Week 3 Broncbuster Gameday by gcccks6

2 0 1 9

G A M E D A Y

1 NATIONAL TITLE • 12 JAYHAWK CHAMPIONSHIPS • 24 BOWL APPEARANCES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

BR NCBUSTER GAME 3 • ELLSWORTH • SEP. 7, 2019 • 6 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 - BRYCE PARKER 14 BOARD OF TRUSTEES 15 THE PRESIDENT 17 DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS 18 HEAD COACH TOM MINNICK 18 22 ASSISTANT COACHES 26 PLAYER SPOTLIGHT - NATE COX 30 THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY 39 STARTING LINEUPS BOUNCING BACK 40 30 43 SPOTLIGHT - ADISYN SWAN

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

Where can you listen and watch Broncbuster football

The transfer from Arizona Western is out to prove he belongs

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

He started only one year in high school, but Cox has Division-I moxie

The Broncbusters had Snow on the ropes; until they didn’t. What transpired was the best game of kickoff weekend Meet the players who are starting in today’s game

After a tough week-one loss, Garden City took all their frustrations out on rival Dodge City

CREDITS LAYOUT & DESIGN Mike Pilosof

PHOTOGRAPHERS Adam Shrimplin

COVER DESIGN

WRITERS

Mike Pilosof

ON THE COVER

PRINTING

Bryce Parker (TE), Nate Cox (QB), Darius Johnson (NG)

ATHLETIC WEBSITE gobroncbusters.com /GCCCSportsbuster @gccc_fball

TICKETS

620-276-9606

PROGRAM PRICE

GCCC Print Shop: Cecilia Miller, Ashley Salazar, Melody Brooks

$2 on Gameday

gobr ncbusters.com

The hometown kid is out to set things straight her sophomore season

1 NATIONAL TITLE • 12 JAYHAWK CHAMPIONSHIPS • 24 BOWL APPEARANCES

GAME PREVIEW

If you asked Jeff Sims which game frustrated him the most during the 2018 season, without hesitation, he would tell you their week-two matchup vs. Ellsworth. After rushing for nearly 500 yards in their season opener vs. Dodge City, offensive coordinator John Powers wasn’t deviating from the script. And Ellsworth knew it. Garden City toted the rock 65 times vs. the Panthers, averaging just three yards per carry. In fact, it was one of the few games that Dedrick Mills, now the starter at Nebraska, was held in check. But as stubborn as the game plan sounded, it

was that type of consistency that eventually made the Broncbusters into one of the most prolific rushing offenses in the history of the NJCAA.

A LITTLE HISTORY

“They put nine guys in the box and dared us to run the football,” Sims said following the game. “They knew we weren’t going to throw it.” And don’t let the three yards per carry deceive you. Charles West still reached 100 yards rushing, and the Broncbusters avoided an early-season upset thanks to a pair of Mills touchdown runs. But Ellsworth put a scare into the Jayhawk Champs, scoring a third-quarter touchdown on a wide-receiver option pass from Tariq Young to Jordan Foster. This year’s Panthers’ squad will look a bit different than the one that played Garden City to it’s second closest game during the regular season in 2018. They have a new coach-Mitchell Kleinschrodt replaces Tony Haynes. He spent last season as the recruiting coordinator at the University of New Mexico. He also has Jayhawk Conference ties, having spent the 2014 season as the running backs’ coach under Aaron Arnold at Highland.

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There’s more history between Garden City and Ellsworth than first meets the eye. In 1967, Head Coach Bob Riley guided the

(GCCC qb Bill Wylie-right)

Broncbusters to an 8-2 regular-season record and a trip to the Sterling Silver Bowl in Sterling, KS. Their opponent: an Ellsworth squad that was considered one of the top offensive teams in the nation. In just their second postseason game in school history, Garden City was completely outmatched. Ellsworth raced out to a 21-0 halftime lead. Quarterback Lee Wykle fired a 15-yard scoring strike to

Jim Sallis to get the Panthers on the board in the first. Ellsworth added two more touchdowns in the second period: Wykle and Mike Reed both blasted in from one yard out, putting the Broncbusters in a three touchdown hole. Mike Palmer put Ellsworth up 28-0 in the third on a 34-yard sprint to the end zone, and Wykle lasered a 31-yard scoring strike to Dwight Sims, who caught a game-high seven balls

for 123 yards. Garden City’s only two touchdowns of the afternoon came in the fourth on two Bill Wylie rushing touchdowns: one from eight yards; the other from inside the 1-yard line.

2019 BRONCBUSTER FOOTBALL

BOB LARSON (5-0)

A THORN IN THEIR SIDE

1 NATIONAL TITLE • 12 JAYHAWK CHAMPIONSHIPS • 24 BOWL APPEARANCES

GAME PREVIEW

JAYHAWK TIDBITS JAYHAWK STANDINGS Team

Conf

OVR

Home

Away

Neutral

Fort Scott

2-0

1-0

0-0

Hutchinson

1-0

2-0

1-0

0-0

Garden City

1-0

1-1

0-1

1-0

0-0

Independence

1-1

1-0

0-1

0-0

Butler

0-0

2-0

0-2

0-0

Highland

0-1

1-1

1-0

0-1

0-0

Coffeyville

0-1

0-2

0-1

0-0

Dodge City

0-2

0-1

0-0

THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE Coffeyville at Iowa Central

12 pm

Hutchinson at Iowa Western

1 pm

Ellsworth at Garden City

6 pm

Highland at Butler

1 pm

RUSHING LEADERS

Through their first two games, the Panthers have really struggled offensively. In week one vs. Hutchinson, they were limited to just 139 total yards. And that inability to score spoiled a really good start. Omunique Wilkerson intercepted Blue Dragons’ quarterback Mark Wright and returned it 15 yards for a touchdown. Unfortunately the lead didn’t stick, and Hutchinson scored 41 of the final 50 points in the contest en route to a 41-16 win. Not much changed last week in Highland as the Panthers suffered their second shutout loss in their last six games dating back to 2018. Ellsworth gained just 165 total yards while surrendering 411. And they turned the ball over three times. Through two games, the Panthers have gained the fifth fewest yards in the country. They’ve scored the fifth fewest points and have the worst passing offense in the NJCAA. “They may be 0-2, but every team we face presents a challenge,” Garden City Coach Tom Minnick said. “I watched what they did in the game last year. They could have easily won that game.”

