Broncos score 2 kick-return touchdowns, start playoffs with beatdown of rival Shelley

BLACKFOOT — The Blackfoot Broncos jumped out to a 14-0 lead on a touchdown pass to Keaton Shoaf and a four-yard touchdown run by Parker Wright. The Shelley Russets answered late in the second quarter with a short touchdown run to make it 14-7 at halftime.

Shelley’s Cooper Pascoe returned the second-half kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown, tying the game at 14. Just 12 seconds later, Shoaf answered with a kickoff return touchdown of his own to put the Broncos back ahead 21-14.

Blackfoot recorded a safety on a mishandled punt snap to extend its lead to 23-14. Blackfoot’s Briggs Esplin returned the ensuing kick for a touchdown and, on the next drive, added a 39-yard touchdown run, giving the Broncos a 37-14 lead after three quarters.

Wright scored the last touchdown of the game with a 34-yard run in the fourth quarter with 9:27 left as Blackfoot finished the game with 29 unanswered points for a 43-14 win in the opening round of the Idaho High School Football State Championships.