Jayhawk Conference Football Media Day: Dodge Picked 4th, Garden 5th

Wichita, KS (westernkansasnews.com) 2015 marks a season of new beginnings for both the Garden City and Dodge City Community College football teams as each coach assessed their team’s chances for a successful season at the Jayhawk Conference Media Day from Newman University.

For Dodge City third year head coach Gary Thomas his first two seasons have seen their highs and lows.  Two years ago Thomas took a winless team in 2012 and finished with a 7-4 record.  Last year the team fell to a 3-8 mark.  Thomas says the difference was the way his team played down the stretch.

Thomas is confident if his players can stay out of the training room, there’s a chance they can play well.

Quarterback Deondre Ford has graduated from the program after two years and has a chance to be the starter at KU.  Thomas is confident the quarterback position for this year’s squad is in good hands.

The Conquistadors start with back to back road games traveling to Ellsworth for the season opener in Iowa Fall August 27, followed by a game with rival Garden City.

For Garden City they are developing a roster under first year head coach Jeff Sims.  The Broncbusters went 4-7 last year and when Matt Miller was let go as head coach, school administrators turned to Sims a former head coach at Fort Scott. 

Sims knows his team has talent, but what they lack is experience.

It remains to be seen how their inexperience will affect the young Broncbusters early in the season.  Still the coaches gave Sims the benefit of the doubt and picked his team to finish in a fifth place tie with their first game opponent Highland.

Predicted Order of Finish

1-Hutchinson

2-Coffeyville

3-Butler

4-Dodge City

5 (tie)- Garden City

5 (tie) Highland

7-Fort Scott

8-Independence