By Tina Kitt

The Wauneta Breeze

In the waning seconds the pressure was on Bronco sophomore Reese West. The 16-year-old shifted positions in the third quarter of the Broncos’ match-up against Cheylin to take over quarterback duties after a rib injury sent big brother Myles West to the hospital.

Struggling to regain their composure after losing their starting quarterback, the Broncs watched their lead evaporate in the final minutes of the game after the northwest Kansas team scored back-to-back touchdowns late in the fourth quarter to take the lead.

The Cougars’ Jared Cahoj, son of Wauneta High School graduate Kendi (Buffington) Cahoj, carried the ball across for Cheylin with 1:16 left in the game to knot the score at 38-38. A PAT kick put the Cougars out in front for the first time since their game-opening touchdown.

Trailing by one at 39-38, however, the Broncs steeled their resolve, pulling together to gut out the win. Reese West connected with Adam Simpson to give the Broncs a first-and-10 shot at Cheylin’s 36-yard line with just 55 seconds left in the game.

Remaining calm under pressure, West connected with Johnathon Brougham just short of the goal line for a Bronco first-and-goal from 5 yards out with 26 seconds left on the clock. The Broncs tried to push the ball across but were knocked back to the 10-yard line with game time slipping away. Quickly moving back to the line with less than 10 seconds to play, West dropped back to pass, scrambling as he eluded the Cougar defense. He launched the ball to the far left corner of the end zone where both Simpson and Brandon O’Neil were positioning themselves for the pass. The two Bronco receivers jumped high for the ball, along with a pair of Cougar defenders, with Simpson pulling down the pass. He landed on his backside just inside the line, giving the Broncs the go-ahead touchdown and the 44-39 win.

Bronco Coach Roger Lauhead praised his players for remaining cool under pressure.

“Reese threw some great passes at the end. We knew we had to go to some plays that he was comfortable with and he really came through for us,” said Lauhead.

Last week Reese West saw some practice time at quarterback, but only a few days worth noted Lauhead. This week he will see a whole lot at that position with Myles West not likely to see much action this week, if any, as he recovers from bruised ribs. Friday night the Broncs travel to Haxtun, Colo., for their first road-trip game of the season where they will face an 0-1 Fightin’ Bulldog squad. Haxtun dropped their season opener last week, falling to Cheyenne Wells, Colo., 20-0.

Game time Friday is slated to get underway at 7 p.m. MT/8 p.m. CT.

The following week the Broncs will be idle on Sept. 18 which will allow Lauhead’s crew some valuable time to recover from their early season injuries before they head into what may well prove to be the toughest stretch of the season when they face Maxwell, Elwood and Eustis-Farnam in back-to-back-to back games.

Commanding lead slips away

While Cheylin tacked the first points on the scoreboard in their match-up with Wauneta-Palisade, it didn’t take the Broncs long to find their rhythm and build a commanding lead before seeing their starting quarterback sidelined.

Some early miscues by the Broncs put Cheylin in position to score after the Cougars recovered a Bronco fumble on WP’s 9-yard line in the opening minute of the game. Cheylin’s Dalton Magnani punched the ball in on a third-and-goal carry from the 2-yard line, with a Cougar PAT kick putting them on top 7-0. That lead was short-lived, however, when less than two minutes later Myles West connected with Simpson on a short pass after the Broncs worked their way inside the Cougars’ red zone.

A PAT scramble by M. West put the Broncs up 8-7.

A decisive stand by the Broncs’ defensive line, with Luke McCrumb breaking through for a quarterback sack, denied the Cougars’ fourth-and-eight conversion at the WP 29-yard line.

The Broncs took advantage of the momentum swing, with M. West connecting with Simpson to score on a 35-yard pass play. West pitched the ball to Fanning on the PAT to extend the Broncs’ lead to 16-7.

Cheylin answered back, launching a field goal late in the first quarter for a 16-10 game.

Not to be outdone, Simpson took the ball on the following kick off, powering his way up the field on a tackle-busting 74-yard TD return. M. West connected with O’Neil on the PAT for a 24-10 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Early in the second quarter O’Neil fought off the Cougars’ pass defense for a 40-yard reception, putting the Broncs within striking distance. M. West connected with Simpson?? or Reese West on a first-and10 pass from the 11-yard line to put the Broncs up 30-10.

The Broncs extended their lead to 38-10 when M. West scrambled into the end zone from 8 yards out, following up with a QB keeper on the PAT with 4:27 left in the first half.

Cheylin marched the ball up the field to the Bronco 12-yard line on the following series.

The Broncs held them out for three plays before the Cougars were able to score on a fourth-and-three touchdown sweep up the right side.

An up-the-gut run on the PAT brought up a 38-18 contest with 14 seconds left in the first half.

A Bronco fumble on the ensuing kick return put the Cougars at midfield where they tried to launch a scoring pass. Myles West got his hand on the ball, deflecting the pass and denying the Cougars an additional scoring opportunity.

Though still trailing 38-18, a fired up Cougar squad took to the field in the second half. They fought their way to the Broncs’s 10-yard line before coughing the ball up on a fumble, which was recovered by M. West.

Cheylin held the Broncs to a three-and-out drive, setting the Cougars up for second-and-goal TD push from the 1-yard line and PAT run to pull within 12 points, as they held the Broncs scoreless in the third quarter to bring up a 38-26 ball game going into the final frame.

As the Broncs tried to regroup in the absence of Myles West, Cheylin continued to claw their way back into the contest.

Their back-to-back touchdowns late in the contest put the Broncs back on their heels momentarily before the hometown team pulled together to deny Cheylin the win with their aerial TD drive in the final seconds of play.

Stat leaders

The Broncs amassed 317 yards of offense against the Cougars with 167 yards pounded out on the ground and 150 yards gained through the air. In addition, they garnered 193 yards of kick returns, including Simpson’s 74 yard run back.

Simpson led the Broncs in rushing with 74 yards an receiving with 126 yards.

M. West was the Broncs leading passer with 98 yards, teaming up on four touchdown passes and two PAT passes. He also and had 49 yards rushing.

R. West had 62 yards passing

O’Neil was the leading tackler for the Broncs with 10 solo and 18 assists for 28 tackles. Fanning had three solos and 18 assists for 21 tackles. Simpson had seven solo takedowns and 12 assists for 19 tackles Also in double digit on tackles were Colby Skelton with 15 tackles and Keagan Haarberg with 13 tackles.