Broncbusters fall at the horn, 26–24, after two TDs wiped away

Photo by: Adam Shrimplin/Garden City Athletics

Garden City, KS — Garden City opened fast and finished with a late strike, but penalties, miscues, and a last-second kick tilted a wild night to Coffeyville, 26–24.

Fast start, then flags change everything

On the opening drive, DaeOnte' Mitchell marched the offense 75 yards and hit Cenard Bennett for a 20-yard score (11:36, 1st). After Coffeyville answered to tie it, Mitchell capped a 91-yard reply with a 1-yard keeper (6:09, 2nd), and Lucca Alcaraz Valens added a 33-yard field goal (1:19) for a 17–7 lead.

But the momentum kept getting yanked away. Two Garden City touchdowns were wiped off the board by personal fouls, including an 82-yard catch-and-run and another explosive quarterback scamper late in the second quarter—massive swings that kept the Red Ravens within reach. 

Defense battles; third-quarter lull

The Broncbusters defense—and Michael Floyde in particular—came up with timely pressures, a sack, and run stops to stall multiple Coffeyville trips. Still, GCCC was flat for most of the second half, and the Red Ravens took advantage: two third-quarter touchdown passes (8:40 and :44) flipped the scoreboard to 21–17.

Chaos late: safety, a go-ahead bomb, and the dagger

A Coffeyville punt pinned Garden City at its own 3, and a busted play produced a team safety (5:34, 4th) to make it 23–17. Jaydyn Sisk then jump-started a must-have drive with chunk keepers before firing a 41-yard laser to Bennett for the go-ahead touchdown with 1:13 left—24–23 Busters.

Coffeyville's two-minute drill, aided by underneath throws and a delay flag, reached the 3-yard line with :03 on the clock. The Ravens drilled the 19-yard walk-off field goal, 26–24.

By the numbers (context that told the story)

• Ground game: Garden City pounded out 242 rushing yards (Mitchell 88; J'kharri Thomas 48; Sisk 43), pairing it with 194 through the air.

• Money downs: GCCC converted 9 of 14 on third down, but…

• Crucial mistakes: 10 penalties for 106 yards and a string of second-half errors on offense "gave the game away," repeatedly stalling drives and erasing points.

• Floyde's impact: 1.0 sack and multiple hurries in key sequences.

What it means

Garden City proved it could move the ball and create explosives—but the combination of erased touchdowns, drive-killing flags, and a late safety flipped a winnable game. The Red Ravens cashed in at the wire; the Broncbusters will feel this one, then get back to cleaning up the details that decided it. 

Next Up

The Broncbusters hit the road to face Ellsworth Community College on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 11:00 a.m. at Cadet Football Field (Iowa Falls, IA).