Broncbusters produce eight sacks and three turnovers in rout of rival Dodge City

By Mike Pilosof

Photo by Adam Shrimplin

Garden City, KS-Rivalry or not, Garden City took this one personal. 

Ty Perry ran for a season high 123 yards and added two touchdowns through the air, Darshun Williams reeled in two interceptions including an 85-yard pick-six, and the Broncbusters annihilated Dodge City, 40-7 on Saturday night at Broncobuster Stadium. It was Garden City's eighth consecutive victory over their rivals from the east, improving their overall mark to 2-3 and 2-1 in conference play. 

Dodge City, which was coming off consecutive victories, looked lifeless on offense thanks in large part to Chenelle Jones' rejuvenated defense that harassed both Grant Cicerone and DeRhon King to the tune of eight sacks. In fact, the Broncbusters produced 12 plays of minus yardage, limiting the Conquistadors to just 200 total yards (53 of which came on King's pass to Javon Campbell on the second to last play of the third quarter) and just 2.9 yards per play. 

After a defensive stalemate dominated much of the opening period, James Jones broke the lid off with a 16-yard rushing touchdown to give Garden City a 7-0 edge 10 minutes into the game. Then, early in the second quarter, Perry engineered a seven-play, 70-yard drive that included a 43-yard jaunt by the sophomore quarterback that set the Bronbusters up at the Dodge City 6. Four plays later, Perry blasted in from a yard out to make it 14-0. 

But as good as the offense looked at times, the defense stole the show. 

Williams jumped in front of a wobbly Cicerone pass on the Conquistadors' second possession of the contest. Early in the second, Jalen Smith fumbled, and Deshawn Troutman recovered for Garden City, eventually leading to Perry's one-yard plunge. Jaylen Moss followed by taking Cicerone to the ground the next time Dodge City had the ball and Zach Blackwood tagged the signal caller later in the period. In all, Garden City tallied six sacks in the first half and held the Conquistadors to less than 100 yards of offense over the first 30 minutes. 

Special teams ignited Tom Minnick's bunch when Martiel Singleton returned the second-half kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown. Perry then directed an 11-play, 65-yard march that resulted in a 26-yard scoring toss to Torey Morrison. The sophomore quarterback added a 10-yard dime to Tyejuan Taylor in the back right corner of the end zone in the final period before Williams plucked a King pass out of the sky before weaving his way down the left sideline for an 85-yard touchdown. 

The only lapse from Jones' defense came in the fourth when Jett Elad was beaten by Campbell for a 53-yard gain. Moments later, King hooked up with Kam'Ryn Thomas for a five-yard score putting an end to the shutout. 

Perry finished 10-of-26 for 87 yards and two touchdowns for Garden City, which now sits only a half game out of second place in the Jayhawk standings. Guerrero posted seven tackles, and Troutman added six and a fumble recovery

King was 9-of-18 for 120 yards, one touchdown and one interception for Dodge City, which fell to 1-2 in conference play. Campbell caught two balls for 77, and Tyrell McMillan posted eight tackles.