Gameday Magazine Week 11 by gcccks6

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G A M E D A Y

1 NATIONAL TITLE • 12 JAYHAWK CHAMPIONSHIPS • 24 BOWL APPEARANCES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

BR NCBUSTER GAME 10 • HUTCHINSON • NOV. 2, 2019 • 1 P.M. • BRONCBUSTER STADIUM • GARDEN CITY, KS

WHAT’S INSIDE 4 TODAY’S GAME 7 BREAKING IT DOWN BROADCAST INFORMATION 8 4 10 PLAYER SPOTLIGHT - JADON HAYES 14 BOARD OF TRUSTEES 15 THE PRESIDENT 17 DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS HEAD COACH TOM MINNICK 18 18 22 ASSISTANT COACHES 28 THE CASE FOR TWO LOSSES 36 SEASON SAVER 45 STARTING LINEUPS 48 48 CRUSH IT 51 SPOTLIGHT - JALEAH BELLANY

News and notes about today’s game between Garden City and Hutchinson Taking a deeper look at the statistical comparisons .

Where can you listen and watch Broncbuster football.

According to his coach, he has the best field vision he’s ever seen. And that’s saying a lot. Meet the governing body of Garden City Community College.

Dr. Ryan Ruda is the 7th President in the history of the school.

Greg McVey begins his first year as Director of Athletics.

Minnick enters year one, after 11 seasons at Arizona Western.

Meet the staff that Tom Minnick has assembled.

With wins in their final two games, Garden City could make a strong case that they should be the first two-loss team to play for the title. Trailing late in the fourth quarter in their 2018 showdown with Hutchinson, David Moore saved Garden City’s season with his arm. Meet the players who are starting in today’s game.

Garden City thoroughly beat Coffeyville, using a suffocating defense that had the Red Ravens tapping out early.

CREDITS LAYOUT & DESIGN Mike Pilosof

PHOTOGRAPHERS Adam Shrimplin

COVER DESIGN

WRITERS

Mike Pilosof

ON THE COVER

PRINTING

Paul Finau (RG), Matthan Hatchie (C), Julian Clark (RT)

ATHLETIC WEBSITE gobroncbusters.com /GCCCSportsbuster @gccc_fball

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The 5’4 guard is ready to make a splash in her sophomore season.

1 NATIONAL TITLE • 12 JAYHAWK CHAMPIONSHIPS • 24 BOWL APPEARANCES

GAME PREVIEW

THE SHOWDOWN Garden City Head Coach Tom Minnick was not shy when he was asked to breakdown Hutchinson during Monday’s Broncbuster Athletic Association Luncheon. “They have dudes at every position,” he said. “They may be the most talented team in the country.” Truth be told, the Blue Dragons have never had problems bringing in talent. Since Rion Rhoades replaced Craig Jersild in Dec., 2006, his recruiting classes have always been towards the top of the nation. Just consider some of the talent that’s rolled through Gowan’s Stadium:

running back Alvin Kamara, who arrived on campus in 2014 as a transfer from Alabama to take the Jayhawk Conference by storm. How about wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, who was a first-team, NJCAA All-American in 2011 and a first-round draft pick of the Minnesota Vikings just two years later. This year’s team is no exception. Every July when the coaches gather in Wichita to vote on the Jayhawk Preseason poll, there’s always a sense of who the big man in the room is. Former Independence Coach Jason Brown pretended it was him for the previous two years, playing television star as the cameras followed his every move. Little did anyone know that he would become the first coach to win a share of the conference title one year before becoming the first in history to finish last the following season. Big man or big myth? Before that, Troy Morrell, the NJCAA Hall of Famer and former Butler head man, owned that distinction for more than two decades, leading the Grizzlies to three National titles. But once Butler fell from the national spotlight, there have been two programs who have garnered much of the attention each summer: Garden City and Hutchinson.

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GETTING OVER THE HUMP

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When Garden City was picked sixth in the Jayhawk preseason coach’s poll in 2016, there weren’t many that circled their Sept. 17 trip to Gowan’s Stadium as a must watch. But the Broncbusters had deviated from the script, grabbing wins over Ellsworth, Highland and Independence, setting up a matchup of two unbeatens.

Future NFL first-round pick Mike Hughes returned a punt 83 yards for a touchdown, BJ Blount had a 34-yard pick 6, and Luke Herring kicked the go-ahead field goal with 7:19 to play in the third, lifting the Broncbusters to a 16-14 win over the sixthranked Blue Dragons. Garden City snapped an eight-game losing streak to Hutchinson and rolled to their first-ever National title. The Blue Dragons meantime lost six of their final nine games to finish 5-6.

Hutchinson coach Rion Rhoades aims to be the perfect poker player. He never shows his hand, even if hes bluffing. But even he had to know something was up this time around.

2019 BRONCBUSTER FOOTBALL

1 NATIONAL TITLE • 12 JAYHAWK CHAMPIONSHIPS • 24 BOWL APPEARANCES

GAME PREVIEW

JAYHAWK TIDBITS JAYHAWK STANDINGS Team

Conf

OVR

Home

Away

Neutral

Hutchinson

5-1

8-1

5-0

3-1

0-0

Garden City

4-1

7-2

3-2

4-0

0-0

Butler

4-2

8-2

6-0

2-2

0-0

Independence

4-2

5-3

2-1

3-2

0-0

Fort Scott

3-3

4-4

3-2

1-2

0-0

Highland

3-3

5-3

3-1

2-2

0-0

Coffeyville

1-6

2-8

1-4

0-0

Dodge City

0-6

0-9

0-4

0-5

0-0

THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE Highland at Independence

1 p.m.

Butler at Iowa Western

1 p.m.

Hutchinson at Garden City

1 p.m.

Iowa Central at Fort Scott

1 p.m.

Ellsworth at Coffeyville

7 p.m.

RUSHING LEADERS Out of every team Rhoades has put together, his 2019 Blue Dragons may be the most talented as a whole. On Sept. 3, Hutchinson took over the No. 1 ranking for the first time in program history. Four days later, they rolled into Council Bluffs and beat preseason No. 2 Iowa Western 34-27; their first-ever victory in Reiver land. Then with the rest of the nation watching, Hutchinson sprinted to an early 21-0 lead over second-ranked Butler before holding on for an eight-point win. “Hutchinson looks the part,” Minnick said. “They’ve got talent at every position. But it’s their defensive line that really separates them.” The numbers back that up. The Blue Dragons enter their tilt with Garden City ninth in total defense. They’re allowing just 95 yards per game on the ground, which sets up a matchup between arguably one of the best run defenses vs. one of the best rushing attacks in the country (the Broncbusters are ranked third in yards per game). Hutchinson’s offense isn’t too shabby either. Led by Mark Wright, who transferred from Ellsworth following last season, the Blue Dragons have added a unique dimension to their up-tempo attack. They have a legitimate dual-threat quarterback who has thrown for 1,474 yards and 15 touchdowns while running for nearly 500 and six scores. He’s been named the Jayhawk Confer-

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ence Player of the Week twice and took home National honors on Sept. 28. Couple that with a backfield of Tennessee-transfer Trey Coleman and North Carolina State bounce back Erin Collins, who missed most of last year with an injury, and Hutchinson fully expects to match Garden City’s firepower. Keep this in mind as well, while the Broncbusters have won two out of the last three meetings, they haven’t beaten Hutchinson at home since 2007 (Rhoades’ first year). That’s a long time. And not that anyone needs a reminder of this but when the Blue Dragons rolled into Broncbuster Stadium in 2015, they produced a record-setting four 100yard rushers. They also escaped with a dramatic three-point victory in 2017 thanks to Jeffmario Brown, who harrassed Terry Wilson in the final seconds. So what’s in store this time around?

Player Brock Sturges

Team

Car.

Yards

Y/G

BUT

203

1066

106.6

Ramon Jefferson

GCCC

120

868

96.4

Marco Lee

COFF

149

719

71.9

Adarius Thomas

BUT

565

62.8

GCCC

112

556

61.8

Jadon Hayes

PASSING LEADERS Player

Team

Cm.

Att.

Yards

Nate Cox

GCCC

104

195

1602

J. Cambridge

HIGH

136

248

1486

Mark Wright

HUT

111

184

1474

Steven Frank

BUT

131

1094

Stephon Brown

INDY

125

970

RECEIVING LEADERS Player

Team

Rec.

Yards

Y/G

FSC

775

96.9

George Qualls

BUT

627

62.7

Bailey-Brown

DCCC

554

69.3

Mitchell Tinsley

HUT

510

63.8

MJ Link

GCCC

503

55.9

John Jiles

2016 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

1 NATIONAL TITLE • 12 JAYHAWK CHAMPIONSHIPS • 24 BOWL APPEARANCES

BREAKING IT DOWN GARDEN CITY

POLLS

Category

COFF

Opp.

Total Offense

3945

3352

Plays

631

576

Yards/Game

438.3

234.9

Rushing Yards/Game

249.8

95.1

Passing Yards/Game

188.6

139.8

46.4

15.2

Points/Game Penalties

68-634

Turnovers

Third-Down Conversion % Time of Possession

31:45

28:15

SCORING BY QUARTERS Team

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Tot

Hutchinson

141

109

104

418

Opponents

137

RUSHING LEADERS Player

Car.

Yards

Avg.

Y/G

Mark Wright

498

5.1

62.3

LG 66

Kendall Cross

427

5.1

47.7

PASSING LEADERS Player

Att

YDS

Int

Mark Wright

111

184

1474

RECEIVING LEADERS

Player

Rec

YDS

Avg

Y/G

Player

Rec

YDS

Avg

Y/G

MJ Link

503

20.1

55.9

M. Tinsley

510

14.6

63.8

T. Johnson

326

17.2

36.2

Cortes Braham

206

14.7

34.3

RESULTS & SCHEDULE Date

Opponent

8-24

RESULTS & SCHEDULE

W-L

Score

Date

Opponent

W-L

Score

#6 Snow

30-27

8-22

at Ellsworth

41-16

8-31

at Dodge City

42-22

8-31

Independence

31-21

9-7

Ellsworth

61-0

9-7

at Iowa Western

34-27

9-14

Independence

31-28

9-14

at Fort Scott

27-7

9-21

at #15 Iowa Western

28-14

9-28

Butler

35-27

9-28

#18 Fort Scott

42-16

10-5

at Highland

29-27

10-5

at Iowa Central

43-27

10-12

Coffeyville

49-7

10-19

at #12 Highland

37-7

10-19

Dodge City

85-3

10-26

Coffeyville

58-14

10-26

Rezolution Prep

89-0

11-2

Hutchinson

11-2

at Garden City

11-9

at Butler

11-9

at Iowa Central

DJ MCCULOUGH

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2016 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

1 NATIONAL TITLE • 12 JAYHAWK CHAMPIONSHIPS • 24 BOWL APPEARANCES

RADIO & STREAMING

BRONCBUSTER RADIO BROADCASTS All Garden City radio broadcasts, home and away, with Mike Pilosof calling the play-by-play and John Ford providing color analysis, can be heard locally and exclusively in Garden City on 99.9 FM ESPN Radio. The station has been the flagship for the Broncbusters since 2015. Garden City games can be heard on many different platforms. If you want to listen on your computer, you can log on to gobroncbusters.com, go to the football page and click on audio. You can also go directly to westernkansasnews.com/kwkr. On your mobile device, you can download the free 999 ESPN app from the apple app store or Google play on Android. In addition, you can download the free TuneIn app and search for KWKR. Game Broadcasts All broadcasts of Broncbuster football begin 30 minutes prior to kickoff with the pregame show. The segment includes interviews with both

After graduation, he worked in Woodward, Okla. for five years and Weatherford Okla. for one. In 2013, he was hired as the sports director at the Western Kansas Broadcast Center in Garden City. Then in 2016, he began working as the part-time sports information director at Garden City Community College. His wife Amber is a registered nurse at Siena Medical Center in Garden City. They have four children: Ryan (14), Gavin (14), Connor (12) and Benjamin (10). John Ford has been a fixture in Garden City since 1982. He began his coaching career at the same time, partnering up with Bill Wilson to launch the Garden City High School baseball program. From there, Ford went on to coach basketball before starting the softball program at the high school in 1994. He won 239 games in 19 seasons including four regional titles and two conference championships. The field at Tangeman Sports Complex is named in his honor. John has also served as the public address announcer for the high school since 1996 and began calling college games in 2015. John and his wife Sharon have four kids: J.J. (32)-was a starting tight end for Garden City from 2005-2006 and an academic All-American... Katie (30), Kelli (26) and Leslie (24).

