Banning Football Struggles on Road

Banning traveled deep into the Coachella Valley in search of its second straight win over Thermal Desert Mirage.

Instead the Broncos found the Rams to be a much improved football program.

The host Rams remained undefeated by handing the Broncos a 30-6 defeat.

Inexperience and a complicated Desert Mirage attack were too much for Banning, which dropped to 0-2 on the season.

“If we can keep our heads up as these growing pains continue, we can be a good team in the end,” Banning Coach Scott McRitchie said.

Last season the Broncos defeated Desert Mirage 35-7.

“I didn’t see that (taking the Rams lightly),” McRitchie said. “I think it was more about jitters of an inexperienced team.”

Banning looked sharp at times but more often than not the Broncos hurt themselves with penalties or lack of execution.

“Sometimes it looked like we really got it and we see how it is supposed to be,” McRitchie said. “But we have to keep doing that. We have to repeat it. It just takes time.”

Banning responded quickly after Desert Mirage took an early 7-0 lead. The Broncos got a 59 yard kickoff return from Michael Cogleitti that put the Broncos on the Ram’s  16.

Two plays later first year quarterback James Madison hit Greg Lucas for a 15-yard TD strike. The Broncos, however, missed on the conversion and it was a 7-6 game.

Desert Mirage and its ground game handled the rest. The Rams put the ball on the ground 47 times and rushed for 302 yards.

The Broncos had one other chance to score. Down 24-6 midway
through the third quarter the Bronco were turned away on downs at the Desert Mirage goal line.

“We have to see what we see on film and see in practice and make adjustments,” McRitchie said. “If we keep our heads up and work hard I think we can be a decent team by the time we get to league.”