OPPORTUNITY USA

While Ellsworth has struggled to move the ball, the Broncbusters are starting to find their groove. In week one, they rushed for just 56 yards, their fewest in a game since 2017. But last week vs. Dodge City, Garden City went back to the formula that landed them in Pittsburg last season. They ran the ball 41 times for 278 yards. They also showcased another dimension; one they kept hidden for most of 2018-the vertical passing game. Nate Cox was tremendous in week two, completing 15-of-24 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns, helping the Broncbusters storm back from a 15-point second-quarter deficit. Now, he faces a Panther defense that has allowed the eighth most yards per game through the air in 2019 and the ninth most on the ground. “We want to run our offense and run the clock,” Minnick said following their victory over Dodge City. “When we can control the time of possession, we give ourselves a really good chance.”

Player

Team

Car.

Yards

Y/G

Mark Wright

HUT

202

101

John Oliver

FSC

176

Stephon Brown

INDY

169

84.5

Jadon Hayes

GCCC

163

81.5

Morgan Ellison

INDY

155

77.5

PASSING LEADERS Player

Team

Cm.

Att.

Yards

J. OrndorffWest

DCCC

530

Stephon Brown

INDY

507

Steven Frank

BUT

496

Nate Cox

GCCC

401

Mark Wright

HUT

399

RECEIVING LEADERS Player

Team

Rec.

Yards

Y/G

D. Brown

DCCC

246

123

Jon Jiles

FSC

231

115

Nathaniel Dell

INDY

198

Mitchell Tinsley

HUT

157

78.5

Karim Brown

HUT

152

2016 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

1 NATIONAL TITLE • 12 JAYHAWK CHAMPIONSHIPS • 24 BOWL APPEARANCES

BREAKING IT DOWN GARDEN CITY Category

POLLS

GCCC

Opp.

Total Offense

735

917

Plays

146

148

Yards/Game

367.5

458.5

Rushing Yards/Game

167

142.5

Passing Yards/Game

200.5

316

Points/Game

34.5

Penalties

21/148

8/91

Turnovers

Third-Down Conversion % Time of Possession

34:36

25:23

SCORING BY QUARTERS Team

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Tot

Garden City

Opponents

RUSHING LEADERS Player

Car.

Yards

Avg.

Y/G

Jadon Hayes

163

4.5

81.5

E. Merriweather

101

7.2

50.5

PASSING LEADERS Player

Att

YDS

Int

Nate Cox

401

ELLSWORTH

1. Hutchinson (7).......................................................................2-0 2. Kilgore (3).................................................................................2-0 3. Butler (5)...................................................................................2-0 4. Northwest Mississippi.........................................................1-0 5. East Mississippi......................................................................0-1 6. Mississippi Gulf Coast (1)....................................................1-0 7. Iowa Western..........................................................................1-1 8. Lackawanna............................................................................0-0 9. Snow..........................................................................................1-1 10. Garden City...........................................................................1-1 11. Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.......................................1-0 12. Iowa Central.........................................................................1-1 13. Copiah Lincoln.....................................................................1-0 14. Hinds.......................................................................................1-0 15. Monroe College..................................................................1-0 16. Trinity Valley.........................................................................1-0 17. Jones.......................................................................................0-1 18. Blinn........................................................................................1-1 19. Nassau....................................................................................1-0 20. Fort Scott...............................................................................2-0

Category

Ellsworth

Opp.

Total Offense

304

875

Plays

114

125

Yards/Game

152

437.5

Rushing Yards/Game

129.5

179.5

Passing Yards/Game

22.5

258

Points/Game Penalties

6-53

Turnovers

Third-Down Conversion % Time of Possession

7th meeting (Series tied 3-3) YEAR

GCCC

ELLS

SITE

COACH

2018

Iowa Falls, IA

Jeff Sims

2017

Garden City

Jeff Sims

2016

Iowa Falls, IA

Jeff Sims

2015

Garden City

Jeff Sims

2014

Iowa Falls, IA

Matt Miller

1967

Sterling, KS

Bob Riley

32:40

27:20

SCORING BY QUARTERS Team

SERIES HISTORY

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Tot

Ellsworth

Opponents

RUSHING LEADERS Player

Car.

Yards

Avg.

Y/G

AJ Payne

118

4.5

LG 38

S. Kimbrough

2.7

PASSING LEADERS Player AJ Payne

RECEIVING LEADERS

Att

YDS

Int

RECEIVING LEADERS

Player

Rec

YDS

Avg

Y/G

Player

Rec

YDS

Avg

Y/G

Dominick Watt

7.8

Yannie Scott

1.5

13.5

MJ Link

11.2

33.5

T. Matthews

RESULTS & SCHEDULE Date

Opponent

8-24

RESULTS & SCHEDULE

W-L

Score

Date

Opponent

W-L

Score

#6 Snow

30-27

8-22

Hutchinson

41-16

8-31

at Dodge City

42022

8-31

at Highland

21-0

9-7

Ellsworth

9-7

at Garden City

9-14

Independence

9-14

Dodge City

9-21

at Iowa Western

9-21

Bye

9-28

Fort Scott

9-28

at Dupage

10-5

at Iowa Central

10-5

at Iowa Western

10-19

at Highland

10-12

at Fort Scott

10-26

Coffeyville

10-19

Iowa Central

11-2

Hutchinson

10-26

Butler

11-9

at Butler

11-2

at Coffeyville

11-9

Independence

SAM MOALA

OPPORTUNITY USA

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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2019 BRONCBUSTER FOOTBALL

