**Stewart breaks down the win over Livingston**

[bronco1]

Stewart breaks down the win over Livingston

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By MIKE GEORGE

Updated: 11.17.08

The whole scenario behind getting a state championship is that in order to get there, a team has to win every game. A team can’t win them all if they don’t win the first one, which is what the Dayton Broncos did Saturday night with a thrilling 39-28 win over the Livingston Lions.

“It was a good football game,†said head football coach Jerry Stewart. “When you get into the playoffs, that’s the way the games are going to be.â€

Livingston did something the Broncos hadn’t seen in a while by getting the opening kickoff, taking the ball down the field and scoring on their first possession within four minutes of the start of the game. After an exchange of possessions, the Broncos finally scored, but here came Livingston again right down the field to go up 14-7.

“I’ve heard several assumptions and evaluations of the football game, but the biggest thing was that I thought they executed very well, so we had trouble with them, defensively,†stated Stewart. “We had two or three breakdowns, but you’ve just got to keep playing because that happens in football.â€

The coach then broke down the fact they knew the potency of Livingston’s offense and that it could be a problem for their defense. After all, unlike one unruly fan that kept harping at the top of his lungs bashing Dayton’s defense, this staff of coaches spend their entire Saturdays and Sundays watching film of upcoming opponents and breaking down each play. When asked if he heard this “fan†Stewart made no bones about fans like that, but rather than having a desire to say anything and give the guy any recognition, Stewart just related that he had a $10 bill in his pocket and if that fan would come get it, he’d give it to him to sit on the other side of the stadium this Friday night, because he’s not a true Bronco.

“We’ve got some great fans and there’s always one yahoo,†stated Stewart. There’s an old saying that if you’re not for us, then you’re against us and that’s all that needs to be said about that.â€

Not wanting to spend an ounce more of time on the subject, Stewart continued to discuss the game.

“We played hard,†Stewart related. “We knew that they couldn’t stop us going into the game; we just didn’t know how many times we could stop them. We had a couple of breakdowns in crucial points, but the whole thing is we won the football game and that’s what you try to do.â€

The coach then moved on to talk some about his offense. After all, Dayton went toe-to-toe on Livingston in rushing with 31 carries for 260 yards (8.39 per carry) to their 284 yards on 54 carries (5.26 per carry). Dayton led in first downs, 21-19, but the overwhelming difference was in the passing game where Dayton carried a 72.73 completion percentage (16-of-22) for 186 yards compared to 46 total yards by the Lions on a two-of-five passing effort.

“We thought Cameron LaCour just had a fantastic game last night,†exclaimed Stewart. “We all know Cody (Green) and A.J. (Dugat) had their great games, but Cameron LaCour had seven carries for 117 yards. Now, the fans all see it when he’s running, but only those that truly know the game can understand that he also did a great job of blocking when he didn’t have the football and that’s what makes a complete football player. Then, offensively, our offense dominated and did everything they were supposed to do.â€

The coach broke down the defensive pitfalls that contributed to the Broncos allowing Livingston to move the ball on them the way they did.

“Defensively, they’re big and we’re not a very big defensive team coming up in there,†stated the Bronco boss. “Now, we’ve got a couple of kids that have got to learn that sometimes you’ve got to get your nose bloodied and they didn’t do it against Livingston. Also, to be blunt, we’ve got to get better play out of our linebackers – our inside backers have got to play better ball. We’ve got to key and stay keyed and be tough. We also had several missed tackles and you can’t have that.â€

The thing about underdogs, and there’s no doubt Livingston came into the game as the underdog, but what’s dangerous about them is when they get momentum and it’s hard to turn. However, the bottom line is who at the end of the game is going on and who’s not.

The coach then gave kudos to those who did do what was needed against the Lions.

“It’s hard to see sometimes, but our front three on defense played very well last night,†Stewart began. “Dylan Bethea only had two busts all night and the sad thing is everybody saw those two busts, but the kid had 19 tackles. He did a really good job with having the most tackles we’ve had by a safety in a ball game. Tony Hill had an exemplary game at nose tackle. Our front T-N-T (tackle-nose-tackle) was the best unit on defense, Aaron Jenkins, Tony Hill and Xavier Edwards.â€

Make no mistake about it, after getting handed a 43-0 pasting by the Broncos in last year’s third-round playoff game, Livingston was all fired up from beginning to near the end of the contest. They came out and played to win.

