By Chris McComb, guest writer
The Dayton Broncos opened the 2019 campaign at Friendswood on Friday night, where it’s always a tough place to play, and this time proved to be no exception. The Broncos were shut out in a game that ended 42-0.
The Mustangs raced out to a 17-0 lead by the end of the first quarter, paced by touchdown scampers by Joey Tomko (21 yards) and Noah Palitz (33 yards). Placekicker Travis Mueller added a 30-yard field goal, and the Ponies were off and running.
Unfortunately for the Broncos, a fumble set Friendswood up on the Dayton 24-yard line, where a Luke Grden pass to Patrick Elizondo and a Noah Palitz run made it first and goal for the Mustangs on the 1-yard line.
Dane Roenne smashed over for the score and the Broncos found themselves in a tough spot down 24-0 early in the second quarter. After going 3 and out on their first drive of the second stanza, a high snap on the ensuing punt attempt gave Friendswood the ball again deep in Bronco territory, this time on the Dayton 6-yard line.
The home side wasted no time, as Grden hit Matthew Kovacevich in the right flat for a touchdown. On the point after attempt, the Mustangs muffed the snap, but kicker Travis Mueller ended up with the ball and did his best Garo Yepremian impression and found Matthew Reyes in the end zone for the 2-point conversion. Dayton would go 3 and out again on their next possession, following a false start penalty, and this time Gustavo Orozco punted Friendswood to their 47-yard line.
Garrett Massey entered the game for the Mustangs and was welcomed into the game by Bronco defensive lineman Cristian Medrano, who sacked him for a 12-yard loss. Friendswood would punt the ball back to the Broncos, but Dayton quarterback Christian Olige had his next pass deflected, which then fell into the arms of Mustang defensive back Bryant Wade.
Luke Grden would connect with Jack Ehrmann on a 46-yard pass that got Friendswood all the way down to the Dayton 1-yard line. A penalty would back the Mustangs five yards, but then Christian Lee took a toss to the left and scored from six yards out to make the score 39-0, which would be the score at halftime.
In the second half, the only scoring was on a 43-yard field goal by Friendswood’s Ryan Sweeney. Despite tough running by Dayton’s Christian Olige, Darius Zenon, Davin Lee, and Josiah Griffith, the Broncos were unable to crack the Mustangs’ goal line, fumbling the ball back to Friendswood on the Mustangs’ 5-yard line with 4:30 left in the game. Dayton put up a much better effort in the second half, but against an opponent with as much depth as Friendswood, it proved to be tough sledding.
Next up for the Dayton Broncos will be the Galena Park Yellowjackets at Galena Park ISD Stadium on Sept. 6.