PARKER BRYCE

BY MIKE PILOSOF

WHEN THE ARIZONA SCHOOLS SHUT DOWN FOOTBALL, BRYCE PARKER, LIKE MANY OTHERS, NEEDED A PLACE TO PLAY. HELLO GARDEN CITY.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT

JUST LET ME PLAY

1 NATIONAL TITLE • 12 JAYHAWK CHAMPIONSHIPS • 24 BOWL APPEARANCES

BRYCE PARKER

n that very moment, Bryce Parker was free. The sophomore tight end, who was told by his former school, as were hundreds of other players, don’t let the door hit you on the way out, reeled in Nate Cox’s two-yard touchdown pass in the final minute vs. Snow, helping the Broncbusters erase a two-touchdown deficit. The last 12 months have been somewhat of an odyssey for the 6’4 tight end. It was less than two years ago that Maricopa County officials announced that the 2018 season would be the last for Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa and Glendale. Eventually Eastern Arizona and Arizona Western followed suit, leaving Parker and his coach, Tom Minnick, as football orphans. It wasn’t long after Arizona Western folded the program that Minnick

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT

landed at Garden City. Bryant, as did many of his teammates, followed their leader. Before he ever signed with the Matadors, Parker was a star wide receiver at Upland High School in Upland, CA. He caught 27 balls for 593 yards and five touchdowns during an outstanding senior season.

Full Name Major Jersey Position Height Weight

Bryce Parker Journalism #6 Tight End 6’4 220

Hometown

Upland, CA

Date of Birth

Jul. 22, 1999

OPPORTUNITY USA

Then the offers started coming in. First Hawaii; then Fresno State, a program that has grabbed control of the Mountain West Conference in recent years (2018 champions). With several options on the table, Parker committed to the Bulldogs on Aug. 10, 2017. “I feel like we brought over a bunch of talented players from Arizona Western, Bryce included,” Minnick said. “I know we fell short of expectations last year (the Matadors finished 6-5 and lost in the El Toro Bowl to Lackawanna), but don’t get it confused, that was a very talented team.”

2016 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

1 NATIONAL TITLE • 12 JAYHAWK CHAMPIONSHIPS • 24 BOWL APPEARANCES

BRYCE PARKER

Even as he committed to Fresno State, Parker had other avenues. He was a star basketball player for Anthony Mason, averaging a double-double (13 points and 10 rebounds per game his senior year), leading Upland to the CIF semifinals. He also competed in the high jump on the track team.

football-a choice that still has Coach Minnick grinning from ear to ear. Parker was an all-conference wide receiver as a senior, although his plan was to bulk up a little and play tight end, which is exactly what Fresno State had in store for him.

and instead Parker went the Junior College route. Minnick, who’s had success recruiting the Golden State, signing the likes of running back Greg Bell, who, after spending time at Arizona Western, transferred to Nebraska and is now at San Diego State, convinced Parker to come to Yuma.

But when it came down to it, the multi-sport athlete picked

But Division-I was not in the calling out of high school,

In 11 games during his freshman season, Parker just

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scratched the surface. He had 27 catches for 244 yards and two touchdowns. He caught a season-high four passes vs. Eastern Arizona and tallied a career-best 64 yards, including a 55-yard reception vs. Glendale. By season’s end, he caught the eye of the rest of the coaches in the WSFL and was named an Honorable Mention All-Conference selection. That brings us back to week one of the 2019 season; a game in which Garden City fell short. He caught only two balls for five yards. But as any football purist will tell you, some numbers tell a different story. And with the defending Jayhawk Champions trailing in the final minute, Parker used his big frame to give his quarterback a massive target. He lined up to the left, but as soon as the ball was snapped, he juked right across the formation, extending his hands out to snare Cox’s soft toss. It was a split-second glimpse into the promise of a talented tight end, one that was a cast off just a few months earlier. Now he’s feeling right at home.

2019 BRONCBUSTER FOOTBALL

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

OPPORTUNITY USA

2016 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

1 NATIONAL TITLE • 12 JAYHAWK CHAMPIONSHIPS • 24 BOWL APPEARANCES

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 (135)•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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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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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

JIMMY PEYTON

JAMES GRINDE

JORDAN FISKE

RUNNING BACKS COACH

LINEBACKERS COACH

STRENGTH COACH

•1st season •Culver-Stockton •Ironton, OH Jimmy Peyton enters his first season as the running backs coach at Garden City Community College. He spent last season at Kentucky Christian College where he coached the defensive backs and spent the 2017 campaign as an assistant at Arizona Western. In 2016 while serving as the offensive coordinator at South Point high school in Ohio, he helped take a program with only two wins in four years, to a 3-0 start for the first time in over 15 years. He also started a strength and conditioning program that had been nonexistent in the team’s history. Before South Point, Peyton was an assistant at Indian River High school in New York from 20142015 where he served as the quarterback coach and pass-game coordinator. While he was there, the school has their best season in history, winning their first state championship in 2014. That season, he coached the Gatorade Player of the Year Denzel Barnes, who went on to play at West Virginia. At the prep level, Peyton played for Ironton High School and legendary coach Bob Lutz. He made an appearance in the 1999 D-IV state championship game and was twice named to the All-Ohio list. After graduation, Peyton signed with Joliet Junior College, where he was the star quarterback for NJCAA Hall of Famer Bob MacDougall and assistant coach Tom Minnick. He’s the school’s all-time leading passer and the only quarterback to lead Joliet to a National Championship, taking down Georgia Military 24-14 in 2002.

