Broncbusters Football Carries Exciting Win to No. 1 Hutchinson
Garden City Community College football team played on the road vs Independence Community College on Saturday, October 7, 2023 at Emmot Field in Independence, Kan. The Busters defeated the Pirates 27 - 23. Photo Credits; Adam Shrimplin, Garden City Community College.
GARDEN CITY, KS. – Football can be a funny game.
One moment, a team faces a 17-point deficit, staring down a third straight defeat. A few passes later, the day’s backup quarterback produces his best performance of the season, and the team wins their best game of the season.
That was Garden City two weeks ago. Now, off a bye week, the question that fifth-year head coach Tom Minnick has been waiting for all season will be answered.
Can the Broncbusters compete with the best?
The Garden City Broncbusters face off with the unbeaten No. 1 Hutchinson Blue Dragons from Gowans Stadium in Hutchinson on Saturday. It’s a matchup of the two winningest teams in the Kansas Jayhawk Conference over the last five seasons, and two of the staples of the NJCAA.
The Broncbusters (3-4, 2-2 KJCCC) had their prayers answered in their last road contest at Independence. Despite trailing by 17 points, twice, in their week seven matchup, quarterback Jalen Daniels produced three touchdown drives off the bench, giving GCCC a 27-23 victory.
“We finally made some plays for some big touchdowns,” Minnick said. “We’d been missing that all year, and finally, the offense came through and made some plays.”
The momentum shift came at the start of the second half, when returning linebacker Gyriece Goodman returned a forced fumble 20 yards for a touchdown, the first of his career. The ball rolled perfectly to him, scooping and scoring untouched on the play.
It’s fitting; everything rolled Goodman’s way. Since the win at Indy, Goodman has received six offers from Division I programs. In October alone, Goodman’s now received 11 offers – including 10 FBS programs – for his stellar play on the field.
“He’s a guy who you would recommend to everybody,” Minnick said. “He’s a great kid. He does everything right, he’s a role model. He deserves everything he’s getting, and I’m proud of him.”
Goodman isn’t the only one who had something to celebrate during the bye. Wide receiver Demond Demas received the first official offer for a 2023 Broncbuster from a ‘Power Five’ program, with Nebraska pitching to bring Demas back to the top ranks of college football.
Demas, who has led Garden City in receiving yards in each of his last four appearances, will suit up for Saturday’s game.
“He’s smart. That’s the main reason Nebraska [offered] him,” Minnick said. “Knowing what to do in certain situations, when you talk to him and let him explain everything to you. That’s the reason he got that offer, and he should have more.”
A chance to get more will be this game. Hutchinson (6-0, 3-0 KJCCC) has held the top spot in the NJCAA since week one, they’re averaging a nation-best 44.5 points per game, and their average margin of victory is nearly 37 points.
It’s really good, there’s no way around it. Garden City knew Hutchinson was going to be one of the powerhouses of the Jayhawk Conference this season, but the question always lingered; ‘how well can we play against them?’
“You always want to aim yourself at the team that’s at the top; they’re at the top,” Minnick said. “It’s just getting them to play, and I think they see that. We have the same players they have, that’s what we recruited; to win against them.”
There’s magnitude for everyone going into this game. The goal is simple; win.
Coverage on KWKR 99.9 ‘The Rock’ begins at 12:30 P.M. with the American Implement Pregame Show, live from Gowans Stadium. Kickoff between the Broncbusters and Blue Dragons is scheduled for 1:00 P.M.
