another screen pass that resulted in a 53-yard touchdown. Colton Lonning's point after touchdown was good to tie the game at 13.

Neither team sustained a drive the rest of the quarter. The teams retreated to the locker room, still tied 13-13.

The second half belonged to the Broncos.

The tide turned after Lind-Ritzville blocked a punt at Reardan's 20-yard line late in the third quarter. On the following play, Boness carried the ball from 15 yards out to score his third touchdown. Fode's successful PAT gave the Broncos a 20-13 lead.

In the fourth quarter, Boness scored two more times. He burst up the middle for an 11-yard TD and bulled into the end zone from 1-yard out to give him his fifth touchdown. Fode successfully converted both PATs, giving the Broncos the 34-13 win.

Besides scoring 30 points, Boness rushed for 298 yards for the Broncos.

The Screaming Eagles were led by Soliday, who passed for 129 yards and two touchdowns. Thornton, caught 5 passes for 115 yards.

"Tonight, we did what we do," Boness said. "We pounded the ball and beat up the other team. We stayed on our blocks and went five yards, five yards, five yards and eventually one pops out for a longer run. Reardan is a good team. It's always fun to play them."

Broncos Coach Brendan Bermea praised Reardan's effort and appreciated their rivalry.

"Matt (Clouse) is a great coach and a great human being. I feel for him because I know that his team has the injury bug like we had last year. It would be great if we could always play each other at full strength but that's not the way this game goes. I am proud of Reardan's effort because they fought and scrapped the whole way. Our guys had some big plays and that proved to be the difference."

Clouse was pleased with the play of Thornton and running back Blake Wynecoop.

"Our guys played well in the first half," he said, "but Boness took over the second half. We couldn't stop him."

The win improved the Broncos' record to 3-1 overall and 1-1 in 2B play. The Screaming Eagles dropped to 2-2 and 0-2.

The Broncos' next game is Friday, Oct. 4 at Jenkins (Chewelah). Reardan hosts Northwest Christian the same night. Both games are at 7 p.m.