•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

COX

NATE

BY MIKE PILOSOF

IT’S NOT OFTEN A 6’9 QUARTERBACK DROPS IN YOUR LAP. BUT HERE IS NATE COX, THE GUY TASKED WITH LEADING THE BUSTERS BACK TO PITTSBURG.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT

I’M BIGGER THAN YOU

1 NATIONAL TITLE • 12 JAYHAWK CHAMPIONSHIPS • 24 BOWL APPEARANCES

NATE COX

here aren’t many 6’9 quarterbacks roaming around college football stadiums this fall. Scan over any roster, and you’ll be hard pressed to find anyone over 6’4. Lucky enough for Garden City, there is one larger-than-life figure in their own backyard. And while his size may be the first thing that anyone sees when encountering the redshirt freshman, his brain is even more impressive.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT

Full Name Major Jersey

Add a cerebral brand to an already impressive frame, and you get the tallest quarterback in the nation who may just well be a signal-calling savant. Oddly enough, Cox’s dad is just 6’3 (and the word just is extremely modest there) and his mom is 5’10. Yet here he is, maybe the tallest quarterback in football history.

Position

Nate Cox Undecided #12 Quarterback

Height

6’9

Weight

240

Hometown

Lafayette, LA

Date of Birth

Feb. 26, 1999

But enough about his size. Let’s dive into his brain. Listening to Cox do a pregame radio interview is like hearing Kevin Durant break down a switch-heavy defensive scheme during the Western Conference playoffs. He’s on it, and he understands football rhetoric, maybe better than anyone on his team. “I hope everyone understands that I haven’t played in two years,” Cox explained. So why is that? Why is a guy who can smell when it rains before any other soul alive, just now getting his feet wet as a college quarterback? Believe it or not, Cox only started one year in high school. He was the backup during his junior campaign. But when his turn finally came around, Cox didn’t disappoint. He threw for 3,500 yards and 48 touchdowns in 2016, leading St. Thomas More to a state title. OPPORTUNITY USA

2016 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

1 NATIONAL TITLE • 12 JAYHAWK CHAMPIONSHIPS • 24 BOWL APPEARANCES

NATE COX

His first love was basketball. And at 6’9, you can understand why. But as high school progressed, Cox threw himself more into football. And the rest of the state took notice. In the state championship game his senior year, he threw for a state record 447 yards and

six touchdowns, leading St. Thomas More to a 54-29 victory over Parkview Baptist. The week before in the semifinals, he was 16-of-24 for 278 yards and six scores. By the end of the postseason, the senior had compiled staggering numbers, completing 53-of-77 passes for 955 yards and 16 touchdowns.

“There are a lot of advantages to being this tall,” Cox said. “It’s easier for me to see receivers when they’re open.” After one magnificent season as the starter, Cox signed with Louisiana Tech. He redshirted in 2017 and didn’t play in 2018.

“It took me a little while to get my feet wet in our first game,” Cox explained. “But once we got to the second half, I felt more comfortable.” It’s not surprising that Cox idolizes New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady; heck he wears the same number as the future Hall-of-Famer. Watch his throwing motion, and you can tell he’s been studying TB12. And he comes from an athletic family. His brother Grant Cox won a state baseball championship in high school and played at the Division-I level for Louisiana Lafayette. Now, nearly three years removed from that magical season in 2016, Cox tries to reinvent himself in the Jayhawk Conference. And he’s already making history.

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THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY BY MIKE PILOSOF PHOTOS BY ADAM SHRIMPLIN

IN ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED OPENING-WEEK GAMES IN RECENT MEMORY, GARDEN CITY AND SNOW DIDN’T DISAPPOINT. BUT THE GAME LEFT A BLEMISH ON THE BRONCBUSTERS’ RESUME.

uring their run to the 2018 National Championship Game, Garden City got plenty of breaks along the way. There was the Iowa-Western collapse in the final minutes, and the game-saving drive to beat Hutchinson. They staved off a week-two upset by outlasting Ellsworth before climbing out of a 21-3 hole to beat Independence. Unfortunately, some of that good fortune did not carry into their season opener in 2019. Braxton Kerr threw for 377 yards and two touchdowns, Jose Pizano drilled a 32-yard field goal at the horn, and No. 6 Snow knocked off No. 3 Garden City 30-27. “We didn’t help ourselves,” Broncbuster Coach Tom Minnick said. “I mean, how many dropped balls did we have?” Garden City was afforded every chance to put Snow away early in the game. The Badgers turned the ball over three times in the first quarter. Renard Bozeman intercepted Kerr on one drive, and linebacker Willie Hampton dropped a couple of other would-be picks. Then there was a snap on fourth down that deflected off of the punt protector that Willie Ervin recovered for the Broncbusters. Snow even turned the ball over on downs after failing on a fourthand-1 in their own territory, and still the Broncbusters mustered only 13 first-half points. “We left so many points out there,” Minnick said. “But it comes down to holding onto the ball. We will find guys that can do that.” Garden City grabbed the lead early in the first quarter on Andres Dos Santos Aires 26-yard field goal. But the Broncbusters had to be kicking themselves when they let a touchdown opportunity slip through their hands. On second-and-goal at the 4, quarterback Nate Cox and running back Jadon Hayes, muffed the exchange, costing Garden City five yards. On the following play, Gerald Wilbon knocked the ball away from Dominick Watt in the end zone, forcing the brown and gold to settle for three. “You know what’s amazing is that we were right there, even though we made so many mistakes,” Minnick explained. The Broncbusters added another field goal in the second quarter before Snow Coach Andrew Mitchell rolled the dice on a fourth-and-1 at their own 34. Weston Barlow had no chance and was dropped for a two-yard loss, giving Garden City the ball at the Badger 32. Four plays later, Cox hit Deandre Wallace for a 12-yard gain on fourth-and-5. That eventually setup Garden City’s first touchdown of 2019: a three-yard dash to pay dirt by Hayes that had the Broncbusters on top 13-0 with 6:24 to go until halftime. “When we look back at this, it’s just so many missed opportunities,” Minnick said. “That’s the unfortunate part.” Snow grabbed some momentum late in the second period, thanks to back-to-back personal-foul penalties that pushed the Badgers out near midfield. Two plays after that, Kerr zipped a pass to Keashawn McCoy, who strolled 34 yards down to the 1. But Garden City’s defense stiffened and limited the Badgers to just a field goal. “We showed a lot of things in this game,” Minnick said. “But we lost as a team.”

