The Hatchet Stays Home; Buffaloes Football Powers Past Dodge City, 30-13

GARDEN CITY, KS. – One of Brian Hill’s favorite traditions during his 14 years as Buffaloes football head coach is framing a photo with his senior class celebrating a victory in The Hatchet Game.

He’s had plenty of great groups, and this season’s group is no exception.

The Garden City Buffaloes celebrated Senior Night with a rivalry game victory, defeating the Dodge City Red Demons, 30-13, at Buffalo Stadium. Garden City’s senior class all made big plays throughout the game, but the determination has been there throughout the day.

“I told the seniors before they came out, from the first time I saw one of them during weight training to the start of the game, I saw the look in their eye,” Hill said. “It was there all week long. They were so focused, ready to do all the little things correctly.”

Countless seniors made their presence felt in the victory, starting on special teams. The Buffaloes defense forced a punt on the opening drive, and senior Emilio Zundt flew off the edge and blocked Alan Flores’ punt, giving the Buffaloes the ball at the Dodge City 37;

Garden City (5-2, 2-1 WAC) would stall out in the red zone, but senior Eddy Rodriguez’s second field goal of the season would boost the Buffs to a 3-0 advantage.

The special teams disaster continued for the Red Demons, as Johnny Bone fumbled on a Garden City punt. Culden Plankenhorn knocked the ball out, setting up Ethen Allen to convert a one-yard touchdown run.

It was Allen’s ninth touchdown all-purpose on the season, and the Buffaloes led 10-0 after one.

Justin Reich’s defense held firm again following the touchdown, setting up the offense’s best series of the night. Garden City marched the ball 71 yards down the field, capped off by a season-long 26-yard run by junior quarterback, Ethan Gomez, for six;

Garden City would fail on the ensuing PAT, but stood strong defensively again. The Buffaloes recovered a Dodge City fumble at the 29, setting up a four-yard touchdown run by Mario Ruiz to boost GCHS to a 23-0 halftime lead.

The score was Ruiz’ eighth of the season on the ground, ninth overall.

Dodge City (2-5, 0-4 WAC) came into life to start the second half. The Red Demons scored a pair of 29-yard touchdowns in the third quarter, a pass from Flores to Tochi Okoro, followed up by a Flores quarterback run, to cut the game to 23-13. Garden City made a huge stop on a two-point conversion to keep the game at two scores.

One Buffaloes sophomore stood above the rest in the final 12 minutes. Plankenhorn, who forced the fumble in the opening quarter, recorded back-to-back takeaways late on. Playing out of position, Plankenhorn picked off Flores on a pivotal fourth down, then recovered a Ryan Gonzalez fumble to seal the game for Garden City;

It was a career-high three turnovers forced in his first career Hatchet Game victory. When asked about who he wanted to dedicate the win to, he shouted out one of the key seniors.

“Eddy [Rodriguez has] been my side the whole time,” Plankenhorn said. “He’s really my teacher. I’m doing whatever he tells me to do.”

The Buffaloes closed the night with a Gomez touchdown pass to Zundt, sparking celebrations for Buffaloes players, coaches, and fans throughout the night. Garden City gets their 32nd all-time Hatchet Game victory, with coach Hill advancing to 8-6 against Dodge City.

With Hays’ win at Liberal, Garden City can still win a share of the WAC in the closing week of the season against the Great Bend Panthers. Coverage begins on KWKR 99.9 ‘The Rock” at 5:30 on Buffs Game Day with Aaron Elam. Kickoff between the Buffaloes and Panthers is scheduled for 7:00 P.M.