BRONCBUSTER VIDEO STREAMING Mike Pilosof Play-by-Play

All home football games are streamed on the Broncbusters you tube channel. Just log on to gobroncbusters.com and scroll down to the you tube section on the home page.

John Ford Color Analyst

coaches, players and a game recap from the week before. The Domino’s postgame report follows with full-game highlights, coaches and player interviews as well as a full-game recap. Game Archives All football games are archived. To listen to any past games, you can log on to gobroncbusters.com, go to the football page and click on audio at the end of each broadcast. You can also go directly to westernkansasnews.com/gccc-sports-streaming. All archived audio broadcasts are commercial free and can be listened to on your computer or mobile device. Broncbuster Coach’s Show Hear from Head Coach Tom Minnick and certain players each Thursday night during the Broncbuster Coach’s Show at Old Chicago in Garden City. The show airs from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. exclusively on 99.9 FM ESPN and is hosted by C.D. DeSalvo. About the broadcasters Mike Pilosof has served as the radio voice of the Broncbusters for the past seven seasons. Before that, he was the voice of both the college and the high school before moving into his new full-time roll as sports information director at Garden City Community College. Mike graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Media Studies in 2007.

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HAYES JADON

BY MIKE PILOSOF

AT 5-10, 180 LBS, JADON HAYES IS HARDLY AN IMPOSING SPECIMEN. BUT DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T LET HIS PHYSICAL STATURE FOOL YOU. THIS GUY IS DANGEROUS.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT

MAKING YOU MISS

1 NATIONAL TITLE • 12 JAYHAWK CHAMPIONSHIPS • 24 BOWL APPEARANCES

JADON HAYES

ize alone doesn’t do Jadon Hayes any justice. He’s listed at 5’10, 180 lbs. And to the naked eye, Garden City was very generous in jotting down his attributes. In case you haven’t noticed, there are plenty of small running backs roaming around all over the country. Danny Woodhead, all 5-7 of him, turned a fledgling college career at Chadron State into a decade-long NFL odyssey that included an appearance in Super Bowl XLVI with the New England Patriots. How about Kansas’s finest Darren Sproles, who starred at Olathe North. And he made Woodhead seem like a giant, standing 5-5 and 185 lbs. soaking wet. But that didn’t stop him from stomping on Garden City High School’s hearts in the 1999 6A State Championship Game before

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT

becoming an All-American at Kansas State and an All-Pro in the NFL with the San Diego Chargers, New Orleans Saints and Philadelphia Eagles. Hayes already has a leg up on both of them, well according to the roster details. But forget his size. Jadon Hayes will run you over, no matter what the cost.

Full Name Major Jersey Position Height Weight Hometown Date of Birth

Jadon Hayes Undecided #5 Running Back 5’10 180 Huntington, WV July 21, 2000

“He has the best vision of any running back I’ve ever coached,” Garden City Head Coach Tom Minnick said. That’s high praise from a guy who’s had his fair share of great backs, like Damien Williams, the 2011 NJCAA Offensive player of the year that played at Oklahoma and now with the Kansas City Chiefs. And Greg Bell, who transferred from Arizona Western to Nebraska and now San Diego State. Hayes carries with him a little bit of both of those guys. He’s as shifty as they come, and his low-center of gravity makes it seem like he’s

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2016 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

running under water. But don’t sleep on his power, something he uses quite deceptively. In high school, Hayes ran for 2,321 yards and 36 touchdowns, winning the Curt Warner award for the state’s best running back. Incredibly, he had eight games where he rushed for 150 or more yards and two in which he punched his ticket for six five times.

But there is something that drives Hayes more than any doubt about his size could. It’s something so deep; something that rocked his core as a prep star growing up in Huntington, WV. During a record-breaking senior season, Hayes got a call that no kid should ever get. It was on a gameday where he found out that his dad had

suffered a massive heart attack. After spending all day at the hospital, Hayes played that night, rushing for 196 yards in a 35-21 win over Parkersburg. Seven days later, with tears in his eyes, he ran for 237 yards and two touchdowns in a 24-21 victory over Capital. Though his father made it out of the hospital, he passed away later that year.

“This is all for him,” Hayes said. “I play for him. Everything that I do is for him.” After his senior season, Hayes signed with Tom Minnick at Arizona Western, playing in 11 games and totaling 794 yards on 121 carries with six touchdowns. He averaged 6.2 yards per tote and took a season-high 27 hand-offs vs. Lackawanna in the 2018 El Toro Bowl. He was twice named the WSFL Player of the Week. Once the 2018 campaign ended, Arizona Western folded its’ football program. And while Hayes had plenty of suitors, his choice was clear. “I had other places I could have gone, but I know what this coaching staff is all about,” Hayes said. So Hayes landed in Garden City, where he is currently second in the nation with 13 rushing touchdowns. But with two games remaining, this super sophomore is just scratching the surface. And he’ll run you over to get there.

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1 NATIONAL TITLE • 12 JAYHAWK CHAMPIONSHIPS • 24 BOWL APPEARANCES

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

DR. BLAKE WASINGER CHAIR

JEFF CRIST KACCT REP

STEVE MARTINEZ FCEDC REP

TERRI WORF VICE CHAIR

LEONARD HITZ MEMBER

MERILYN DOUGLASS MEMBER

GARDEN CITY COMMUNITY COLLEGE IS GOVERNED BY A SIX-MEMBER BOARD OF TRUSTEES, ALL OF WHOM WERE ELECTED TO THEIR CHAIR. THE COLLEGE IS ACCREDITED BY THE HIGHER LEARNING COMMISSION.

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2019 BRONCBUSTER FOOTBALL

1 NATIONAL TITLE • 12 JAYHAWK CHAMPIONSHIPS • 24 BOWL APPEARANCES

THE PRESIDENT dr. ryan ruda

7TH PRESIDENT, GARDEN CITY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

he board of trustees unanimously approved, on Feb. 12, 2019, Dr. Ryan Ruda as the seventh President of Garden City Community College.

Before taking on the lead roll, Ruda served as the interim President since the summer of 2018. Dr. Ruda has been a part of Garden City Community College for more than two decades, most recently serving as the vice president of instruction and student services. He began his tenure as a counselor before being named Director of Counseling in 2003. From there, Dr. Ruda held numerous leadership roles on campus including Athletic Director. Dr. Ruda is also very active in our Southwest Kansas community, where he volunteers on the United School District 363 Holcomb school board and the Board of the Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce. He participates in the Garden City Rotary Club and sits as an exofficio member of the Garden City Community College Endowment Association Board. Dr. Ruda completed his Doctorate in Community College Leadership through the Rouche Graduate Center at National American University in 2018. He also earned a Master of Science in Counseling and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, both at Fort Hays State University.

Dr. Ruda and his wife, Amanda, have three daughters in middle and high school—Madi, Nicole, and Malia, all of whom attend school in Holcomb. When Dr. Ruda entered the Presidential role at Garden City Community College, he brought with him a renewed focus on student-centered and value driven decision making at the faculty, staff, and administrative levels. Dr. Ruda himself exemplifies the “BroncBUSTER” values, as they are called on campus. He is a servant leader, is a very relatable individual, and his passion for student success permeates the entire campus at GCCC.

the ruda family

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2016 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

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ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

GREG MCVEY

justin and dalton

avery

DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS

reg McVey begins his first season as the Director of Athletics at Garden City Community College.

A native of Indianapolis, Indiana, Greg McVey comes to Garden City Community College from the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois where he led the Chaparrals 18 intercollegiate athletic programs as the Director of Athletics and Recreation. While there, he was able to lead the department through the successful completion of a yearlong NJCAA probation period that was levied upon the department prior to his arrival on campus in July of 2018. Additionally, he led several initiatives including; successfully securing funding to create a full-time Sports Information Coordinator position and the Student-Athlete Enrichment Coordinator. The department also hosted the 2018 Red Grange Bowl sponsored by the NJCAA that crowns the football national champion on a yearly basis for the non-scholarship football playing institutions. McVey also served as the NATYCAA District 4 Executive Board Member that provides a voice and leadership for two-year athletic administrators within the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA). Prior to his time in Glen Ellyn, Greg was the Director of Athletics at Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Missouri from 2015 through 2018. Under his leadership the Vikings recorded a combined .670 winning percentage, 9 Missouri Community College Athletic Conference Championships, 4 NJCAA Region 16 Championships, 3 NJCAA District Championships and 3 National Tournament Appearances. In addition, the Vikings had 151 Academic All-MCCAC, 108 Academic All-NJCAA Region 16, and 36 NJCAA Academic All-Americans during his tenure as the Director of Athletics. He was able to spearhead several facility upgrades while in Hillsboro including; a new indoor HD video board, remodel of the athletic training room, baseball stadium backstop and seating improvements, and the complete renovation of the campus fitness center. Viking Athletics was also visible in the community and the athletic department performed several hundred hours of service learning throughout Jefferson County including; reading at elementary schools, free sports clinics, and stocking shelves at local food pantries. Greg was also instrumental in implementing several new athletic initiatives including; Under Armour/BSN Purchasing Agreement that saw the department partner with a national brand for all uniforms, practice gear and footwear, Athletics Sponsorship and Marketing program which created a revenue stream for the department, and revising and implementing the Jefferson College Student-Athlete Substance Abuse Testing program.

