Broncos’ football off to 3-0 start

    The Wauneta-Palisade football team has outscored its opponents 155-50 to start the season, giving the Broncos a 3-0 record and a ranking of ninth in Class D6.
    After wins over Banner County and South Platte in the season’s first two weeks, WP handed Sioux County its first loss of the season Friday in front of the Broncos’ home crowd.
    WP Co-Head Coach Randy Geier said the Broncos got off to a slow start with a fumble on the second play of the game and gave Sioux County excellent field position and they capitalized.  
    WP had an answer. The Broncos put together a six-play drive, starting with a 28-yard run by Kyle Jutten, to tie the game at 6-6.
    The teams traded punts from the first quarter into the second quarter. The Broncos’ first drive in the second quarter put eight points on the board once more when Jutten found the end zone from 17 yards out.
    While the first half ended with WP leading 14-6, both teams quickly put points on the board in the third quarter.  The Broncos went to the air, completing four passes on their first drive of the half, and scoring on a Derik Kennicutt four-yard pass to Michael Duvel.
    The Warriors returned the favor on their next possession, completing four passes of their own, before scoring on a one-yard run.
    The teams traded fumbles as the third quarter wore down, but neither could find the end zone.
    With WP leading 21-12, Sioux County went to the air. The Broncos held on fourth down on consecutive Warrior drives then increased their lead on a 43-yard touchdown run by Jacksen Littrel.
    The Broncos were quick to add seven more points when Grayden Sutherland stripped the ball from the Sioux County quarterback in the Warrior’s end zone and fell on it for a touchdown and give WP a 33-12 win.
    Geier said the Broncos played hard overall, but had way too many penalties.  
    “We need to get that cleaned up,” he said.
    Geier highlighted Sutherland, a sophomore, and freshman Blake Nickerson as the team’s  leading tacklers, noting Sutherland blocked a punt, as well.
    Three seniors also received praise from Geier.
    “Littrel and Jutten ran the ball hard. Duvel had some good plays,” Geier said.
Up next
    WP now has a week off to prepare for 1-1 at Southwest. The Sept. 22 game will be the Broncos’ first district game of the season.
    Geier said the Broncos will have to be ready to play.
    “Southwest is a good team and this will be a big challenge for us, but we are looking forward to playing them,” he added.
    The Roughriders beat South Platte 60-6 in their season opener and lost to Wilcox-Hildreth 28-32 Friday.
    Across the district, Arthur County is 2-0, Brady is 1-1, and Wallace and Paxton are 0-2.