Broncos open season with win, Bucks lose close one

SPORTS SHORTS
The San Juan Broncos opened their defense of the 2A state football title with a convincing 28-0 win over the Kanab Cowboys.
In a game “that could have been 45-0”, according to one observer, the Broncos totally dominated, keeping their state leading 126 game scoring streak intact and leaving the Cowboys first first down late in the game as the only thing to applaud for the Cowboy fans.
Cameron Shumway completed 14 of 26 passes for 244 yards, including touchdown passes to Ryan Lyman and Stetler Shumway. Lyman added another touchdown run and Trey McDonald scored to round out the Bronco points.
Coach Lee’s defense smothered nearly every play the Cowboys tried. The switch to middle linebacker from defensive end for four-year starter Stetler Shumway proved a magnificent change as Shumway recorded “seems like a hundred” tackles, said one fan. The official count was ten tackles. Stetler added a 70-yard punt to add to the stats for special teams.
Cowboy fans noticed. Next up for the Broncos, the Kirtland NM Broncos, Friday night in Kirtland NM.
The new Monticello Buckaroos, under the tutelage of new head coach, Lee Chadwick, put up a valiant effort against a Carbon team that seemed twice the size of the young Buckaroos.
Starting a bunch of freshmen and sophomores and several inexperienced upper classmen, the young Bucks rode the backs of veteran ball carriers Devin Wright and Kendall Maughan, but couldn’t find the end zone until late in the game on a beautiful 30-yard pass from Wright to sophomore Jake Duncan.
The Dinos, riding a 25-game losing streak, seemed inspired as they stopped the Bucks from scoring on two occasions in the first half. An intercepted pass in the end zone stopped one Buckaroo drive. Then the Dinos stopped the Bucks on the two yard line as the first half ended, a play that could have given the Bucks a 7-6 lead at half and some momentum.
But the Dinos were not to be extinct this night, as they triumphed 13-6 over the Bucks. This week finds the Bucks in Monticello against the Grand County Red Devils.
Two more conversations, with Bronco head coach Monty Lee, and Buckaroo cross country coach Jeff Hunt. We start with Coach Lee.
#1 - What are your expectations for this season? A: We hope to be playing the last week of the season. That is our goal every year.
#2 - Who are your assistants and their assignments? A: Rick Elgredge (defensive coordinator), Shane Shumway (assistant defensive coordinator), Kol Conway and Blake Burtenshaw (linebackers & running backs), Ryan Nielson, Tad Barton, Miles Harrison, Michael Harrison (offensive and defensive line), Ryan Palmer: (quarterbacks), and Bob Cly: (manager).
#3 - Who are your returning starters this year? A: Stetler Shumway, AJ Slavens, Taj Eldredge, Tray McDonald, Cameron Shumway, Tyler Nielson, Ryan Lyman.
#4 - Who are your key newcomers? A: Colby Redd, Grady Shumway, Landon Palmer, Asa Lyman, Dylan Richmond, Parker Manwell.
#5 - Your predicted finish? A: We always expect to win it all. Sometimes we do sometimes we don’t but our expectations are to win a championship every year.
#6 - Number of years at current school? A: 20 +.
#7 - Number of years as head coach? A: Seven.
#8 - What is your record at your current school? A: 63-17.
#9 - Last year’s record and playoff results? A: 11-1 and State Champs!
#10 - Your outlook on the season? A: Really excited. We have a ton of work ahead of us in getting ready for the season. There are some great teams in 2A this year and it will be a tremendous challenge to compete. But we are expecting great things from these young men. My assistant coaches will have them ready. I have the best coaches in the state helping.
Now we hear from Coach Hunt:
#1 - What are your expectations for this season? A: Region champs. The girls have never lost Region 19 and the boys took second just once. It has become a tradition to win region.
#2 - Who are your returning starters and key newcomers? A: Macee Nielson, Loren Randall and Shelby Lewis return from last year’s state team. For the boys, the only returning varsity runner is Nash Freestone. Brittany Keith was injured last year and if she can stay healthy she may be the key to moving up at state.
Sophomores Lydia Chadwick and Kaitlin Clark should also add some strength to a pretty good team. The boy’s keys will be how freshman Easton Nielson and Tanner Eardley improve and the host of JV runners now expected to jump up to varsity, including Collin Hatch, Montana Welch, Austin Clark, Dallin Anderson.
#3 - Your predicted finish? A: Both teams should win region and make a run at state.
#4 - Number of years at current school? A: 6 years.
#5 - Number of years as head coach? A: 7 years for XC.
#6 - What is your record at your current school? A: Girls have five straight region titles while the boys have three.
#7 - Last year’s record and playoff results? A: Both teams were first at region and third at state.
#8 - Your outlook on the season? A: Time to put forth effort and have some fun.