and has served a member of the Hannibal, Missouri Kiwanis Club, and the Hillsboro Missouri Rotary Club. In total Greg has over 25 years of experience in intercollegiate athletics, including; Director of Athletics at Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Missouri (2010-2014), Associate Director of Athletics at Quincy University in Quincy, Illinois (2007-2010), Head Baseball Coach/ Academic Coordinator for Student-Athletes at Quincy University in Quincy, Illinois (2001-2007), Head Baseball Coach/Campus Recreation Director at Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, Kentucky (20002001), Assistant Baseball Coach at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina (1998-2000), Assistant Baseball at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio (1997), Head Baseball Coach/Student Activities Coordinator at Miami University-Middletown (1993-1996), and Graduate Assistant Baseball Coach at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio (1992-1993). Greg earned his Bachelors in Business Administration in 1992 from Saint Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Indiana and his Masters in Sports Administration in 1993 from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Greg is married to the former Amy Wheelock and has five children, Justin (28), Dalton (25), Avery (20), Casey (15), and Sophie (7). sophie

casey

greg and amy

McVey has served on several conference and national committees during his career including; NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel, NATYCAA Executive Board, NAIA National Administrative Council, NAIA Competitive Experience Committee, HAAC Strategic Planning Task Force, Athletic Director Liaison for HAAC Soccer, NCAA North Central Regional Baseball Advisory Committee, and the NCAA North Central Regional Softball Advisory Committee. Additionally, he is a member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), past member of the American Baseball Coaches Association, OPPORTUNITY USA

2016 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

1 NATIONAL TITLE • 12 JAYHAWK CHAMPIONSHIPS • 24 BOWL APPEARANCES

HEAD COACH

tom minnick 35TH ON THE NJCAA’S ALL-TIME WINS LIST•GUIDED ARIZONA WESTERN TO TOP-20 FINISHES IN 8 OUT OF 11 SEASONS•LED MATADORS TO 10 STRAIGHT BOWL GAMES•ASSISTANT ON ONLY NON-SCHOLARSHIP JUNIOR COLLEGE PROGRAM TO WIN OVERALL NATIONAL TITLE

istory is something that Tom Minnick is used to making. When Arizona Western decided to dissolve its football program following the 2018 season, Minnick was the most coveted coaching free agent in the history of Junior College football.

THE MINNICK FILE Hometown...................................... Fort Wayne, IN High School............................Bishop Luers, 1986 College.......................... University of Rolla, 1991 Family....................................................Wife: Tiffany ...........................Daughters: Payton and Morgan

COACHING HISTORY 2019-Present: Garden City Head Coach 2008-2018: Arizona Western Head Coach 2006-2007: Joliet JC Head Coach 1998-2005: Joliet JC DL Coach, RB Coach 1997: Lake Park High School Assistant Coach 1990-1996: College of DuPage Assistant Coach

BOWLS COACHED 2018..............El Toro....................Arizona Western 2017..............Mississippi...........Arizona Western 2016..............El Toro....................Arizona Western 2015..............El Toro....................Arizona Western 2014..............El Toro....................Arizona Western 2013..............El Toro....................Arizona Western 2012..............El Toro....................Arizona Western 2011..............El Toro....................Arizona Western 2010..............Heart of TX...........Arizona Western 2009..............El Toro....................Arizona Western 2007..............Graphic Edge...................... Joliet JC 2006..............Graphic Edge...................... Joliet JC 2005..............Graphic Edge...................... Joliet JC 2002..............Golden Isles......................... Joliet JC 2001..............Pepsi Cola............................ Joliet JC 1996..............Midwest........... College of DuPage 1995..............Midwest........... College of DuPage 1994..............Midwest........... College of DuPage 1993..............Midwest........... College of DuPage 1991..............Midwest........... College of DuPage 1990..............Midwest........... College of DuPage

Minnick’s bravado wasn’t cocky; it was on point. Yes, he was taking over for Sims, the same coach that lifted Garden City from the cellar all the way to the program’s first national title in 2016. But he was in familiar territory.

Truth be told, Minnick had plenty of suitors. But he was instantly drawn to Garden City, a program he personally watched go from rebuild to Jayhawk Conference Giant in the matter of one season.

When Minnick arrived in Yuma, AZ in 2008, he inherited a program that had not been to a bowl game in 40 years. And after a 6-5 campaign in his first season, the Fort Wayne, IN. native made it a tradition to go bowling in December. In fact, he guided the Matadors to 10 straight bowl game appearances. In just his fourth season, Arizona Western played East Mississippi in the National Championship, a game in which they nearly dug out of a 27-0 hole against NJCAA record-breaking quarterback Bo Wallace.

“I know exactly what I’m taking over,” Minnick said during his introductory press conference in Dec., 2018. “But I know something about rebuilding programs too.”

“I’m not scared to take over for a successful coach,” Minnick said. “That’s the nature of this business. But we have a proven track record of success in a similar situation.”

“As soon as we knew Coach (Jeff ) Sims was leaving, we knew who we wanted,” assistant athletic director Colin Lamb said. “It was just a matter of making it work.”

the minnick family

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1 NATIONAL TITLE • 12 JAYHAWK CHAMPIONSHIPS • 24 BOWL APPEARANCES

HEAD COACH

Minnick’s arrival in southwest Arizona coincided with the program’s greatest stretch of dominance since NJCAA Hall of Famer Ray Butcher led the Matadors to the 1972 National Championship. With Minnick at the helm, Arizona Western won 10 or more games four times, played in three national title games, and finished in the top 20 in eight out of his 11 seasons there. Twice, he guided the Matadors to 11-win campaigns, including the 2016 squad, who came within seconds of claiming the school’s second National Championship. “Garden City is on the map,” Minnick said. “Our job is to continue the success that Coach Sims established here. I have all the confidence in the world that we can do that.” Minnick’s coaching pedigree is well documented. After his playing career ended in 1991, he joined forces with another NJCAA legend-Bob MacDougall at the College of DuPage, the same coach and school that Minnick played for as a star quarterback. It was in Chicago where the coaching foundation was set. DuPage played in a bowl game every year that Minnick was there, finishing as the No. 2 team in the nation in 1993 and 1995. In 1994, they went 11-0 and were crowned Midwest Bowl Champions. Minnick eventually followed MacDougall to Joliet, where in 2002, they became the first non-scholarship program in history to win the overall National Championship. The year before, DuPage was crowed the best non-scholarship team in the land. When MacDougall retired following the 2005 season, Minnick replaced his mentor, winning 10 games in 2007 and pushing his team past Iowa Area Community College in the Graphic Edge Bowl. He was named Region IV Coach of the Year at season’s end. MINNICK’S YEAR-BY-YEAR HEAD COACHING HISTORY YEAR

SCHOOL

OVERALL

CONF

2018

Arizona Western

6-5

4-3

El Toro Bowl (Lost to No. 6 Lackawanna 17-10...Coached (3) first-team all-conference players and four All-Region

2017

Arizona Western

9-1

7-0

National Championship Game (Lost to No. 1 East Missisippi 31-28)...Coached QB Bryce Perkins; now at Virginia

2016

Arizona Western

11-1

8-0

National Championship Game (Lost to No. 1 Garden City 25-22)...Coached NDPOY Patrick Macon

2015

Arizona Western

7-4

5-3

El Toro Bowl (Beat College of DuPage 14-5...Coached 2nd-team All-American RB Darrell Monroe (1,009 rush yards)

2014

Arizona Western

11-0

8-1

El Toro Bowl (Beat Central Lakes 38-14)...Suffered only loss in week 3 to Snow 24-7; won 9 straight to close the year

2013

Arizona Western

2-10

2-8

El Toro Bowl (Lost to New Mexico Military 32-16)...Forfeited five games because of transfer waivers

2012

Arizona Western

8-2

6-2

El Toro Bowl (Beat Nassau 42-37)...Dropped one-point contest to Glendale and season-finale to Snow

2011

Arizona Western

11-1

8-0

National Championship (Lost to East Mississippi 55-47)...Trailed 27-0 to Lions before nearly pulling off comeback

2010

Arizona Western

10-2

7-1

Heart of Texas Bowl (Lost to Blinn 31-27)...Reggie Bullock led the nation in rushing (1,830 yards)-NPOY

2009

Arizona Western

9-2

9-0

Mississippi Bowl (Los to East Mississippi 27-24)...Reggie Bullock finished 2nd in the nation in rushing (1,417 yards)

2008

Arizona Western

6-5

5-4

Started the season 1-2 before rebounding to win 5 ouf of their final 8 games

2007

Joliet

10-2

Graphic Edge Bowl (Beat North Iowa Area 28-21)

2006

Joliet

7-4

Graphic Edge Bowl (Lost to Iowa Central 30-19)

OPPORTUNITY USA

BOWL GAME/SEASON NOTES

2016 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

1 NATIONAL TITLE • 12 JAYHAWK CHAMPIONSHIPS • 24 BOWL APPEARANCES

HEAD COACH

Minnick’s’ time at Joliet ended following the 2007 season, when he took the head job at Arizona Western. Four years later, Joliet dropped the program completely, ending one of the most dominating eras of football in region history. During his head coaching stops, Minnick has tutored some of the top players in the country, including safety Bryce Beekman and defensive back Elijah Blades, two stalwarts at Arizona Western last year who signed with Washington State and Texas A&M respectively. His 2017 team produced Bryce Perkins, now the starting quarterback at Virginia. His runner-up squad from 2016 was led by National Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Macon, who inked with Oklahoma State before he transferred to South Florida. Also on that team was four-star tight end Jeremy Patton, who burned the Broncbusters for a touchdown during the National Championship Game. He had offers from several Power-5 schools before landing at Arkansas.

in Damien Williams, who played at Oklahoma and is currently with the Kansas City Chiefs. In 2012, Randy Gregory spent one season at Arizona Western; transferred to Nebraska; then was taken in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys.

In 2009 and again in 2010, Minnick coached one of the nation’s best backs in Reggie Bullock, who went onto play at East Carolina. In 2011, he mentored another dazzling running back

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2019 BRONCBUSTER FOOTBALL

1 NATIONAL TITLE • 12 JAYHAWK CHAMPIONSHIPS • 24 BOWL APPEARANCES

ASSISTANT COACHES

JERRY DOMINGUEZ

MIKE ORTHMANN

WILL HARRIS

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR LINEBACKERS

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR QUARTERBACKS

OFFENSIVE LINE COACH

•1st season •Bethany College •Watsonville, CA Jerry Dominguez enters his first season as the defensive coordinator for Garden City Community College. He spent the past 14 years in the same position at Arizona Western under Head Coach Tom Minnick. Dominguez led one of the nation’s top defensive units during his time in Yuma. That defense helped the Matadors reach the National Championship Game in 2011, 2016 and 2017. In 2017, the Matadors were eighth in the country in points per game allowed (18.4), second in fewest touchdowns allowed (9), and third in interceptions (21). The year before that, Arizona Western was second nationally in yards per game allowed (166.5) and points allowed (9.4); this while forcing 45 takeaways and scoring seven defensive touchdowns. Middle linebacker Patrick Macon was named the David Rowlands Male Student-Athlete of the Year as well as the NJCAA Defensive Player of the Year after terrorizing opposing offenses in 2016. Dominguez’s defenses pitched 14 shutouts during his 14 years at Arizona Western (13 as defensive coordinator). He has a history of developing elite defensive talent. Former stars Korey Toomer (Idaho) and Jesse Williams (Alabama), not only went on to excel on the four-year level (Williams won a pair of national championships with the Crimson Tide), but both were drafted by the Seattle Seahawks and won Super Bowls. Former defensive end Randy Gregory became Dominguez’s highest pick in the NFL draft as a second rounder in 2015. Former safety Maurice Alexander became a fourth-round pick by the Rams in 2014 and is now with the Buffalo Bills. Other players that have signed with NFL teams include former All-Pac 12 & Arizona State defensive lineman Luis Vasquez (Ravens), Arizona State linebacker Chris Young (Jets), Kansas safety Cassius Sendish (Browns), University of Idaho alum Jeromy Jones (Rams), Portland State’s Myles Wade (Buccaneers), Hawaii’s Zach Masch (Seahawks) and Arizona’s Paul Magloire (Buccaneers). They’re part of a contingent of more than 60 players coached by Dominguez at Arizona Western who have gone on to play at NCAA Division I schools. From 2009 through 2011, Dominguez’s defenses were tops in the WSFL (and 4th-best in the nation), allowing just under 200 yards per game in each of those seasons.