1 NATIONAL TITLE • 12 JAYHAWK CHAMPIONSHIPS • 24 BOWL APPEARANCES

WEEK 1 VS. SNOW

Whatever Mitchell said to his guys at halftime, galvanized them, because Snow was a totally different squad once they returned to the field in the third quarter. Kerr marched the Badgers 69 yards in seven plays, punctuating the drive with a one-

yard touchdown toss to Ron Tiavaasue. The tidal wave kept coming following a Broncbuster threeand-out. Kerr hit Tejhaun Palmer for 27 yards, Shammah Luani found a crease for a 27-yard score, and all of the sudden, Snow had a 17-13 advantage.

The Badgers tacked on another field goal before Kerr lofted a perfect spiral to McCoy for a 43yard touchdown. On the play, defensive back Kenny White slipped near the sideline, leaving the secondary exposed. “Snow is always good; they’re well coached,” Minnick said. “

“You have to give them a lot of credit for coming back.” The Broncbusters took a massive right cross in the third quarter. In less than 10 minutes, their 10-point lead had turned into a 14-point deficit. As anemic as the Broncbuster offense was in the third, Mike Orthmann’s unit came alive in the final period. Cox drove his team 53 yards in nine plays, converting a third-and-25 with a beautiful 37-yard dime to Hayes. Minutes later, Cox was at it again, this time hitting MJ Link for 21 yards and a first down on third-and-15. All of that led to Hayes’ second rushing touchdown of the afternoon: a one-yard plunge that brought Garden City back to within seven, 27-20 with 2:59 remaining. “I think Snow’s defense got a little tired in the second half; that’s why we were able to move the

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2019 BRONCBUSTER FOOTBALL

The Badgers out gained Garden City 458-299. The Broncbusters lost the game despite winning the time of possession battle (35:33 to 24:16). Kerr was 24-of-38 for 377 yards and two touchdowns, while Luani carried the ball 14 times for 40 yards. Cox finished 20-of-44 for 241 yards and a touchdown for Garden City, who lost a season opener for the first time since 2011. The Broncbusters, the nation’s best rushing team in 2018, totaled just 58 yards on 36 carries vs. Snow. Hayes had 17 totes for 36 and two scores, and Ellis Merriweather touched the ball 10 times for 31. But the stat of the night was this: Garden City was just 5-of-20 on third down. “We struggled last year at Arizona Western on third downs,” Minnick said. “It’s something that we have to get better at.” How successful has Garden City been in opening-week games? This was the Broncbusters first week-one loss since Jeff Tatum’s squad lost to Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in 2011. They had won seven straight openers (including the game vs. Independence in 2013, where Garden City had to forfeit because of an ineligible player.

ball,” Minnick said. “We just have to be better.” On life support, and with only two timeouts, the Broncbusters needed a quick stop. Ryan McClain had the answer. His pulverizing hit on Luani on first down set the tone, eventually forcing the Badgers to punt from their own 29. With one last chance, Garden City took full advantage. And Cox was brilliant, setting up Hayes perfectly on a 22-yard screen pass. Later in the drive, facing a fourth-and-6, Cox completed a pass to Watt, who wrestled the ball away from Wilbon for a first down. That was followed

“We’ll get better from this game,” Minnick said. “We’ll play anyone in the country. We are not afraid. It’s these types of games that get you ready. We want Snow to be a part of Junior College football, so obviously we helped them out by scheduling this game. But I’ll play East Mississippi in week one if we have to. You don’t gain anything by playing the little sisters of the poor.” followed up by a pass interference call on Snow in the end zone, giving the Broncbusters the ball at the 2. With less than a minute to go, Cox finished the drive with a two-yard touchdown pass to tight end Bryce Parker, Dos Santos Aires added the extra point, and the game was tied.

at the Broncbuster 20. An illegal substitution penalty on Garden City made the field goal try a bit more manageable. And that’s all Pizano needed, splitting the uprights from 32 yards out as time expired, giving Snow a dramatic three-point win.

While his team may have lost one of the most thrilling games in week one, they gained confidence. Nate Cox was tremendous in the fourth quarter running Mike Orthmann’s no-huddle attack. And the defense, which was left for dead in the third, bounced back nicely in the final frame.

“We put ourselves in a position to win the game, despite playing pretty poor,” Minnick said. After making a 13-hour bus trip from Utah to Kansas, the Badgers had no plans of playing for overtime. With two timeouts, Kerr moved them 60 yards in six plays, with the back breaker coming on a 19-yard completion to McCoy on third-and-10 that set Snow up at

