Strong first half and a potent passing attack propel Garden City to win over Ulysses

Garden City, Kansas (WesternKansasNews.Com) – The Buffaloes (5-1) (1-1) added something different to their offensive attack Friday night vs. the Ulysses Tigers (1-5) (1-2) as they doubled their total of passing touchdowns from three to six in a 49-6 victory. In fact, the air attack got going early on the third play of the game Caleb Wiese delivered a 56-yard strike to Jerry Arteaga and he raced into the endzone. The Buffaloes got started from there and never looked back.

This was the start that head coach Brian Hill had been preaching and hoping from his team the last two weeks and his team came ready for homecoming. After stopping the Tigers on a 4th and 2 try from the 2-yard line of Garden City, they drove the ball 98 yards down to the field that was capped off by a Zack Keosengphet 1-yard touchdown run. It was Keosengphets 12th score of the season as he leads the team in that category.

Later in the 2nd quarter, Jerry Arteaga who already owned a receiving touchdown found the endzone with his legs, dancing for a 19-yard score that would extend the Buffalo’s lead to 21 after a successful Issac Rivera PAT. “I’m so proud of Jerry and his growth this season, he has really grown and committed himself to football and you’re seeing that week in and week out.” said coach Hill after Arteaga’s impressive performance he finished with 84 yards on the ground and a touchdown as well as 94 yards through the air and another score.

The Garden City defense was strong in the 2nd half making it back-to-back games in which they shut the opposing team out. First with Liberal last week in a WAC win and now the Tigers. “Defensively we just keep getting better and it’s not the same guys week in and week out which makes it even more exciting, that’s a credit to coach (Justin) Reich and what they do each week,” said Hill.

Two Buffaloes would add their first career touchdowns first it was Emilio Zundt who corraled a great back shoulder catch with 34 seconds left in the first half. Then it was Evan Finch’s turn as quarterback Caleb Wiese made a great play to escape pressure and deliver a strike to Evan Finch in the back of the endzone. “Coming into tonight we saw the way they played coverage down the field and felt like we would have an opportunity to take advantage in our passing game and that’s exactly what we were able to do,” Hill added.

Of other notable news from the game, it was career win number 70 for Brian Hill now in his 13th season at Garden City and his team matched his best start since 2017 when they started (5-1).

Garden City will face rival Dodge City next Saturday night at 6 pm from Riverfront Stadium in Wichita. This will mark the 85th edition of the game as Garden City will look to regain the Hatchet. That game will be simulcasted on the WKBC networks with the Garden City coverage on 99.9 The Rock with Baylen Hite and Aaron Elam. The Dodge City coverage will be on Z98.1 with Derek Decker both pregames will begin at 5:30 pm.