•1st season •University of Idaho •Kennewick, WA

•1st season •Midwestern State •Fontana, CA

Mike Orthmann enters his first season as offensive coordinator at Garden City Community College. He spent the past 10 years in the same position under Tom Minnick at Arizona Western.

Will Harris enters his first season as the offensive line coach at Garden City Community College. He spent the past four years working as an assistant under Tom Minnick at Arizona Western.

From 2009–2017, the Matadors earned three NJCAA Football Championship Game berths, nine NJCAA bowl game appearances and won six WSFL championships. The 38 wins from 2009-12 match the 2014-2017 runs as the two best four-year stretches in program history.

Harris began his coaching career as a volunteer assistant for the Matadors in 2015. He helped out with the offensive line and tight ends. Then, in 2016, he was added to the staff full time, focusing on the offensive line.

Orthmann’s players have been named NJCAA Region I Offensive Player of the Year five times and the Western States Football League’s Offensive Player of the Year six times. In 2010, Matador running back Reggie Bullock was named the NJCAA National Offensive Player of the Year. That season, Bullock led the nation in rushing (1,830 yards) and scoring (132 points), and finished his two-year AWC career with 3247 rushing yards, the most career rushing yards in the history of the Western States Football League and 5th most all-time in the NJCAA. In 2011, Damien Williams became the second Matador in a row to lead the nation in rushing and scoring, with 1,931 yards (9th best in NJCAA history) and 188 points; both are AWC single-season records. Williams finished his two-year AWC career with 2,654 rushing yards, second only to Bullock. In 2012, quarterback Tanner McEvoy set AWC single-season records for touchdown passes (28), completions (156), completion percentage (64.5) and quarterback rating (171.96), joining Bullock and Williams by being named NJCAA Region I Offensive Player of the Year. And in 2017, Greg Bell III piled up 1,217 rushing yards while averaging 6.1 yards per carry and 11 touchdowns to go with 15 receptions for 201 yards as the WSFL Offensive Player of the Year.

During his four years in Yuma, Arizona Western had one of the top rushing attacks, spearheaded by a dominant offensive line that played in back-to-back National Championship Games in 2016 and 2017. They also captured two straight WSFL titles. As a player, Harris spent two seasons (2014-16) at Midwestern State University as both a left and right tackle. He helped the team win the Lone Star Conference Championship. He was honored on the All-LSC Offensive Line Second Team. Before that, Harris played at Arizona Western for two seasons (2010-12) and transitioned from tight end to left tackle. He helped the Matadors win the WSFL twice, played in the 2011 NJCAA National Championship Game at the El Toro Bowl, and played in the CHAMPS Heart of Texas Bowl. He was named to the All-WSFL First Team and All-ACCAC Second Team at left tackle. In High School, Harris was an all-league offensive lineman, helping his team to a sectional title and three straight league championships. He also played basketball. After college, Harris played three years in the Arena League with the Los Angeles Kiss, Iowa Barnstormers and the Tri Cities Fever.

16 of Orthmann’s Matador offensive players have been named NJCAA All-Americans. He has coached numerous future NFL players, most recently Jacob Hollister (New England Patriots). Orthmann played offensive line at the University of Idaho for Head Coach Dennis Erickson. He earned his Bachelor’s Degrees in both history and education as well as a Master’s Degree in business administration from Eastern Washington University.

Before Arizona Western, Dominguez spent six years as an assistant at NCAA D-II Northern State University. He began his coaching career at his alma mater, Bethany, as a secondary coach and special teams coordinator in 1997.

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2019 BRONCBUSTER FOOTBALL

1 NATIONAL TITLE • 12 JAYHAWK CHAMPIONSHIPS • 24 BOWL APPEARANCES

ASSISTANT COACHES ZAC MILLER

CALEB YOUNG

AARON CHEATWOOD

WIDE RECEIVER’S COACH

DEFENSIVE BACKS COACH

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR LINEBACKERS

•1st season •North Alabama •Birmingham, AL

5th season •Briar Cliff University •Florissant, MO

•1st season •Arizona Western •Parker, AZ

Zac Miller enters his first season as the Wide Receivers Coach at Garden City Community College. He spent the previous three years at Eastern Arizona.

Caleb Young has been through the good times and the bad at Garden City. The longest tenured member of the staff, the Missouri-native enters his fifth season as the defensive backs coach.

Aaron Cheatwood enters his first season as the defensive line coach at Garden City Community College. He spent the last two seasons as the Head Coach at Yuma Catholic High School in Yuma, AZ.

As the Defensive Backs Coach with the Gila Monsters, his secondary finished in the top five in the NJCAA in total passing yards allowed in 2017 and 2018.

Young joined Jeff Sims’ staff for the 2015 season. That year, the Broncbusters went on the road and knocked off Highland in week one. But after jumping out to a 14-0 lead seven days later vs. Dodge City, the Broncbusters could not close the deal, as the Conquistadors came storming back. It was the first of a program-record seven straight losses.

Cheatwood began his career as the Defensive line coach at Arizona Western College in the spring of 2007. The next two seasons, he moved over to the offensive side of the ball to coach the o-line.

He coached All-American Malik Dixon, who moved on to Rutgers along with NJCAA All American Quandre Mosely (Kentucky) and Dreshun Miller (West Virginia). In all, four defensive backs under Miller earned First Team All-Conference in the WSFL. While at Eastern Arizona, Miller helped guide the Gila Monsters to three straight NJCAA Bowl Games: 2016 Salt City Bowl Champions vs. Butler, 2017 Salt City Bowl Champions vs. Hutch, and the 2018 Mississippi Bowl vs. Jones Community College. Miller played Wide Receiver/ Defensive Back for New Mexico Military before moving on to the University of North Alabama under former Coach Mark Hudspeth. Miller spent his last three years in the Junior College ranks in Arizona while also serving as the strength and conditioning coach for Eastern Arizona Women’s Softball and Golf. While under his strength and conditioning program, Women’s Softball finished fourth in the country and appeared in the National Championship Tournament in 2017, and golf followed that with a top-15 finish in Nationals later that same year.

Garden City eventually turned their season around, starting with an upset win over No. 1 Butler in El Dorado. And Young was a big reason for the shift in momentum. He and Sims collaborated with future NFL draft pick Lonnie Johnson, converting him from wide receiver to cornerback. And boy did the decision pay off. Johnson finished with 35 tackles and five picks in 2015, earning a spot on the All-Jayhawk team. In 2016, Young helped tutor a secondary that wreaked havoc on the rest of the country. He coached All-American Mike Hughes (Vikings), Ellsworth-transfer Rashaun Croney, who was second on the team with seven interceptions, B.J. Blount, who led the squad with eight picks, and Alabamatransfer Eddie Williams.

During his time at Arizona Western, Cheatwood’s position group was ranked near the top in the NJCAA with multiple players moving on and producing in the NFL. He left Arizona Western after three seasons to become the defensive coordinator at Yuma Catholic. During his eight years there, Cheatwood carried multiple titles: Offensive Line Coach, Defensive Line Coach, Defensive Backs Coach, Quarterback Coach, Defensive Coordinator, Offensive Coordinator, Assistant Athletic Director and Head Football Coach. The school played in four state championships and won three. After graduating from Parker High School in 2004, Cheatwood played two years at Dana College in Blair, Neb. He also spent time at Arizona Western.

The following season, Warren Saba was an all-conference performer before transferring to East Carolina. And during their run to the 2018 National Championship Game, Young again had his fingerprints all over the defensive backfield, coaching the likes of Joe Jay Smith, Deric Rucker, and North Carolina State-transfer Trae Meadows. Before coming to Garden City, Young spent three seasons at MacMurray College in Jacksonville, IL, where he served as the defensive backs coach. At the same time, he directed the strength and conditioning program. Young played both corner and safety at Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, IA. There, he led the defense in interceptions his junior and senior seasons. He also ran track, where he was a record setter and national qualifier. Young played professionally for a few years in the indoor league for the Bloomington Edge and the Dodge City Law.

OPPORTUNITY USA

2016 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

1 NATIONAL TITLE • 12 JAYHAWK CHAMPIONSHIPS • 24 BOWL APPEARANCES

ASSISTANT COACHES

JAMES GRINDE

JORDAN FISKE

LINEBACKERS COACH

STRENGTH COACH

•1st season •Southwestern Okla. State •Warrensburg, MO

•1st season •Midwestern State •Fontana, CA

James Grinde enters his first season as the Linebackers Coach at Garden City Community College.

Jordan Fiske begins his first season as the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at Garden City Community College.

He comes to Garden City after spending the past seven months at the Six-Zero Football Academy in Denver, CO. where he developed high school, college and professional players while serving as the lead recruiter.

At 24, Fiske has accomplished a lot. A former fullback and tight end at the University of Massachusetts, he spent the last year as an intern at Tennessee. There, he coached linebackers and was an assistant strength coach for head man Jeremy Pruitt.

During the 2018 season, Grinde was an assistant coach at McPherson College in McPherson, KS. There, he was in charge of the run game, offensive line, special teams and the strength and conditioning program. Before landing at McPherson, he spent two seasons as the secondary and linebackers coach at Jefferson High School and two years at his alma mater Warrensburg from 2011 to 2013. Grinde knows the landscape of the Jayhawk Conference, having spent nearly at year at Coffeyville in 2014 as the Defensive Quality Control Coach. He has also had other collegiate coaching stops at Houston, Central Missouri and Southwestern Oklahoma State.

Before arriving in Knoxville, Fiske was an intern at Massachusetts during the 2018 season. He was in charge of training all defensive lineman and linebackers while simultaneously organizing and running the weight room. The year prior, he served in a similar role as an intern at Virginia. Fiske is an east-coast native, having grown up in Hinsdale, MA, about two and a half hours west of Boston. He went on to star as a tight end at Wahconah Regional High School in Dalton, MA, earning All-Region honors while leading his team to the 2012 MIAA Super Bowl State Championship. After spending a year at East Coast Prep, Fiske signed to play at UMASS. He graduated in 2018 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health.

