Garden City beats Highland; earns first victory of 2022

By Mike Pilosof

Photo by Adam Shrimplin

Highland, KS-Tom Minnick could care less how it looked because in the end, the Broncbusters earned their first victory of 2022. 

Ty Perry threw for 292 yards and a touchdown, James Jones became Garden City's first 100-yard rusher of the season with 102 on the ground, and the Broncbusters beat Highland, 14-6 Saturday afternoon at Porter Family Stadium. 

"We made way too many mistakes; unacceptable mistakes," Minnick explained afterwards. "We are fortunate to get out of here with a win."

Garden City completely dominated the Scotties, limiting the home team to just 46 total yards and six first downs. In fact Chenelle Jones' defense held Tyson Robbins to just 5-of-19 passing for eight yards. 

"Defensively we were good," Minnick said. "But our offense couldn't finish drives. We drove up and down the field and couldn't score. That's what is so frustrating."

Despite the contest being as one sided as it was, Garden City dodged some major bullets early in the game. On their third offensive possession, Perry was sacked for a loss of 14 yards on fourth-and-1. The next time Minnick's bunch had the ball, Bradlee Anderson blocked Angel Islas's punt, setting the Scotties up at the Broncbuster 30. Fortunately for Garden City, Highland gained just two yards on three plays. Then on fourth down, Jett Elad broke up Robbins' pass for Darius Melton. 

"Our special teams was terrible," Minnick stated. "I mean, what else can you say?"

Later in the opening period, facing a third-and-10, Colby Orgeron stripped Perry of the ball, and Kenton Rickerson recovered at the Highland 41. It was one of two turnovers on the day. 

"We gave them chances, and lucky for us, they didn't capitalize," Minnick added. "We gave them shots all day."

The miscues kept coming for Ryan Felker's offense the very next time they had the ball. Facing a third-and-6 at their own 48, Perry forced a pass into coverage that was picked off by Earnie Whipple and returned 37 yards to the Garden City 27. 

"That ball should not have been thrown," Minnick said."

That play didn't result in any points as Highland eventually punted, but on the Broncbusters' ensuing possession, Manowa Ngenzira blocked Islas's boot, and Quantre Moore returned it for a touchdown. Highland missed on the two-point conversion (kicker Grant Sillyman was suspended for the first half for missing practice). 

"We had different guys making mistakes on our punts," Minnick said. "It's been like that every week."

Garden City (1-3, 1-1) responded later in the quarter when Perry engineered a seven-play, 73-yard drive. He connected with Giovanni Ribalta, who made a diving catch along the sideline for 17 yards. On the next play, Jones rumbled for 34 down to the Highland 16, eventually setting up Cisco transfer Travis Dixon's one-yard plunge that gave the Broncbusters a 7-6 advantage. 

"We proved we could move the ball," Minnick said. "It really came down to finding ways to punch it in."

Garden City squandered a couple of other chances to extend the lead in the third. Islas missed a 40-yard field goal early in the quarter before nailing one off the upright on a 33-yard attempt on their second possession of the second half. But after Highland punter (Grant) Sillyman pinned Garden City inside their own 10, the road team put together their most impressive drive of the day. 12 plays covered 93 yards, which included a nine-yard strike from Perry to Martiel Singleton on third-and-5. Later in the possession, Scotties' defensive back Dee'Shari Keith was flagged for pass interference, giving the Broncbusters an automatic first down. Two plays later, Perry went back to Singleton, who reeled in the line drive pass and scooted 30 yards to the end zone for a 14-6 advantage. 

"Ty has been consistent all season," Minnick said. "He played well again today."

The sophomore, who finished 26-of-43 for 292 yards, was steady, overcoming a two-turnover day by leading two vital scoring drives that were the difference in the game. 

Meantime Highland's offense was stuck in mud. They ran only 43 plays and held the ball for just 17:32. Yet they nearly caught the break they needed early in the final period when Jaleel Anderson punched the ball out of Jones' hands. Fortunately for Minnick, Basa Balnganay recovered inside the Garden City 10. Still, the Scotties had at least one chance to stay in the game. But that opportunity quickly faded when Robbins fourth down pass from the Garden City 33 sailed wide of intended target Ja'Vontae Willi with 7:04 remaining. Highland never touched the ball again. 

Dixon finished the day with 46 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown for Garden City, which beat Highland for the ninth straight time. Torey Morrison caught a season-best 10 balls for 94 yards, and Raymond Cutts totaled nine tackles including two for loss. 

Kason Jones ran for 42 yards on 21 carries for the Scotties, which dropped their ninth straight game dating back to last season.