Ray Conner
Sports Editor

Two steps backward and one lone stride forward gives the Broncs an offensive start.

The tone was set very early as Kern Valley forced the Cougars to punt on their opening possession.

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The Broncs took control on their own 19-yard line. A holding penalty pushed them back 10 yards to the nine and another penalty drove them back to the four.

Then it was off to the races as Travis Gibson took the hand off from Robbie Fisher and rumbled 94 yards for the touchdown.

Fisher would escape a couple of would-be tacklers and then race untouched into the end zone for the Broncs first touchdown of the season. Kern Valley missed the PAT, but still had the 6-0 lead early.

The Broncs second score was a gift as the Cougars laid the ball on the ground and Kern Valley recovered.

Taking over at the McFarland 10-yard line it was a one play drive as Gibson scored his second touchdown of the night. He completed the two-point conversion to make the score 14-0 still in the first quarter.

The second quarter started with the Cougars punting the ball back to Kern Valley.

The Broncs were set up in good field position at the McFarland 43-yard line.

On the sixth play of the drive, Broncs quarterback, Robbie Fisher hooked up with Kyle Cawein for a 27 yard touchdown and after another missed extra point the Broncs led 20-0.

The rest of the quarter saw the teams battle up and down the field with neither gaining the others end zone.

The last scoring opportunity was a missed field goal from 30 yards away to end the half.

The Cougars finally got on the board early in the third to make it 20-7, but the Broncs answered right back with consecutive touchdowns.

Gibson, from 39 yards out raced to the goal line and scored his third TD of the contest. The two-point conversion by Corey Mixon was successful to make it 28-7.

After a McFarland punt pinned the Broncs down at their own seven, it was another one play drive as Cody Bulgarelli got in on the scoring act. He went 93 yards to find pay dirt.

This time the PAT was successful and Kern Valley was ahead 35-7.

The Cougars scored twice in the fourth quarter to make it seem close, but the Broncs held on and produced their first win of the year.

Going back to last season, this is the sixth consecutive win for the Broncs in the regular season.

The Broncs rushed for 391 yards on the night and threw for 54 t total 445 yards. McFarland was limited to just 264 total yards. 161 on the ground and 103 in the air. Most of those yards were late in the game.

All was not positive though as the Broncs were penalized 11 times for 93 yards on the night.

Gibson led the Kern Valley offense as he rushed for 198 yards on nine carries and the three touchdowns.

Bulgarelli also went over 100 yards as he rushed the ball seven times for 104 yards and the one score. Dakota Claude’ gained 41 yards on five rushes, while Aaron LaFarga picked up 26 yards on six carries. Dylan Atkinson had 25 yards on 10 rushes, while Mixon carried the ball twice for 15 yards.

Fisher’s rushing total was a negative 13, including being sacked twice for 15 yards.

Fisher completed 3-of-8 passes for the 54 yards and the one touchdown toss.

Cawein caught the one for 27 yards, while Anthony Hernandez grabbed one catch for 22 yards. LaFarga had one reception for five yards.

Head coach Ben Goffinet said, “I was very pleased with how the team played on Friday night. I was especially pleased with the offensive line. They controlled the line of scrimmage all night and allowed us to run the ball well. Overall, we played a solid physical game.”

The Broncs will now turn their attention toward the Vasquez Mustangs. This Friday’s varsity game will be at home and start at 7 p.m.