Grinde grew up in Warrensburg, MO and starred at Warrensburg High School. He eventually earned a scholarship to Central Missouri, where he played on the offensive line. He also played on the defensive line at Mid America Nazarene. Grinde holds a Bachelor’s Degree in physical education from Central Missouri and a Master’s in sports management from Southwestern Oklahoma State. He moves to Garden City with his wife, Jacquelyn.

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2019 BRONCBUSTER FOOTBALL

COLLEGE PROFILE Hutchinson Junior College was established in 1928. In 1965, the name was changed to Hutchinson Community Junior College before the school dropped the word Junior in 1980. The school offers more than 70 different academic programs, leading to Associates in Arts and Associates in Science degrees. The college also offers over 50 technical programs. Today the school has more than 13,000 students enrolled, with a staff of nearly 400 workers.

HUTCHINSON, KS COLLEGE FACTS Location

Hutchinson, KS

Enrollment

13,518

President

Carter File

Athletic Director

Josh Gooch

Colors

Scarlet and Blue

Conference

CARTER FILE PRESIDENT

Jayhawk

Home Field

Gowans Stadium

Series Record

Garden City leads 39-38

Football started

1929

COACHING STAFF HEAD COACH Head Coach

Rion Rhoades

Record at Hutch

96-49

Career Record

104-54 (13th)

JOSH GOOCH ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

RION RHOADES HEAD FOOTBALL COACH

ASSISTANT COACHES Coach

Position

Alma Mater

Drew Dallas

Kan Wesleyan

Andrew Krause

DC/DB

Arizona

Nathan Powell

DC/LB

Maryville

Al Davis

Arkansas

Alex Farah

App State

Greg Cross

Pittsburgh

Kody Cook

Kansas State

Vince Reiss

Curry College

Anathan Gibson

Newberry

Akim Francis

Baker

HOME OF THE BLUE DRAGONS

GOWANS STADIUM

NEVER HAS A TWO-LOSS TEAM PLAYED IN THE NJCAA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. BUT NO ONE EVER THOUGHT WE COULD GO TO THE MOON, OR HAVE AN E-COMMERCE SITE PUT BRICK AND MORTAR STORES OUT OF BUSINESS. THIS IS 2019, AND DESPITE TWO EARLY SETBACKS, THE BRONCBUSTERS ARE MAKING A STRONG CASE TO BE PLAYING IN PITTSBURG IN DECEMBER.

BY MIKE PILOSOF

Photography by

Adam Shrimplin

THE CASE

FOR

GARDEN CITY’S CASE

IT’S EARLY JANUARY, AND TOM MINNICK IS JUST SETTLING into his new digs at the Perryman Athletic Complex at Garden City Community College. After more than a decade at Arizona Western, Minnick’s reality changed when the school folded its football program following the 2018 season. Little did the former college quarterback know that 10 months after his introductory press conference, his team would be involved in one of the wackiest Junior College campaigns in recent memory. And it could get even crazier. Let’s put the word wacky into context here. There are 57 teams that play at the Division-I level. Currently, only two are unbeaten: No. 1 Mississippi Gulf Coast and No. 2 Lackawanna. There are three oneloss programs: No. 3 Kilgore, No. 4 Hutchinson, and No. 20 North Dakota SCS. And finally, there are 11 with two-losses, including No. 5 Garden City and No. 6 Butler (those two meet in the regular-season finale). Of those 11 schools, the Broncbusters are the highest ranked, and they lead the next school, Butler, by 30 points in the polls. Compare that to the same time last year, and there were two unbeatens at the top: East Mississippi and Garden City, followed by four one-loss teams and unbeaten Lackawanna.

Coach Jeff Sims’ Fort Scott team. The year before, unbeaten Butler outlasted unbeaten Snow 37-30. In 2007, 11-0 Butler blew out 11-0 Snow 56-27. In 2006, top-ranked Blinn took out 10-1 Pearl River, led by a young assistant named Buddy Stephens (now at East Mississippi), 19-6. Just as a side note: Pearl River is the last team to finish as the runner-up So what does all of this mean, and why is it so crazy? To understand with two losses. In 2005, unbeaten Glendale edged 9-1 Grand Rapids 50-48. In 2004, 11-0 Pearl River defeated 11-0 Butler, while the year that, you have to understand a little history. before, the 11-0 Grizzlies took down 10-1 Dixie State. In 2002, Minnick, then an assistant at Joliet Junior College, led them to an upset win over The NJCAA started sanctioning National Championship Games in 1956 (Coffeyville beat Grand Rapids, MI 46-6). Since then, there unbeaten Georgia Military, becoming the first non-scholarship program to ever win the overall National Title. And in 2000 and 2001, the top two have been 30 sanctioned title games. But wait, there have been teams never played each other. 63 years in between. What about the other 33? Well, there was no sanctioned championship tilt between 1959-1963, 1974-1988 Let’s dive even deeper. and 1994-2007. Nonetheless, one irrefutable fact remains: never has a two-loss team played in the big game. The closest that came What’s the highest a two-loss team has finished in the final regular-seato happening was in 1957 and 1959, when both Texarkana and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (NEO), finished 9-1-1. So let’s exam- son poll since 2000? That would be fourth—Kilgore in 2018, NEO in 2017 and Coffeyville in 2005. During that span, only eight times did a ine recent history. two-loss team end up in the top five. Oh, and of the 62 National Champions, only 16 finished with one loss, the last being East Mississippi in In 2018, 11-0 East Mississippi played 10-0 Garden City. The year 2017. prior, 9-0 Arizona Western played 11-0 East Mississippi. In 2016, 10-0 Garden City battled 11-0 Arizona Western. In 2015, 11-0 Rochester played 10-1 Northwest Mississippi. In 2014, it was 11-0 Iowa Western and 11-0 East Mississippi. In 2013, 11-0 East Mississippi played 11-0 Georgia Military. In 2012, 11-0 Butler hooked up with 11-0 Iowa Western. In 2011, Minnick’s Arizona Western squad finished the regular-season 11-0 before losing to unbeaten East Mississippi, led by record-setting quarterback Chad Kelly, 55-47. In 2010, 11-0 Navarro knocked off No. 1 and unbeaten Butler. In 2009, Chad Froechnicht returned a punt 84 yards in the final seconds as 10-1 Blinn, led by Cam Newton, stunned former Broncbuster

So what does all of this mean? Well either the NJCAA hasn’t been a fan of putting a two-loss team in the National Championship, or there hasn’t been a quality team with two defeats worthy of getting the call. Either way, it’s never happened. And for history to change now, certain things have to fall into place.

itting at No. 5 with two losses, this late in the season, would almost seem like a best-case scenario in years past. But this year is different. The way the schedule falls, Garden City actually has a chance to make one loud statement to the NJCAA pollsters and

game, Hutchinson was without 10 key players following a postgame altercation with Butler on Sept. 28. And while no one can say with exact certainty, odds are if those guys were on the field against the Scotties, the Blue Dragons would still be the No. 1 team in the nation coming into Broncbuster Stadium. Consider the fact that even shorthanded, the Blue Dragons were a blocked field goal away from remaining unbeaten, and it’s not far fetched to believe that things would have been different if not for the suspensions. The only thing that hurt Hutchinson this week was their mythical matchup against Rezolution Prep, or as Minnick describes them: “The little sisters of the poor.” If they would have taken a bye that week or schedule a real school like Snow, then the Blue Dragons could very well be sitting at No. 2 in the polls. Instead they dropped from No. 3 to No. 4. Yes, it was a bit of a blow for the Broncbusters, but beating a top-five team, who at one point was No. 1, still makes a strong case. “Obviously we wanted them unbeaten when they came here,” Minnick said. “It didn’t happen that way. But we still get a crack at the best team in the league, so we’ll take it.” If the Broncbusters can get through Hutchinson, and obviously that’s a big if, then Garden City would be rooting for Butler to beat Iowa Western. A Grizzlies’ victory in Council Bluffs, would setup a monumental showdown in El Dorado in the regular-season finale. It’s also a place that the Broncbusters have won the last two times they were there (2015 and 2017). So the best case scenario is this: beat Hutchinson and Butler (coming off a win over Iowa Western), which would bolster the Broncbusters’ resume to now include wins over two top-five teams with victories over six ranked opponents. Garden City would also need Hutchinson to win their regular-season finale.

eating Hutchinson and Butler to close out the year is a nice feather in Garden City’s cap. But to make it to Pittsburg, a lot more than that has to fall their way. That’s just the start. They definitely need some help.

one loud statement to the NJCAA pollsters and the computers. Through 11 weeks, the Broncbusters strength of schedule, which is calculated using win-loss records of each team that’s on their schedule, is .500 (49-49). Of the 11 games, eight of them were against teams that were either ranked at the time that they played or at some point during the season. Currently, their strength of victory is .476 with four wins coming vs. top 20 teams, including a decisive victory at preseason No. 2 Iowa Western. Their two losses are to ranked teams by a combined six points. But what would really help Garden City’s case is their final two regular-season games. The Broncbusters host Hutchinson this week, a team that held the No. 1 ranking for five weeks before being upset by Highland on Oct. 5. But let’s be clear, and the Blue Dragons are to blame for their own demise in that

Let’s examine each team in front of them. First, Mississippi Gulf Coast, who is the clear-cut No. 1 at 9-0. They host East Mississippi in the first round of the playoffs this week. In a perfect world, if Garden City beats Hutchinson in their afternoon tilt, their eyes would then shift to Perkinston, where the defending National Champions would do the Broncbusters a major solid by knocking off the best team in the country. Is it possible? Absolutely. While the Lions defense is nowhere close to what it once was, their offense is still putting out a rather robust 481 yards per game (good for fourth in the nation). If Gulf Coast falters, their season ends at 9-1. The question is, how far would they drop? Well that depends on what happens to the teams behind them. No. 2 is Lackawanna. This is the most interesting case because the biggest knock on the Falcons is that they play a soft schedule. This week is no exception as they host the New Jersey Warriors, a non-NJCAA prep school who is 1-7. Here’s the problem for Lackawanna: the computers, which account for 25 percent of the poll, take into consideration strength of schedule. And while the Falcons have scored a couple of big wins: at No. 7 Snow and at No. 7 Monroe, they have two non-NJCAA schools on their schedule. If the computers are consistent, seeing how Hutchinson dropped because they played a prep school last week, then it’s a major possibility

GARDEN CITY’S CASE that Lackawanna drops again this week from No. 2 to 3. Regardless how the polls shape up after this week, the Broncbusters hope is that Lackawanna loses to Georgia Military in their regular-season finale. That would put an end to the Falcons National Title hopes. Give Lackawanna a lot of credit because unlike last year, they added Snow to their schedule. But playing in the Northeast Conference with only three teams compared to the Jayhawk, which at one point or another this season has had every team ranked except two, is night and day. Interestingly enough, there was a blog post on the NJCAA Championship website earlier this week concerning Lackawanna’s resume. It read like this: If Lackawanna and Mississippi Gulf Coast win out, those two will play for the title. Well, the article got part of that correct. If Gulf