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2019 BRONCBUSTER FOOTBALL

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GARDEN CITY ROSTER 1-D

Zihir Lacewell Staten Island, NY

6'3

190

Antoine Davis Macon, GA

5'9

165

Michael Cannon Sarasota, FL

6'4

350

RFR

1-O

Troy'Von Johnson St. Petersburg, FL

5'9

160

Chris Smith Dacula, GA

6'2

200

Basa Balanganayi Palatine, IL

6'4

330

Dominick Watt Hollywood, FL

6'2

215

Zyheir Jones Lakewood, NJ

6'1

185

Nymonta Doucoure Columbus, OH

6'4

350

RFR

3-D

Kenny White Gibsonia, PA

5'11

190

DJ McCullough Tampa, FL

6'1

185

Andrew Theobald Boise, ID

6'5

310

RFR

3-O

Justin Morehead New Haven, CT

6’0

175

Renard Bozeman Ft. Lauderdale, FL

5'10

180

Stephan Zabie Austin, TX

6'5

330

RFR

4-D

Willie Hampton Casselberry, FL

6'1

230

Ramon Jefferson Bronx, NY

5'11

218

RSO

Dennis Johnson Fort Wayne, IN

6’1

180

RFR

5-O

Jadon Hayes Huntington, WV

5'10

180

Anthony Jordan Baltimore, MD

6'0

180

RSO

Kyel Grover Chicago, IL

6'2

180

5-D

Ali Gaye Redmond, WA

6'6

280

Christopher Rolack II Tampa, FL

6'1

175

Scieneaux Jarmon Chandler, AZ

6'4

205

RFR

6-O

Bryce Parker Upland, CA

6'4

220

Tre Green Bell Glade, FL

6'1

180

RSO

Maleak Bryant Atlanta, GA

6'5

255

RFR

6-D

Shemar Pearl Plano, TX

6'6

235

Jordan Ford Atlanta, GA

5'10

180

Jehiel Hill Phoenix, AZ

6'6

230

7-O

Ellis Merriweather Atlanta, GA

6'1

215

RSO

Landon Williams Castle Rock, CO

MJ Link Lakeland, FL

5'11

185

RFR

7-D

Jordon Riley Durham, NC

6'5

330

RSO

Rasuwl Martin Greenwood, SC

6'1

185

Jacobi Bellazin Livonia, LA

5'9

175

8-O

Marvin Washington Orlando, FL

6’1

202

RSO

Adrian Hopper Wichita, KS

6'0

180

RFR

Eilye-Oshaye Hill Phoenix, AZ

6'3

295

8-D

Darius Johnson Spokane, WA

6'3

290

Willie Ervin Indianapolis, IN

6'1

200

RFR

Jaiveon Gardner Pensacola, FL

6'3

250

RFR

9-D

Bryce Damous Huntington, WV

6'2

225

Shyheem Lewis Spotsylvania, VA

6'1

195

Andre Dos Santos Brazil

6'5

210

9-O

Aamir Holmes Chicago, IL

6'1

180

Darael Dugar Chicago, IL

6'1

220

Taishan Holmes Tappahannock, VA

6'2

300

Cole Beckham Jacksonville, FL

6'3

230

Kester Olson Fayetteville, AR

6'0

190

Jadarius Bernard Port St. Lucie, FL

6'2

320

11-D

Sam Moala Reno, NV

6'3

255

RSO

Kevin Verwayne Marietta, GA

6'3

235

Daniel Lavelle Forsyth, GA

6'4

265

Nate Cox Lafayette, LA

6'9

240

RSO

Jimyon Profit Baton Rouge, LA

6'1

225

Motu Amotai Sparks, NV

6'2

290

Deandre Wallace Waterbury, CT

6'5

205

Ryan McClain Albuquerque, NM

6'3

260

Domenico Cipriani Toronto, Ontario

6’3

255

RFR

Josh Artis Macungie, PA

6'4

220

Christian Fuhrman Queen Creek, AZ

6'1

230

Janil Brown West Palm Beach, FL

6'3

310

Arvell Ferguson St. Louis, MO

6'4

220

Richard Merritt Largo, MD

6'5

370

RSO

Mason Nguyen Glendale, AZ

6'1

190

Martez Jones Kirkwood, MO

6'1

200

Krishon Merriweather St. Louis, MO

6'0

220

Kendall Brown Jacksonville, FL

6'4

310

Kevaughn Dingle Miami, FL

6'2

190

Matthan Hatchie Haleiwa, HI

6'4

275

Emilio Monsivais St. Louis, MO

6'3

215

RFR

Ryan Atkins Merrillville, IN

6'4

300

Jyheir Jones Lakewood, NJ

6'1

200

Jehiel Hill Phoenix, AZ

6'6

230

Cameron Johnson Perry, GA

5'11

180

Julian Clark Jacksonville, FL

6'5

305

RFR

Marcus Dean San Diego, CA

6'2

185

Paul Finau Seattle, WA

6'4

360

RSO

ELLSWORTH ROSTER 1

Sydney Audiger West Valley, UT

5'9

170

Mark Petry Mainz, Germany

6'5

249

Kvonte Baker Wichita, KS

5'8

190

Caden Coulson Dubuque, IA

6'2

279

Marice Whitlock Rock Hill, SC

5'7

158

Raveion Harrell Springfield, MO

6'2

277

AJ Payne Amerucus, GA

213

Jagves Garnett Cedar Rapids, IA

6'6

362

Yannie Scott Haines City, FL

5'8

163

RS Fr

Terry Matthews Geismar, LA

5'8

151

Kionte Blakely Kentwood, MI

5'5

158

Zion Walker Rock Hill, SC

6'4'

