Broncbusters Football Returns to Garden City for Matchup with Ellsworth

GARDEN CITY, KS. – Games on the road can tell a lot about how a football team handles themselves. Fifth year head coach Tom Minnick instills that his teams have to be 14 points better in every competition away from Broncbuster Stadium.

Garden City’s three-game road trip saw three very different results, and while the trek got off to a poor start, the Broncbusters played some of their best football to close it.

Now, the Garden City Broncbusters return home to kick off the final home stand of the season against the Ellsworth Panthers on Saturday. Garden City hosts its final two home games of the season, before traveling to Coffeyville for the 2023 regular season finale.

With all the cards stacked against them, the Broncbusters gave the No. 1 Hutchinson Blue Dragons everything they had at Gowans Stadium. The Broncbusters scored the most points of any Hutchinson opponent this season, and even brought the game within a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter, ultimately falling by a 27-18 final.

“I thought we played well, and we did,” Minnick said. “It even felt better than the win at [Independence], because the kids played so much better.”

Garden City (3-5, 2-3 KJCCC) had been looking for that complete, 60-minute effort in a conference game that had been missing since their week one win over then-No. 8 Butler.

The Broncbusters’ offense came into life in the second half, with Jalen Daniels passing to tight ends Alexander Lines and Ajou Ajou for touchdowns. The Garden City’s tight ends combined for 88 yards on seven catches, both scoring from two yards and 28 yards, respectively.

“I think everyone wants tight ends that can play, they’re such a major part,” Minnick said. “Ajou’s a good one. He’s been at Clemson, he’s not scared to hit. Alex has to be one of the top [JUCO] tight ends in the nation, physically and athletically. He had a really good game.”

Lines also had a career day during the road trip, going for a season-most 59 yards in the Broncbusters’ 27-23 win at Independence. 

Ellsworth (1-8, 0-2 ICCAC) comes into Broncbuster Stadium losers of their last six games, scoring just seven points in their last four games. It’s a good opportunity to get things right for Garden City in search for their fourth win of the year.

Coverage begins on KWKR 99.9 ‘The Rock’ at 10:30 A.M. with the American Implement Pregame Show. Kickoff between the Panthers and Broncbusters is scheduled for 11:00 A.M.