CHAMPIONS OVER TIME

2017

EAST MISSISSIPPI

Dontario Drummond caught four balls for 46 yards as the Lions won their first title since 2014

2016

GARDEN CITY

Gulf Coast wins out, they’re in. But in the case of Lackawanna, will the NJCAA somehow justify inviting a team to Pittsburg that scored two wins over Non-NJCAA teams and four others over non-scholarship programs? Does that mean any team that has a Junior Varsity or prep school on their schedule should be eliminated from championship contention? It’s probably more complicated than that. If Hutchinson wins out, should they be going to Pittsburg considering they played Rezolution Prep. How about Butler, they hosted Air Force Prep. While those games certainly don’t help Hutchinson’s case, if the Blue Dragons win out, they have a chance to play in the game. The Jayhawk schedule alone; coupled with having Iowa Western and Iowa Central on there, bolster’s their case; the same as it does for Butler and Garden

The NJCAA started sanctioning title games. But one irrefutable fact

2015

NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI

Peyton Huslig hit Harley Hazlett, capping off a six-play, Northwest Mississippi led Rochester 35-0 at half before 85-yard game-winning drive adding a 31-point second half en route to the title

City. Now, can you justify putting a two-loss team in over an undefeated squad? Or better yet, a one-loss team? The third team is Kilgore, who dug out of a three-touchdown hole to beat Tyler in double overtime on Saturday. And like Gulf Coast, the Rangers enter the playoffs this week against New Mexico Military. For Kilgore to be playing in Pittsburg, they have to win their conference title. If they fall in the opening round, or to Trinity Valley in the finals, their fate is sealed. But a deeper dive into their schedule reveals a 70-14 win over Texas A&T, a non-NJCAA school on Sept. 28. So questions still loom with their resume. Here is the bottom line: Garden City needs to win their final two games,

, obviously, to even have a chance. Once they do that, if Gulf Coast loses this week, and with Lackawanna likely to drop because of their opponent, does that make Kilgore No. 1 and Garden City No. 2. Is that even possible? Would Garden City leap over unbeaten Lackawanna? If the rankings and the human poll have anything to say, that’s how it should be. So how crazy is this scenario: By week’s end, a two-loss team could be in the National Championship picture, a scenario that seemed impossible once Garden City suffered their second loss of the season to Independence. But seven straight wins to close the season will make it tough to keep them out. NJCAA, it’s your move!

National Championship Games in 1956. Since then, there have been 30 sanctioned remains: there has never been a two-loss team that has played in the big game.

2014

EAST MISSISSIPPI

The Lions beat Iowa Western, becoming the first program to win three titles in four seasons

2013

EAST MISSISSIPPI

The Lions turned a 16-14 first-quarter deficit into a 5232 rout of Georgia Military

2012

IOWA WESTERN

Just three years into existence, the Reviers claimed the program’s first National Title

WITH THEIR N BRONCBUSTE

NATIONAL TITLE HOPES ON LIFE SUPPORT, THE ERS SEASON CAME DOWN TO ONE FINAL DRIVE

A SEASON SAVING DRIVE BY MIKE PILOSOF

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ADAM SHRIMPLIN

eff Sims walked into Gowans Stadium about two hours before kickoff on Saturday with a huge smile. The 46-year old coach appeared more relaxed than usual, even as his team prepared to engage in one of their most grueling tests of the season. Sims doesn’t do much reflecting during the year, but even he had to sit back and admire his team’s work on Saturday. Even if the result was in doubt up until the final seconds. Charles West returned from injury to rush for 130 yards, but his most important contribution came on the receiving end with 18 seconds to go, reeling in David Moore’s go-ahead, six-yard touchdown pass that gave No. 2 Garden City a thrilling 24-21 victory over fourth-ranked Hutchinson. The win clinched at least a share of the Jayhawk Conference Championship for the second time in three seasons.

HUTCH 2018 “We just have to stick to what we do,” West said afterwards. “We knew this was going to be a tough game and that it was going to be a battle to the end.” That may be the understatements of all understatements, and in the end, the first Jayhawk Conference showdown between top-five opponents in eight years, produced one of the best regular-season games in recent memory. Trailing 21-17 with less than four minutes to play, Garden City was 86 yards from the go-ahead score. That’s when offensive coordinator John Powers slightly changed course. For most of the day, the Broncbusters continued to run the ball despite uneven results. On their season-saving drive, they never completely abandoned the ground game, they just busted out another weapon; someone who was definitely up for the challenge. Memphis-transfer David Moore was sharp, hitting his old Tiger-teammate Jahod Booker for 19 yards to the Broncbuster 43. On the next play, the sophomore whistled a pass to West, who banged his way up the sideline for 16 and another first down. “I have no problem saying that we have the best quarterback in the Jayhawk Conference,” Sims said. “Even if he doesn’t throw it 30 times per game. He came here to win a championship, and he has totally bought in.” Moore hooked up with Booker one more time for 12 yards to the 29. But on first down, he made his only mistake of the day when Clarence Hicks crunched him to the ground for a seven-yard loss. “I was pretty upset that he took a sack there,” Sims said. “But only because he wasn’t being a quarterback. He was trying to make a play. Sometimes being a quarterback is doing something different. For the most part, he was a quarterback today, and that’s why we won this game.”

for three yards and a first down. On the very next play, Moore connected with West, who, after making the biggest catch of his career, laid in the north end zone totally exhausted. “That guy gave every single drop of energy to this team in this game,” Sims said. “He was physically exhausted.”

What was even more impressive about the final result, was how the game started. Garden City ran just five plays in the first quarter and gained seven yards, all while Hutchinson drove right down Moore wasn’t down for long, coming back on the next play to fire the field against Josh Hager’s defense, punctuating their opening a strike to Keyshawn Jones for 16 yards. After West totaled seven on first and second down, Moore tried to outrace linebacker Monty drive with Mason Schucker’s 52-yard touchdown pass to Jaylen Montgomery to the marker. But the sophomore, who had three de- Erwin that gave the Blue Dragons a 7-0 lead. After the Broncbusters fensive touchdowns coming into the game, tracked down the signal went three-and-out, Hutchinson began to march again, picking up caller two yards shy of the first down setting up a make-it or break-it a fourth-and-1 at the Garden City 23. But the Broncbuster defense stiffened, and Jabbar Price sacked Schucker on third down forcing a fourth down. punt. “That Hutchinson team is one of the best defenses that we’ve seen,” “I said it earlier this week: I don’t think we have the most talented Sims said. defense,” Sims said. “But they outwork everyone. And that makes Needing two yards, Powers lined Dedrick Mills up in the wildcat, and them special.” the Nebraska commit did not disappoint, plunging up the middle

Hager’s unit kept coming, and in the second quarter, Kahari Foy Walton stripped Schucker, and the Broncbusters recovered at the Hutchinson 39. 11 plays later, Mills powered into the end zone from four yards out to tie the game. “We live by what Coach Sims tells us: stay patient and stay with the program,” West said. “If you do that, you’ll be successful.” Both teams had opportunities to take the lead in the second quarter. Ben Raybon though missed a 45-yard field goal for Garden City before Hutchinson’s Sebastian Garcia misfired from 46, leaving the score tied at the half. In the third quarter, the Blue Dragons were pinned inside their own 5 on their first possession. But that didn’t stop running back Dezmond Jackson, who gashed the Broncbusters for a 97-yard touchdown that put Hutchinson (8-2, 6-1) back on top, 14-7. Garden City (9-0, 6-0) responded later in the period, marching 68 yards in seven plays. Ironically, Moore, who had not thrown a pass to that point, rifled a pellet to Dominick Watt, who maneuvered 22 yards for a touchdown to knot the score. “You just have to keep fighting,” West said. “We have to trust that our coaches put us in the right position, and they always do.”

THEY CAN THROW For a team that was so run dominant, Garden City had no choice but to abandon the ground game on that final drive. And Memphistransfer David Moore delivered, marching the Broncbusters 83 yards in 14 plays, finishing it off with a six-yard, go-ahead touchdown pass to Charles West with 18 seconds remaining.

Raybon added a 23-yard field goal with 55 seconds to play in the third, giving the Broncbusters their first lead, 17-14. Unfortunately it didn’t stick. It appeared Garden City had stopped Hutchinson on third-and-8 from the Broncbuster 33. Schucker was pressured up the middle and hit as he released the ball. But Kyshonn Tyson was flagged for a 15-yard face mask penalty that extended the drive. On the next play, Jackson bounced to the outside, and raced 18 yards to the end zone to put the Blue Dragons up 21-17 with 9:39 remaining. “I tell these guys all the time, just give yourself a chance at the end,” Sims said. “We did that today.” Moore finished the day 7-of-11 for 98 yards and two touchdowns for the Broncbusters, who won their second straight game in Hutchinson. Mills totaled 43 yards on 19 carries and a score while Booker caught three balls for 38.

HUTCH 2018

DEFENSIVE DRIVE It was by no means the 2016 defense, but Garden City’s bend-butdon’t-break philosophy paid huge dividends in keeping their undefeated season alive. They surrendered 169 yards to running back Dezmon Jackson (now at Oklahoma State). But when they needed a stop, they got it spearheaded by Dillon Williams 11 tackle-game. Schucker was 12-of-21 for 162 yds and one touchdown for the Blue Dragons, who lost at home for the second time this season. Jackson reached the century mark for the sixth time this year, carrying the ball 24 times for 174 and two scores. Erwin had four catches for 110. “This was the toughest test we faced all season long,” Sims said. “And these guys came through.” This was the second straight victory for the Broncbusters in Gowans Stadium. Putting it more into perspective, in 2016, Garden City won their first game on Hutchinson’s home field since 2007.

“THAT’S THE BEST DEFENSIVE TEAM THAT WE’VE FACED ALL YEAR. THEIR DEFENSIVE LINE WAS AS GOOD AS IT GETS. WE JUST HAD TO FIND A WAY. AND THAT FINAL DRIVE SHOWED JUST THAT. CHARLES WEST LIED IN THE END ZONE EXHAUSTED AFTER THAT LAST CATCH BECAUSE HE GAVE EVERYTHING.” HEAD COACH JEFF SIMS

For Prompt Quality Service, Call the Guys in the

Orange Trucks!