168

Isaiah Bellamy Largo, FL

6'4

241

Magnum Hamilton Iowa Falls, IA

6'2

215

Darious Kimbrough Leesburg, GA

5'8

189

Josiah Payne Danville, IL

6'2

256

Ja'ron Kilpatrick Winter Haven, FL

5’11

192

RS Fr

Will Weidemann Clarion, IA

6'4

248

Keegan Glaus Bettendorf, IA

5’11

204

Josaphat Tamatekou Chicgao, IL

6'3

248

Chase Swoope West Bloomfield, MI

5’11

165

Da'viair Kinney Pearland, TX

261

Jaydon Green Norfolk, NE

5’11

163

Davon Sears Center Line, MI

6'3

270

Omunique Wilkerson Nevada, IA

6'3

183

Jaquon Nicholson Mulberry, FL

6'2

293

Julian Baldi Italy

6'1

226

Nolan Bell Muscatine, IA

6'3

297

Reat Chuol Lincoln, NE

6'2

147

Trey Baker Cedar Rapids, IA

6'2

247

Nascier Borden Robinsdale, MN

5'6

156

Jacob Poetzl Marinette, WI

6'4

241

Derrick Maxwell Country Club Hills, IL

192

Carlton Martinez-Hale Burlington, IA

6'2

206

Logan Ward Iowa Falls, IA

5'8

175

Jaron Early Columbus, GA

5'9

185

Pierre Jordan Memphis, TN

5’11

170

Deandre Fitz-Henley Pinellas Park, FL

6'2

232

Demarcus Hood Columbus, GA

191

Matt Bigley West Salem, WI

6'2

217

Keyshon Thomas Wichita, KS

6'1

191

Kaleb West Cedar Rapids, IA

320

Dayton Evans Wichita, KS

6'1

323

Xavier Sanchez Antioch, IL

6'4

326

Cameron Bonner Cedar Rapids, IA

6'3

280

1 NATIONAL TITLE • 12 JAYHAWK CHAMPIONSHIPS • 24 BOWL APPEARANCES

BAA BOARD

DOYLE MCGRAW

MAXINE ATKINSON

PRESIDENT

YVONNE SPERRY MEMBER

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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

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2019 BRONCBUSTER FOOTBALL

1 NATIONAL TITLE • 12 JAYHAWK CHAMPIONSHIPS • 24 BOWL APPEARANCES

STARTING LINEUPS GARDEN CITY

ELLSWORTH

BRONCBUSTER OFFENSE

ELLSWORTH OFFENSE

Pos

Player

Hgt

Wgt

Pos

Player

Hgt

Wgt

Kendall Brown

6-5

290

Nymonta Doucoure

6-4

315

RFR

Mark Petry

6-5

249

Cameron Bonner

6-2

280

Matthan Hatchie

6-4

295

Dayton Evans

6-1

323

Paul Finau

6-3

Julian Clark

6-5

330

RSO

Caden Coulson

6-2

279

310

RFR

Jagves Garnett

6-6

362

Bryce Parker

6-4

220

Will Weidemann

6-4

248

Dominick Watt

6-2

210

Omunique Wilkerson

6-3

183

Deandre Wallace

6-4

210

Zion Walker

6-4

168

Troy’Von Johnson

5-9

160

Reat Chuol

6-2

147

Jadon Hayes

5-10

180

Darious Kimbrough

5-8

189

Nate Cox

6-9

230

RSO

AJ Payne

6-0

213

BRONCBUSTER DEFENSE

BUSTERS VS. PANTHERS

OFFICIALS Referee

Brian Moore

Umpire

David Burham

Linesman

Alan Davis

Line Judge

Phil Lombardi

ELLSWORTH DEFENSE

Side Judge

Pos

Player

Hgt

Wgt

Ali Gaye

6-6

275

Casey Farley

Pos

Player

Hgt

Wgt

Danny Jonas

Jacob Poetzl

6-4

241

Darius Johnson

6-2

310

Philip Kirgan

Jaquon Nicholson

6-2

293

Jordon Riley

6-5

310

RSO

Nolan Bell

6-3

297

Ryan McClain

6-3

Willie Hampton

6-1

260

Isaiah Bellamy

6-4

241

230

RFR

Keegan Glaus

5-11

204

Krishon Merriweather

6-1

220

Deandre Fitz-Henley

6-2

232

Jyheir Jones

6-1

200

Matt Bigley

6-1

217

DJ McCullough

6-1

185

Chase Swoop

5-11

165

Rennard Bozeman

6-0

185

Sydney Audiger

5-9

170

Kenny White

5-11

190

Ja’ron Kilpatrick

5-11

192

RFR

Anthony Jordan

5-11

200

RSO

Derrick Maxwell

6-0

192

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2016 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

#REBOUND GAME

hatever happens this season, Garden City may look back to one play as their defining moment in 2019.

Trailing 22-7 with seven minutes to play in first half, the Broncbusters were reeling. But with one subtle move, Sam Moala changed all of that. The sophomore transfer from Pima, punched the ball away from Dodge City running back Darius James, jolting life back into the Broncbuster cause. Garden City never looked back, answering with 35 straight points en route to a 42-22 pounding of the rival Conquistadors Saturday night at Memorial Stadium. “We weren’t playing well at all,” Head Coach Tom Minnick said. “But we fought our way back at the end of the first half, and just kept it going. We hurt ourselves big time.” Still feeling the sting from a heartbreaking three-point loss to Snow last week, the Broncbuster offense looked totally out of sync to begin the game. And while they were sputtering in mud, Dodge City looked revitalized, taking their opening drive 75 yards in six plays, capping it with Jace Orndorff’s 37-yard touchdown pass to speedster Da’Quan Bailey-Brown. It was one of seven first-half catches for the South Florida commit. “Offensively, we just made way too many mistakes,” Minnick said. “Dodge City has a good football team. There young, but they took advantage of our mistakes.”

bouncing back BY MIKE PILOSOF

PHOTOS BY ADAM SHRIMPLIN

AFTER A 30-27 LOSS TO NO. 6 SNOW, GARDEN CITY FOUND THEMSELVES REELING IN THE FIRST HALF VS. DODGE CITY. THEN THEY FLIPPED THE PROVERBIAL SWITCH. THE REST IS HISTORY

After a three-and-out on Garden City’s second possession, the Conquistadors smelled blood. On second-and-3 from their own 37, Orndorff hit Brown on a screen pass and watched the sophomore do the rest. Brown turned the corner and was off to the races, sprinting 57 yards. Only Kenny White saved a touchdown. But there was a silver lining on that drive. The Broncbuster defense stiffened, and Orndorff was dropped for a one-yard loss on third-and-goal. That setup a 22yard field goal by Moses Hinojos that put the Conquistadors up 10-0 with 5:56 to go in the first. “We weren’t running to the ball at all,” Safety Kenny White said after the game. “We made it a point to follow where he (Bailey-Brown) was at all times.” Garden City’s offense finally showed some life late in the first quarter. A 12-play, 70-yard drive, which included a massive fourth-and-7 conversion at the Dodge City 20, was polished off with Nate Cox’s eightyard scoring toss to Dominick Watt that trimmed the Conquistadors’ advantage to 10-7. “You have to give credit to our guys for continuing to fight,” Minnick said. “It wasn’t pretty, but we eventually got going.” Garden City’s momentum was short lived, and it took Dodge City only three plays to respond. On thirdand-5 from their own 32, Orndorff once again found Bailey-Brown, who streaked past everyone for 68 yards

