Broncbusters roll to third straight win

Garden City, KS-First-year coach, Kiyoshi Harris made his intentions very clear during the week: leave no doubt on Saturday.  

Gene Sledge Jr. scored three touchdowns, Jeremiah Caldwell snagged two interceptions, and No. 11 Garden City destroyed Ellsworth, 69-3 at Broncbuster Stadium. 

Garden City won its third straight game to improve to 3-1 overall while also posting the fourth most lopsided victory in program history. 

Sophomore Zo'marion Harper threw for 79 yards and ran for 18 and a score for the Broncbusters, which beat Ellsworth for a seventh straight time. Dejuan Lacy, who entered the day sixth in the nation in rushing, finished with 155 all-purpose yards and a touchdown.  

In front of their longest road trip of the season, Garden City made easy work of the overmatched Panthers. After their opening drive stalled, resulting in a 30-yard Tanner Rinker field goal, the Broncbusters marched 61 yards in seven plays, finishing it off with a one-yard rushing touchdown by Sledge Jr. to make it 10-0 with 4:59 remaining in the first. 

"When you practice well, you play well, it's as simple as that," Harris said after the game. "I thought we had a really good practice on Thursday." 

Ellsworth, which lost their 12^th straight game, scored their only points on their ensuing drive when Nolan Mickelson drilled a 25-yard field goal. Other than that, they were thoroughly dominated as Garden City outgained them, 614-238.  

The Broncbusters answered by scoring on their next four possessions. Harper capped off a seven-play, 61-yard drive with a five-yard rushing score. Unfortunately, the sophomore was knocked out of the game the next time Garden City had the ball. But even with him on the sideline, the offense didn't miss a beat. Sledge Jr. and Lacy put Harris's squad on the doorstep of the end zone before backup quarterback, Liam Oczkowski snuck in from a yard out to give the Broncbusters a 24-3 advantage.  

"The good thing about this type of game is that we got a lot of guys some film," Harris explained. "Guys who don't get a lot of reps in games were able to see some significant time." 

Caldwell's first pick of the game off a wobbly Steven Werking pass setup Rinker's second field goal of the afternoon-a 36 yarder that made it 27-3 at the half.   

"We did what we had to do," Harris said. "It makes this week a lot more enjoyable, that's for sure."

Garden City exploded for 28 points in the third. Oczkowski dropped a perfect, 70-yard dime to Elijah Griffin down the right sideline for a touchdown despite being pulverized by David Pettway as he released the ball. On the next series, the freshman hit Lacy for a 30-yard score to make it 48-3. Sledge Jr. added a two-yard rushing td late in the third, Zahmari Palode-Gary rumbled 46 yards for a score, and Tylik Burton sprinted in from 27 yards out to give the Broncbusters a 66-point lead.  

Caldwell though made the play of the day with a leaping interception near the end zone late in the third.  

The Broncbusters forced three more turnovers bringing their season total to 12. Jayce Shriner posted six tackles and a forced fumble, and Michael Thomas led the way with eight stops.