Good luck,

Broncbusters! Brian & Alicia Weber Scott & Judy Stewart

GARDEN CITY ROSTER 1-O

Troy'Von Johnson St. Petersburg, FL

5'9

160

Chris Smith Dacula, GA

6'2

200

Dennis Johnson Fort Wayne, IN

6’1

180

RFR

Dominick Watt Hollywood, FL

6'2

215

Zyheir Jones Lakewood, NJ

6'1

185

Scieneaux Jarmon Chandler, AZ

6'4

180

3-D

Kenny White Gibsonia, PA

5'11

190

DJ McCullough Tampa, FL

6'1

185

Maleak Bryant Atlanta, GA

6'5

220

3-O

Justin Morehead New Haven, CT

6’0

175

Renard Bozeman Ft. Lauderdale, FL

5'10

180

MJ Link Lakeland, FL

5'11

205

RFR

4-D

Willie Hampton Casselberry, FL

6'1

230

Ramon Jefferson Bronx, NY

5'11

218

RSO

Eilye-Oshaye Hill Phoenix, AZ

6'3

230

5-O

Jadon Hayes Huntington, WV

5'10

180

Anthony Jordan Baltimore, MD

6'0

180

RSO

Jaiveon Gardner Pensacola, FL

6'3

185

RFR

5-D

Ali Gaye Redmond, WA

6'6

280

Christopher Rolack II Tampa, FL

6'1

175

Andre Dos Santos Brazil

6'5

175

6-O

Bryce Parker Upland, CA

6'4

220

Tre Green Bell Glade, FL

6'1

180

RSO

Jadarius Bernard Port St. Lucie, FL

6'2

295

6-D

Shemar Pearl Plano, TX

6'6

235

Jordan Ford Atlanta, GA

5'10

180

Taishan Holmes Tappahannock, VA

6'2

250

RFR

7-O

Ellis Merriweather Atlanta, GA

6'1

215

RSO

Landon Williams Castle Rock, CO

Daniel Lavelle Forsyth, GA

6'4

210

7-D

Jordon Riley Durham, NC

6'5

330

RSO

Adrian Hopper Wichita, KS

6'0

180

RFR

Motu Amotai Sparks, NV

6'2

320

8-D

Darius Johnson Spokane, WA

6'3

290

Willie Ervin Indianapolis, IN

6'1

200

RFR

Janil Brown West Palm Beach, FL

6'3

300

9-D

Bryce Damous Huntington, WV

6'2

225

Shyheem Lewis Spotsylvania, VA

6'1

195

9-O

Aamir Holmes Chicago, IL

6'1

180

Darael Dugar Chicago, IL

6'1

220

Cole Beckham Jacksonville, FL

6'3

230

Kevin Verwayne Marietta, GA

6'3

235

11-D

Sam Moala Reno, NV

6'3

255

RSO

Jimyon Profit Baton Rouge, LA

6'1

225

Nate Cox Lafayette, LA

6'9

240

RSO

Ryan McClain Albuquerque, NM

6'3

260

Deandre Wallace Waterbury, CT

6'5

205

Christian Fuhrman Queen Creek, AZ

6'1

230

Josh Artis Macungie, PA

6'4

220

Richard Merritt Largo, MD

6'5

370

RSO

Arvell Ferguson St. Louis, MO

6'4

220

Martez Jones Kirkwood, MO

6'1

200

Mason Nguyen Glendale, AZ

6'1

190

Kendall Brown Jacksonville, FL

6'4

310

Krishon Merriweather St. Louis, MO

6'0

220

Matthan Hatchie Haleiwa, HI

6'4

275

Kevaughn Dingle Miami, FL

6'2

190

Jehiel Hill Phoenix, AZ

6'6

230

Emilio Monsivais St. Louis, MO

6'3

215

RFR

Julian Clark Jacksonville, FL

6'5

305

RFR

Jyheir Jones Lakewood, NJ

6'1

200

Paul Finau Seattle, WA

6'4

360

RSO

Cameron Johnson Perry, GA

5'11

180

Michael Cannon Sarasota, FL

6'4

350

RFR

Marcus Dean San Diego, CA

6'2

185

Basa Balanganayi Palatine, IL

6'4

330

Antoine Davis Macon, GA

5'9

165

Nymonta Doucoure Columbus, OH

6'4

350

RFR

Marcus Dean San Diego, CA

6'2

185

Andrew Theobald Boise, ID

6'5

310

RFR

HUTCHINSON ROSTER 1-O

Erin Collins Plant City, FL

218

Roterius Torrence Bessemer, AL

179

Austin Kartchner Gilbert, AZ

302

1-D

Isaiah Todd Decatur, GA

208

Jurriente Davis Greensboro, NC

212

Damarius Peterson Newton, KS

K/P

270

2-O

Shariif Brown Stockbridge, GA

223

Ray Samuel Pensacola, FL

511

207

Payton Whitlock Calhan, CO

200

2-D

Chu Ogbonna Marietta, GA

181

Oliver McDowell Rock Island, IL

192

Jayln Dunbar Columbia, SC

312

3-O

Mark Wright Douglassville, GA

510

186

Kobe Phillips Warner Robins, GA

172

Kingsley Ugwu Tucson, AZ

311

3-D

Jakorian Bennett Mobile, AL

511

193

Deonte Stanley Dillon, SC

193

Christian Robinson Shreveport, LA

338

4-O

Trey Coleman West Monroe, LA

511

213

Roger Yarde Sebring, FL

212

Aric Harris Pensacola, FL

294

4-D

Lavar Gardner Atlanta, GA

193

Jonathan White Quitman, GA

510

198

DQuanis Robertson Lafayette, LA

339

Mitchell Tinsley Leeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Summit, MO

183

Niko Cooper Memphis, TN

224

Denzel Gaston West Jordan, UT

328

Justin Gardner Johns Creek, GA

180

Kobe Oldfield Douglassville, GA

194

Stevie Young Fort Smith, AR

315

7-O

CJ Ogbonna Marietta, GA

175

Anthony Greene Lithonia, GA

511

231

Dmarius Warren Kennett, MO

337

7-D

Kaytron Allen St. George, SC

186

Korey Lee LaPlace, LA

232

Conner Lierz Manhattan, KS

300

Karim Brown St. Augustine, FL

173

Dionte Gipson Lithonia, GA

238

Jazston Turnetine Ellenwood, GA

338

9-D

Ronald Williams Ferriday, LA

188

Zaire Oliver Auburn, AL

227

Gilbert Hornberger Las Vegass, NV

343

9-O

Khari Lane Oglethorpe, GA

212

Arian Strong Muscle Shoals, AL

240

Damarcus Mills Mooresville, NC

341

Tray Pettway Prattville, AL

189

Navy Harris Smith Station, AL

221

Robert Lacey Mobile, AL

347

Craig Burt Columbus, OH

195

Kirmari Gainous Tallahassee, FL

255

Jalen Roach Grayson, GA

510

171

Markies Colvin Ruskin, FL

511

204

LT Ikner Daphne, AL

258

Keon Clary West Columbia, SC

190

Dalrone Donaldson Douglas, GA

191

Cale Harbour Shawnee, KS

254

Rico Nix Sorrento, FL

247

Nolan Arrington Fayetteville, GA

182

Bryson Jones Lexington, SC

511

188

Cortes Braham Blythewood, SC

192

Tiyon Evans Hartsville, SC

225

Kole Allen Hoover, AL

248

Cameron Henderson Amite, LA

174

Antonio Rice Mabelvale, AR

187

Shamari Simmons Ashland, AL

511

169

JJ Richardson Greenville, SC

196

Bishop Riley Greenville, AL

511

175

Jordan Howell Waycross, GA

264

Stacey Marshall Montgomery, AL

252

Darious Cleveland Adel, GA

510

182

Traveon Freeman Midway, GA

244

Demeco Roland Broken Arrow, OK

306

Drake Bolus Gray, GA

165

Daniel Davila Salina, KS

K/P

175

Lewis Wallace Sylvania, GA

289

Payton Bowens Duluth, GA

511

177

Trace Ott Montgomery, AL

279

Anthony Hill Upper Marlboro, MD

249

Gereme Spraggins Brunswick, GA

229

Rodney Mathews Bartlett, TN

278

Timmy Jamison West Columbia, SC

244

Kendall Cross Brunswick, GA

204

Latrell Bankston Woodstock, GA

299

Jaylon Bass Ashland, AL

312

Art Green St. Louis, MO

198

Sebastian Garcia Greer, SC

K/P

201

Dennis Jackson Fairburn, GA

324

Charles Johnson Huntersville, NC

336

1 NATIONAL TITLE • 12 JAYHAWK CHAMPIONSHIPS • 24 BOWL APPEARANCES

BAA BOARD

DOYLE MCGRAW

MAXINE ATKINSON

PRESIDENT

YVONNE SPERRY MEMBER

MANNY ORTIZ

VICE PRESIDENT

SEAN SHEETS MEMBER

TREASURER

CARLA ALGRIM MEMBER

JEFF LOPEZ MEMBER

THE BRONCBUSTER ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN SERVING STUDENT-ATHLETES FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS. IT PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS

GOBRONCBUSTERS.COM

@GCCC_FOOTBALL

2019 BRONCBUSTER FOOTBALL

1 NATIONAL TITLE • 12 JAYHAWK CHAMPIONSHIPS • 24 BOWL APPEARANCES

STARTING LINEUPS GARDEN CITY

HUTCHINSON

BRONCBUSTER OFFENSE

BLUE DRAGONS OFFENSE

Pos

Player

Hgt

Wgt

Pos

Player

Hgt

Wgt

Andrew Theobald

6-5

310

RFR

Nymonta Doucoure

6-4

315

RFR

Jazston Turnetine

6-7

338

Robert Lacey

6-2

347

Matthan Hatchie

6-4

295

Connor Lierz

6-2

300

Paul Finau

6-3

Julian Clark

6-5

330

RSO

Dmarius Warren

6-2

337

310

RFR

Stevie Young

6-4

315

Bryce Parker

6-4

220

Stacey Marshall

6-6

252

MJ Link

5-11

185

RFR

Mitchell Tinsley

6-0

183

Deandre Wallace

6-4

210

Cortes Braham

6-2

190

Troy’Von Johnson

5-9

160

Jalen Roach

5-10

171

Ramon Jefferson

5-11

218

Erin Collins

6-2

218

Nate Cox

6-9

230

RSO

Mark Wright

5-10

186

BRONCBUSTER DEFENSE

BUSTERS VS. DRAGONS

OFFICIALS Referee

Bruce Pinkall

Umpire

Keith Kinley

Linesman

Alan Bryant

Line Judge

Craig Carlson

Side Judge

Rick Boswell

Field Judge

Ryan Shirk

Pos

Player

Hgt

Wgt

Matt Weaver

Dionte Gipson

6-5

238

Devin Jarrett

Latrell Bankston

6-1

299

BLUE DRAGONS DEFENSE

Pos

Player

Hgt

Wgt

Ali Gaye

6-6

275

Darius Johnson

6-2

310

Jordon Riley

6-5

310

RSO

Rodney Matthews

6-2

278

Ryan McClain

6-3

260

Kimari Gainous

6-3

255

Willie Hampton

6-1

230

RFR

Lavar Gardner

6-0

200

Krishon Merriweather

6-1

220

Gereme Spraggins

6-1

229

Jyheir Jones

6-1

200

Anthony Greene

5-11

231

DJ McCullough

6-1

185

Ronald Williams

6-2

188

Rennard Bozeman

6-0

185

Justin Gardner

6-2

180

Kenny White

5-11

190

Kaytron Allen

6-1

186

Anthony Jordan

5-11

200

RSO

Jakorian Bennett

5-11

193

OPPORTUNITY USA

Back Judge Center Judge

2016 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

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WF191439 Standard Awareness Ad Sizes 8.25x10.75 Color.indd 1

5/16/2018 9:04:09 AM

#ROAD TO PITTSBURG

ne thing is for certain: these are not your grandfather’s Coffeyville Red Ravens. And that may be the understatement of the year.

