Broncos ready for first playoff game since 2008

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The last time Floyd and Lake Arthur, the Broncos scored with less than a minute left to pull out a 36-34 win on Oct. 10.

Today, when the teams meet again, the season will be over for one team.

The Broncos (6-1) host the two-time defending champion Panthers (8-2) at 1 p.m. today in the 6-man state semifinals.

Seniors Wyatt Chandler and Tanner Essary are hoping this won’t be their last game.

“If we lose, this will be my last game of organized football,” said Essary, an offensive lineman. “There’s no college football for me, so I’ve been telling the guys to play hard every down because that could be the difference between a win and a loss.

“I played hard for the seniors above me last year, and I hope the guys will play hard for me this year.”

Broncos Coach Steve Foust knows this game will be just as tough as the first matchup.

“Both teams played hard in that game and we just got the ball at the right time and executed just enough to win,” he said. “This game is going to be just as hard.”

Foust said his team took a while to find their rhythm in the first matchup in October due to the Panthers’ speed on both sides of the ball.

“I was surprised with their team speed,” he said. “It wasn’t evident in the film, but on field it took us by surprise.”

The Broncos have a few seniors but lack playoff experience the last time the Broncos made the playoffs was in 2008, but Foust doesn’t think that will be a problem.

“The kids have worked hard the last two weeks,” he said. “Their intensity and focus has been on point in practice.

“They know they have a tough game this weekend. Lake Arthur is a great team and the kids know it, so we’re going to be ready.”

Foust doesn’t expect to see anything different from the Panthers on Saturday.

“Coach (Jose) Porras is a good coach, and they’re great at executing their game plan, so I don’t think they’ll change much,” Foust said. “As far as us, we just have to execute.”

The Broncos will rely on Chandler to be a force on offense. In the first meeting, Chandler piled up 374 yards and two TDs against the Panthers on 33 carries.

“It’s going to take a team effort to win on Saturday,” Chandler said. “Everyone will have to contribute for us to get a win.”

Each team had four turnovers in their last meeting.

“I’ve talked to them about staying focused,” Foust said. “We’re not looking ahead or behind, we’re looking at this game and they know if they can execute and compete we have a chance to win.”