“They got hot,†Stewart began. “They’re high school kids, they got hot and were on a mission and did good, but look, we won the game. We played pretty good, too, and any yahoo who doesn’t think we did has his head in the sand or needs to get back out in the desert, walk around some more and get some water, because we won the game and they’re a good football team – co-champions of that other district.â€

The coach then put the wraps on the bi-district win.

“I was proud of our kids and have no problems with them,†stated Stewart. “We had two or three breakdowns, but that’s high school ball. Our kids take hard coaching and get after it. They don’t make excuses and we’re not making any, either. It was a good ball game. We’re still playing, but they got the basketballs out and that’s the bottom line difference.â€

Dylan Bethea, as was stated, led the defense in tackles, but others were also in double digits for total tackles. Tony Hill was second with 10 solos and four assists for 14 with Jordan Baxter right behind him with seven solos and four assist for 11 tackles. Just off the double-digit pace was N.L. Hines

One oddity about this game, in fact the last two games that was perplexing to the Bronco boss was that it was the second game Dayton has played where the opposing team had not one penalty. At issue was a play during Livingston’s drive after Dayton took the lead and with time running out, the Lion’s went to their passing game. On the long pass play that set up their go-ahead (at the time) touchdown was Dayton’s dilemma of trying to figure out who to cover.

“We didn’t know who to cover because three linemen were downfield,†stated Stewart. “We didn’t know whether to cover those three linemen or those four receivers.â€

The win put the Broncos a step closer to getting a state title, but it was only a step as this coach and staff will only take things one game at a time.

[rollinac]

I've got to agree with the Bronco Boss on that play.  #52 was actually 30 yards downfield and threw a blindside block on AJ Dugat while the ball was in the air at the 42 yard line RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD.  I still find it hard to believe that a team can run the ball 52 times and not have a holding call.

[Classof72]

Let's face it- Bronco fans are spoiled. We expect the offense to score 50-60 points every game and we expect the defense to pitch a shutout.

Livingston knew what they had to do to win and they almost did it. They just didn't have quite enough horsepower at the end of the game to pull it off. They deserve a lot of credit.

To that small group of Dayton fans who find it necessary to sing that silly "NA NA NA NA, Hey Hey Hey, Goodbye" song when the game is in hand, you need to realize that the team we just played is composed of teenaged boys just like the ones on our team. They came out and played to the best of their ability and deserve way more respect than you are giving them. They also have mothers, fathers, grandparents, etc. who want to see them win just as much as we want to see our team win. You can be happy for your team without showing disrespect for the other team.

[Hawkeye]

Let's face it- Bronco fans are spoiled. We expect the offense to score 50-60 points every game and we expect the defense to pitch a shutout.

Livingston knew what they had to do to win and they almost did it. They just didn't have quite enough horsepower at the end of the game to pull it off. They deserve a lot of credit.

To that small group of Dayton fans who find it necessary to sing that silly "NA NA NA NA, Hey Hey Hey, Goodbye" song when the game is in hand, you need to realize that the team we just played is composed of teenaged boys just like the ones on our team. They came out and played to the best of their ability and deserve way more respect than you are giving them. They also have mothers, fathers, grandparents, etc. who want to see them win just as much as we want to see our team win. You can be happy for your team without showing disrespect for the other team.

Amen on that 72. I was sitting right above that group of idiots and wanted to cover my face in embarrasment. There's always a few in the crowd now aint there.

[dayton 2001]

Let's face it- Bronco fans are spoiled. We expect the offense to score 50-60 points every game and we expect the defense to pitch a shutout.

Livingston knew what they had to do to win and they almost did it. They just didn't have quite enough horsepower at the end of the game to pull it off. They deserve a lot of credit.

To that small group of Dayton fans who find it necessary to sing that silly "NA NA NA NA, Hey Hey Hey, Goodbye" song when the game is in hand, you need to realize that the team we just played is composed of teenaged boys just like the ones on our team. They came out and played to the best of their ability and deserve way more respect than you are giving them. They also have mothers, fathers, grandparents, etc. who want to see them win just as much as we want to see our team win. You can be happy for your team without showing disrespect for the other team.

Exactly how I feel great quote

[rollinac]

You're probably right that we are spoiled but regardless of whether we approve or not those fans have the right to voice their opinion regardless of what it is because they paid the price of admission.  If they overdo it then they get escorted out...they won't escort you out for lack of class.

[lsutiger]

classof72, i agree with u 100% im pulling for the broncos in the playoffs and i would hate for karma to pay them a visit

[jayhawk]

Nothing but good karma my friend ! Dayton's football program is a class act thats why we took a knee in the last two games ----go Bronco's--