Upset-Determined Broncbusters Host No. 4 Snow in Home Finale
Garden City Community College football team hosted Iowa Western Community College on Saturday, September 9, 2023 at Broncbuster Stadium in Garden City, Kan. Photo Credits; Adam Shrimplin, Shrimplin Photography
GARDEN CITY, KS. – Tom Minnick has faced countless times over his lengthy coaching career, boasting 144 wins and dominant bowl seasons at both Arizona Western and Garden City.
The one team that’s always given him trouble? Snow College. One of the last remaining powerhouses in the west, the Badgers held a 5-5 record against Minnick during his tenure with the Matadors.
Minnick’s yet to beat Snow during his five seasons with the Broncbusters, but knows that if his team comes together the way they have over their last three games, Saturday can be different.
The Garden City Broncbusters close their 2023 home schedule this Saturday, as they welcome the No. 4 Snow Badgers to Broncbuster Stadium. It’s an opponent that Garden City hasn’t been able to topple yet, and a win could shake up the NJCAA pyramid going into the final week of the season.
Despite a poor start to the season, Garden City’s (4-5, 2-3 KJCCC) put things together in the ladder half. Impressive results against Independence, Hutchinson, and, most recently, Ellsworth, has proven to the players that when they work together, they can compete with anybody in JUCO.
“This team is good when they want to play together,” Minnick said. “Getting them to help each other up, be on each other’s sides when they make big plays. They’ve played well the last couple games.”
Last week’s game saw the Broncbusters pitch their second shutout of the season, limiting the Ellsworth Panthers to just nine total yards. GCCC recorded six sacks in the victory, holding the Panthers to negative rushing yards.
The Broncbusters gave up just one first down that wasn’t self-inflicted, coming on Ellsworth’s opening drive. Most impressively, Garden City’s defense forced three straight interceptions in the contest, with Pierre Kemeni, B.J. Blake, and Daniel Martin all picking off Panthers’ quarterback, Brycen Davis.
“We wanted to keep total yards under 100,” defensive coordinator Chenelle Jones said. “The goal was set real high, and the only way they were going to have a chance to move the ball by penalties or mistakes. If you put that goal to them and hold it all week, that’s how we’re trying to roll into this week.”
Offensively, Fred Davis moved the ball for a career-high 146 yards and three touchdowns. The redshirt sophomore earned KJCCC Offensive Player of the Week honors, the second Broncbuster to attain that this season.
The ground game had struggled for GCCC in the last couple of weeks, and was a huge sign of encouragement going into a tough matchup.
“Fred Davis ran the ball hard,” Minnick said. “He’s a tough competitor.”
Garden City will face a stout Snow (7-2) run game this week, with duo Spencer Lambert and A.J. Tillman combining for over 1,000 yards on the season.
The true test will be stopping sophomore quarterback Donovan Smith. The Badgers’ signal-caller has thrown for eight touchdowns in his last two games, while not turning the ball over in the last five appearances.
Coverage from Broncbuster Stadium begins at 10:30 A.M. with The American Implement Pregame Show on KWKR 99.9 ‘The Rock’. Kickoff between the Badgers and Broncbusters is scheduled for 11:00.