1 NATIONAL TITLE • 12 JAYHAWK CHAMPIONSHIPS • 24 BOWL APPEARANCES

WEEK 2 VS. DODGE and a score, putting the home team up 16-7 (Renard Bozeman blocked the extra point) with 14:09 to go in the first half. “We just weren’t very good in the first half,” White said. “But we wanted to show everyone that we’re a good team.” Things went from bad to worse the next time Dodge City touched the ball. Orndorff marched the home squad 83 yards in nine plays, converting three third downs on the drive, the last of which was James three-yard rushing touchdown that stretched the Conquistador lead to 22-7 with 10:21 left in the second. “I know we got behind, but our staff did a really good job of adjusting and putting together a game plan.”

off a five-play, 64-yard march with a one-yard scoring run, pulling the Broncbusters to within one at the break 22-21.

next drive to set Garden City up inside the 20. Two plays later, it was Ford again, racing into the end zone from seven yards out.

Down by two scores, the Broncbusters were in danger of getting blown out by an unranked team. That was until Lavelle stripped James, and Garden City recovered at the Dodge City 11. Two plays later, Cox used a play-action fake to roll right before lofting a perfect pass to tight end Maleak Bryant for a seven-yard touchdown. The score made it an eight-point contest at the 6:15 mark of the second.

“We’re just going to keep doing what we’re doing,” White said. “We’re not going to change. We figured some things out.”

“We just haven’t been very good in starting games,” Minnick said. “But once we got things going, it was hard to stop. That’s the thing about this team-I don’t think they know yet how good they can be.”

“Coach (Mike) Orthmann, and the rest of the offensive staff did an incredible job tonight,” Minnick said. “They put us in position to be successful.” That one turnover more than galvanized a team that had struggled mightily to find any sort of consistency. And the next time they had the ball, the Broncbusters inched closer, thanks to Jadon Hayes, who was one of four Garden City running backs to punch their ticket for six. On this drive, Hayes finished

The Broncbusters more than figured out the Conquistador puzzle. In the third quarter, Garden City grabbed the lead for the first time, moving 76 yards With Garden City firmly in in 12 plays. It included a third-and-12 control, two plays highlighted conversion when Cox zipped a pass the fourth quarter. The first was a to Deandre Wallace for a gain of 24 down to the 8-yard line. One play later, Maine-transfer Ramon Jefferson, who was named a Freshman All-American last year, blasted up the middle from a yard out, giving the road team a 28-22 advantage.

dazzling interception by Krishon Merriweather, who halted Dodge City’s 20-play drive that had Jerry Dominguez’s defense on the field for nearly eight minutes. The other involved running back Ellis Merriweather, who turned in the most spectacular run of the night. With less than four minutes to play, the sophomore took the hand off from Cox, spun off four different defenders, broke two tackles in the second level, and was gone, taking it 57 yards to the house. Game over.

Dodge City could sense the tidal wave was coming. And boy did it. Jordan Ford, who replaced Jefferson on the following drive after the sophomore appeared to injure his shoulder, picked up the slack, using a sensational 20-yard run on the Broncbusters’

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ADISYN

SWAN Full Name Major Jersey Position Height Class Hometown Date of Birth

Adisyn Swan Undecided 13 Outside Hitter 6’2 SO Garden City, KS Aug. 4, 2000

disyn Swan’s demeanor never changes. The hometown kid from Garden City endured the program’s first winless season in history in 2018, yet her stoic-by-nature approach has impressed first-year Head Coach Patrick Hiltz.

VOLLEYBALL

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT

After starting the season 0-10, Swan led the charge as the Broncbusters snapped a 42-match winless streak with a four-set victory over Butler on Wednesday night. She had 22 kills and hit .375 in Garden City’s first win in nearly two years. In high school, she bounced back from a torn meniscus her junior year to earn second-team All-WAC honors her senior season, leading the Buffaloes to the state tournament for the third time in four years.

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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Convenient Care: 620-765-1450 St. Catherine Hospital: 620-272-2222 Siena Medical Clinic: 620-275-3700 Women’s Clinic: 620-275-9752 Heartland Cancer Center: 620-272-2579

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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Allred & Co American Implement American State Bank & Trust Brick & Kia Beymer Burtis Motor Brookover Companies Commerce Bank Eggleston Real Estate & Appraisal Garden City Farm Equipment Garden City State Bank Golden Plains Credit Union Hutcheson Real Estate Shaun, Tammy, Baylee & Jarica

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WRANGLER

ARC Real Estate Flat Mountain Brew house First Assembly Garden City State Bank Gibson, Mancini, Carmichael & Nelson MBA Real Estate Mike Orthmann Monty Miller Planks Price & Sons Funeral Home Prudential Insurance- Greg Calzonetti Screen Printing & Specialties TLC Trucking Wheatland Electric

ROUGH RIDER

Terry & Carla Algrim Kelly Cox Doering Grissell & Cunningham Financial Footnotes- Mick Hunter Golden Plains Garden City Chamber of Commerce Greg & Lachele Greathouse Harrington Farms Keller Leopold Insurance Lewis Hooper & Dick Tom & Tiffany Minnick Mike O’Brate Palace Computer Center Platinum Roofing Ryan & Amanda Ruda Scheopner’s Water Conditioning Trinity Feed yard

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