A program that once dominated the Jayhawk Conference, was thoroughly embarrassed on Saturday. Nate Cox became the first Broncbuster quarterback since Terry Wilson in the 2017 Heart of Texas Bowl to throw for 300 yards in a game, Jadon Hayes and Ramon Jefferson each reached the end zone twice, and No. 7 Garden City powered past Coffeyville 58-14 at Broncbuster Stadium. “We thought we could get some bombs over the top on them,” Head Coach Tom Minnick said afterwards. “We wanted to make sure people saw us throwing.” Cox, who was brilliant for most of the day, minus a second-quarter interception, came out firing, hitting on his first four passes. In fact, the Broncbusters first play was a 53-yard bomb to MJ Link where the sophomore quarterback got both the linebackers and the safeties to bite on a picture-perfect play-action fake. Three plays after that, Jefferson blasted into the end zone from a yard out, and Garden City had a 7-0 lead with 11:03 to play in the first. “We haven’t done a great job with those deep passes all year,” Minnick said. “I’m glad we finally completed some over the top because if we continue to do that, we will be hard to beat.” With the entire Hutchinson coaching staff in attendance, Garden City displayed their most balanced attack of the season. They ran it 43 times for 311 yards and threw it 20 times for 302.

CRUSH IT!!! THIS GAME WAS NEVER IN DOUBT, THANKS TO A DEFENSE THAT’S FINALLY HITTING IT’S STRIDE. GARDEN CITY ABSOLUTELY SUFFOCATED COFFEYVILLE, PUTTING THE REST OF THE CONFERENCE ON NOTICE.

BY MIKE PILOSOF PHOTOS BY ADAM SHRIMPLIN

“We know we can run the ball,” Minnick said. “And we know we can pass it. We just haven’t really shown it like we did today.” On the other sideline, Coffeyville mustered very little. Their offense looked like your dad’s old, beat-up Chevy, the one that had 200,000 miles on it and was on it’s second transmission. Think that’s an overstatement? Consider this: the Red Ravens managed just 32 total yards in the first half and 156 for the game. Their offensive line surrendered six sacks, and they averaged an anemic 2.4 yards per play. “Our defense has been on a roll for some time now,” Minnick said. “The last few games, Coach Dominguez has our guys flying all over the place.” The Broncbusters meantime looked like a machine in the first quarter, scoring on their first three possessions; the second of which came following Willie Ervin’s fourth blocked punt of the season that gave Garden City the ball at the Red Ravens’ 30. The Broncbusters then converted a fourth-and-4 when Cox hit Kevaughn Dingle for nine yards, and a third-and-11 when he fired a strike to Link for 13. That was followed up with a jet sweep by Troy’Von Johnson, who turned the corner running right for a three-yard touchdown giving the brown and gold a 14-0 advantage with 4:29 remaining in the first.

“People think that we can’t throw,” Minnick explained. “But we were just waiting for the right situation. Today was the right situation.” On their third possession of the game, Garden City used a perfect combination of run and pass to reach pay dirt. Cox zipped one ball to Ellis Merriweather for 14 yards. He then threw a dart to Link for 11 that moved the Broncbusters down to the Coffeyville 22. Moments later, Hayes found a crease and ran untouched to the end zone for a 21-0 cushion. “I know our guys had Hutch on their mind,” Minnick said. “So it’s good to get this one out of the way. Our guys are really fired up.” With the Red Ravens struggling to do anything offensively, Garden City extended their lead later in the second period. Jefferson ripped off a 73-yard run that eventually setup Andre Dos Santos Aires’ 25-yard field goal that made it 24-0. “That’s one we would like to have back,” Minnick said. “We got on Nate a little bit because he could of scored down there on third down.” Missed opportunity aside, Garden City thoroughly dominated the first half, outgaining Coffeyville 284-32.

Dos Santos Aires’ extra point) with 10:11 to go in the quarter. “A big thing for us today was just to make sure that we read our keys,” defensive lineman Ryan McClain said. “Coffeyville ran a similar-type offense to Independence.” The only dark cloud that hung over the Broncbusters in the second half was not holding onto the shutout. That ended when Red Ravens’ backup quarterback Edwin Kleinpeter, who replaced Cam Smith early in the first half, found Tyquez Hampton all alone for a 33-yard touchdown. Kleinpeter added another scoring toss later in the third when he hit Challen Faamautau on a wheel route up the right sideline for 17 yards. Garden City turned off that leaky faucet after that.

The Broncbusters countered with Hayes’ one-yard touchdown run that was setup by Cox’s 53-yard completion to Aamir Holmes. Then in the fourth quarter, Jefferson capped off a fiveplay, 70-yard march, that included a 39-yard run by Cox, with a four-yard dash to the end zone to make it 51-14. They capped the scoring in the final minute when Merriweather broke loose for a 56-yard touchdown, putting an exclamation mark on one of the most dominating wins of the season. Garden City once again owned the clock, holding the ball for nearly 33 minutes while totaling 613 yards. Link caught four balls for 122 and a touchdown, while Holmes came in off the bench to haul in four for 79. Merriweather led the way with 10 tackles, 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss. Kleinpeter finished 11-of-26 for 124 yards and two touchdowns for Coffeyville, who lost to Garden City for the fourth straight time. Marco Lee ran it 11 times for 17, and Tyquez Hampton caught three passes for 49. “Our motto is to treat every game like it’s the National Championship Game,” McClain said. “This is college football, and all these teams are good.”

Then in the third, offensive coordinator Mike Orthmann unleased a vertical passing attack that had somewhat been missing from Garden City’s repertoire. On the Broncbusters second offensive series, Cox floated a beautiful pass down the middle for Link, who burned past Nate Shields for a 45-yard touchdown. A couple of minutes later, Cox went back to the air, this time hooking up with Johnson on a 66-yard missile that made it 37-0 (Christian Gomez blocked

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JALEAH

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT

Full Name Major Jersey Position Height Class Hometown Date of Birth

Jaleah Bellany Undecided 5 Guard 5â&#x20AC;&#x2122;4 SO Gifford, FL March 20, 2000

WOMENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S HOOPS

BELLANY aleah Bellany is far from being the shortest player to come through Garden City. Remember Shauqunna Collins, who turned an All-Conference season in 2014 into a scholarship to Fresno State. She may have actually been shorter than Bellany.

During her freshman campaign, Bellany was definitely a spark plug, playing in 31 games, averaging 10.5 points and 2.1 rebounds. She posted double figures 17 times and scored a season-high 22 points vs. Barton on Feb. 24.

In high school, Bellany tallied more than a 1,000 career points. She had a 38-point outburst on senior night, earning her MVP honors.

Team Physician

robert rosin

clay greeson Team Orthopedist

Health Care Providers of St. Catherine Hospital Audiology-Siena Medical Clinic ...................................................................... (620)271-3139 Kim Hendricks, Au.D. Breast Center of St Catherine Hospital .......................................................... (620)272-2360 Cardiology ....................................................................................................... (620)272-2431 William Freund, MD Hugo Rodela, APRN Convenient Care.............................................................................................. (620)765-1450 Emergency Department ................................................................................. (620)272-2290 Family Medicine-Genesis Family Health........................................................ (620)275-1766 Racquel Stucky, DO Family Medicine-Siena Medical Clinic ........................................................... (620)275-3780 Michael Jackson, MD Carmen Wilhelm, APRN Olga Gonzalez, APRN Family Medicine-Plaza Medical Center.......................................................... (620)276-8201 Nathan Strandmark, DO Brad Stucky, MD Bryan Stucky, MD Rachael Svaty, MD Cassy Horton, FNP Justin Brown, FNP Family Medicine .............................................................................................. (620)275-4486 Choung Le, MD General Surgery-Siena Medical Clinic ........................................................... (620)275-3740 Zeferino Arroyo, MD Matthew Brynes, MD Gretchen Dunford, DO Kurt Kessler, MD ........................................................................................ (620)271-3100 Hospice ........................................................................................................... (620)272-2519 Hospitalist ....................................................................................................... (620)272-2265 Julie King, DO Carla Benjamin, MD Megan Nguyen, APRN ICU .................................................................................................................. (620)272-2630 Internal Medicine-Siena Medical Clinic ........................................................ (620)275-3710 Edward Mangosing, MD Scott Booker, DO Robert Rosin, MD Terri Worf, APRN, CDE Lottie Gleason-Garcia, APRN Megan Stoppel, APRN Tina Trujillo, APRN Maternal Child ............................................................................................... (620)272-2314 Nephrology-Siena Medical Clinic .................................................................. (620)271-3139 Rafael Baracaldo, MD Michael Babigumira, MD

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Obstetrics & Gynecology-Women’s Clinic .....................................................(620)275-9752 Richard Hall, MD Kimberly West, MD Trish Miller, DO Chelsea Voth, PA Jill Beymer, APRN Occupational Medicine at Convenient Care .................................................. (620)275-3777 Oncology-Heartland Cancer Center ............................................................... (620)272-2579 Oncology/Hematology (Medical) Anis Toumeh, MD Jose Velasco, MD Oncology (Radiation) Claudia Perez-Tamayo, MD, FACR, FACRO Thomas Hegasty, MD Callie Heilig, FNP Ophthalmology-Fry Eye Associates, P.A. ...................................................... (620)275-7248 Luther Fry, MD William Clifford, MD Eric Fry, MD Gloria Hopkins, OD Orthopedic Surgery-Siena Medical Clinic ...................................................... (620)275-3030 Guillermo Garcia, MD Clay B. Greeson, MD Robert Morren, MD Alok Shah, MD Randy Cundiff, APRN Pain Management Clinic................................................................................. (620)765-1414 Richard Kilgore, CRNA Kipp VanCamp, MD Pathology-Western Pathology Services, P.A .................................................. (620)272-2258 Bruce Melin, MD Eva Vachal, MD Patient Accounts ............................................................................................. (620)272-2173 Pediatrics-Siena Medical Clinic ...................................................................... (620)275-3730 James Zauche, MD Michael Shull, DO Elizabeth Doyle, MD Leo Altamirano, MD Physical Therapy-Outpatient .......................................................................... (620)272-2106 Physical Rehabilitation-Inpatient ................................................................... (620)765-1490 Plastic Surgery ................................................................................................. (316)652-9333 James Rieger, MD Podiatry-Siena Medical Clinic......................................................................... (620)275-3705 Michael Andersen, DPM Psychiatry/Behavioral Health......................................................................... (620)272-2500 Radiology......................................................................................................... (620)272-2276 Soen Liong, MD Kipp VanCamp, MD Jeffery Sparacino, DO Surgery Center of Southwest Kansas ............................................................. (620)271-0600 Urology-High Plains Urology .......................................................................... (620)275-3760 Ronald Catanese, MD Polly Elpers, APRN Wound Care Center ........................................................................................ (620)272-2700

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