by Joe Howell

Lisbon’s offensive line led by senior offensive guard, Brent Durkin, paved the way for the Broncos’ third victory of the season against just one loss. The Broncos pounded out 399 yards of total offense with 218 being carried by all-state junior running back, Brandon Schell. 

Ends Dillon Bishop and Nathan Dykema, tackles Jordan Stenson and Derek Wunderlich, guards Kasey Groettum and Durkin, and center Austin Wimer, make up the offensive line that helps spring the Bronco backfield for the chunks of yardage that they have gained this season.

At the beginning of the year, two areas of concern were raised concerning this year’s Bronco football team.  First, the offensive line.  Check out the results of the last two victories and you can see that the line has responded.  Second, the defensive backfield and this included the linebackers.  Spencer Mairs, Matt Spiekermeier, and Jade Huether are in on lots of tackles, and the defensive backfield of Nathan Dykema, Nick Horgeshimer, Elliott Olerud, Josh Nims and Adam Coykendall have not let the long ball beat them.  This group of defenders will only get better as they read and react quicker with more practice and practice and game repetitions.  And no, the Broncos do not play a 4-3-5, but Nims and Coykendall not only rotate at quarterback but also at cornerback.

Of concern to the Bronco defense and coaching staff were the two long runs that generated all of Larimore’s points and 90 percent of its offense.  Lisbon gave up touchdown runs of 68 and 52 yards.  One of the goals that the Broncos have had under Coach Robert Bubach’s tenure is to allow no plays of more than 15 yards.

Schell’s 218 yards came on just 19 carries and resulted in four touchdowns.  Usually with stats like that, KQLX sports director Bruce Dougherty would have picked Schell as the Subway player of the game, but Dougherty picked Durkin as the recipient for the fine play of Schell’s offensive line.

Schell’s touchdown runs came on 3-, 2-, 1-, and 55-yard runs.

The touchdown that kept Larimore at bay, however, was an 11-yard pass from Josh Nims to a leaping Nathan Dykema just before half to extend the Broncos lead to 19-6.  How important was it?  Larimore came out at the start of the second half and the Bear’s Kyle Hager scored on a 52-yard run to bring Larimore to within seven at 19-12 with a whole lot of game left.

Lisbon regained control of the game on their next drive as Schell’s run of 55 yards to pay dirt was all that the Broncos needed to clinch their third victory of the season.

The Broncos started Region 1A play last Friday as LHS entertained undefeated Milnor-North Sargent at Sandager.

Three Bronco quarterbacks were involved in scoring in Lisbon’s win at Sandager Park over Park River.  Senior quarterback Josh Nims threw for a touchdown pass, junior Adam Coykendall, and sophomore Nathan Qual each ran for a score.  Longtime Bronco coach Robert Bubach, KQLX sports director Bruce Dougherty, and I could not remember this ever happening in a varsity game before.

The Broncos victory over Larimore pushed their coach to his 89th career victory which is the most in Lisbon history.  Bubach came to Lisbon in the fall of 1989 and was an assistant to Allen Ralston and then Joe Howell.  Bubach was given the reins of the Lisbon football program in the fall of 1993 and has guided LHS to a respected position in North Dakota.  Pat Adair was the Broncos head coach in the fall of 2004 when Bubach was called to serve in Iraq with the North Dakota National Guard.

This Friday is the Homecoming game with Maple Valley– Enderlin, with a 7:00 kick-off at Sandager.

1 2 H 3 4 F

Lisbon 13 6 19 8 14 41 Larimore 0 6 6 6 0 12

Scoring

TD – Lisbon Brandon Schell, 3-yard run, PAT Dillon Bishop kick

TD – Lisbon Brandon Schell, 2-yard run, PAT failed

TD – Larimore Ty Haines, 68-yard run, PAT failed

TD – Lisbon Josh Nims, 11-yard pass to Nathan Dykema, PAT failed

TD - Larimore Kyle Hager, 52-yard run, PAT failed

TD – Lisbon Brandon Schell, 55-yard run, PAT failed

TD – Lisbon Adam Coykendall, 20-yard run, PAT Dillon Bishop kick

TD – Lisbon Brandon Schell, 1-yard run, PAT failed

Bronco stats

Total yards – 408 total yards

Rushing yards – 361

Passing yards – 4 of 9 for 47 yards

Rushing leaders:

Brandon Schell – 22 carries for 209 yards

Spencer Mairs – 6 carries for 37 yards

Zach Peterson – 5 carries for 24 yards

Elliott Olerud – 7 carries for 38 yards

Adam Coykendall – 3 carries for 39 yards

Josh Nims – 2 carries for 15 yards

Nathan Qual – 1 carry for -5 yards

Ty Michels – 2 carries for 4 yards

Passing:

Josh Nims – 3 of 5 for 32 yards

Adam Coykendall – 1 of 3 for 15 yards

Receiving:

Nathan Dykema – 3 catches for 32 yards

Spencer Mairs – 1 catch for 15 yards

*double digit plays

Elliott Olerud – 11- and 10-yard runs

Spencer Mairs – 13- and 11-yard runs and a 13-yard pass reception

Brandon Schell – runs of 12, 51, 35, 55, and 15

Adam Coykendall – 10-yard run

Zach Peterson – runs of 10 and 11 yards

Nathan Dykema – 15-yard pass from Coykendall and 11-yard pass from Nims.