Football team advances to round 2.
Once the Broncs took the lead for good in the fourth quarter, they had to rely on the defense to make it hold.
The "D" passed the test, stopping Ellsworth on the final play of the game to stop a scoring opportunity, advancing in the Class 2A playoffs with a 21-14 win over the Bearcats at home last Friday.
Lakin scored the only points of the first half, a 19-yard pass play from Servando Gonzalez to Jaylyn Hash late in the second quarter to give the Broncs a 7-0 lead at intermission. Ellsworth took the opening kickoff 90 yards to start the second half and tie the game. William Gilleland gave the Broncs a 14-7 lead on a 43-yard run. The Bearcats tied things up in the fourth with a 42-yard scoring run, but it was a 20-yard scoring strike from Gonzalez to Hunter Davis that gave the Broncs what would prove to be the winning score.
The Broncs (8-1) will now travel to Hoisington Friday for round two.
Lakin totaled 332 yards on 59 plays, including 169 through the air for Gonzalez. Gilleland had three receptions for 41 yards. Hash had four catches for 49 yards and Davis had two for 37. Kayden Christiansen had one catch for 32 yards. Gilleland had eight carries for 82 yards while Christiansen had 13 for 46.
The defense limited Ellsworth to 234 total yards on 52 plays. Christiansen had four tackles and assisted on 11. Dawson Aller had five and assisted on five. Aller had a fumble recovery and Connor Hudson had an interceptions.