Early turnovers lead to 40-14 loss for Broncos

THE ROUNDUP
by Tad Barton
The San Juan Bronco football team got off to a bit of a rough start, as they kicked off their 2017 2A South Region schedule against the Beaver Beavers. The Broncos fell behind early and were never able to recover, as they dropped their fourth contest of the season 40-14 to the Beavers.
Beaver got on the scoreboard first when they crossed the goal line at the 8:41 mark for the first quarter on a nine-yard run. The point after attempt was good, and Beaver led 7-0.
The visiting team would find the end zone twice more in the opening quarter on runs of one and five yards respectively. Beaver would make the first PAT but miss the second, taking a 20-0 lead into the second quarter.
The San Juan defense stepped up in the second quarter and didn’t allow Beaver’s offense to score, but the Beavers were able to pick off two San Juan passes, which they returned for touchdowns.
In between those pick sixes, the Bronco offense finally found some rhythm and put together their first scoring drive of the game via a four-yard Dylan Ivins run. Baylr Eldredge added the PAT, and the Broncos trailed at the half, 34-7.
Trailing and trying to get back in the game, San Juan all but abandoned their punt game, opting instead to go for it on many fourth downs in the second half.
This put the Bronco defense in some tight spots, but they managed to keep the Beavers out of the end zone most of the second half.
The Beavers’ lone score of the half came midway through the third on a blown coverage assignment by San Juan. Once again, the point after was no good, and the Broncos trailed 40-7.
The San Juan offense also stepped things up in the second half, moving the ball well at times, but came up short of the goal line on several occasions. The Broncos kept at it and added one more score in the fourth quarter when Ryan Imlay recovered a fumble in the end zone for the touchdown.
Eldredge’s PAT split the uprights, making the score 40-14 where it would remain until the end of the game.
San Juan will look to get back in the win column this weekend when they travel to Enterprise, UT to take on the Enterprise Wolves on Friday, September 22. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Volleyball
San Juan’s volleyball team traveled to Emery County to take on the Emery Spartans on September 14. After losing a tough match to Richfield last week in five sets, the Lady Broncos were looking to bounce back with a win on the road against the Spartans.
The Broncos got off to a great start, winning the first set 25-13. The second set was a battle that went down to the wire, but Emery emerged with the win, 21-25.
San Juan showed their toughness and resolve in the third set, beating the home team 25-16 to take a two to one advantage into the fourth set.
The fourth set was another close one, as the two teams battled neck and neck. When the final point of the set had been scored, Emery came out with a narrow win, 23-25, to force a fifth and final set.
With the match tied at two sets each, Emery got the best of San Juan in the final and deciding set, defeating the Broncos 8-15 to claim the match.
The loss moves the Broncos to 1-2 in Region 15 play, as they prepare to play the Grand County Red Devils on Tuesday, September 19. The game will be in Moab, UT and is set to start at 6:30 p.m.