Week 2: Olathe Northwest Dominates Over Garden City 34–7 in Home Opener

Friday, Sept. 12, 2025 — Garden City, Kan.

Olathe Northwest took the sting out of Garden City’s home opener with a physical, well-executed performance that produced a 34–7 final. The Ravens established control with efficient drives and timely defensive plays in the middle frames, while Garden City’s offense struggled to sustain drives after early scoring. The result left the Buffaloes searching for answers about late-game execution and third-down consistency, while Olathe Northwest walked away with a road statement win.

How Olathe Northwest Won 

Olathe Northwest won the game by controlling the line of scrimmage, converting third downs and turning a pair of sustained drives into touchdowns that built a lead Garden City could not overcome. The Ravens mixed inside power runs with efficient short-to-intermediate passing to keep the Buffaloes off balance, while their defense bent but didn’t break — forcing Garden City into long, time-consuming drives that rarely flipped field position. When Garden City generated momentum, it was too little, too late: ONW’s early scoring bursts and complementary special-teams/defensive field position advantages created a cushion that stayed intact through the fourth quarter. 

Garden City Takeaways

The home opener exposed the Buffaloes’ current growing pains. Garden City showed signs of late-game fight — including a fourth-quarter score that reflected conditioning and adjustments — but the first half and much of the second quarter were defined by three-and-outs and negative-yardage plays that left the offense constantly battling downfield. The defensive unit improved as the game progressed, but early run-scheme breakdowns allowed ONW to build a multi-score advantage. In short: the Buffaloes have effort and some schematic answers, but must clean up early execution (third-down conversion, penalties, and starting-drive efficiency) to stay competitive against upper-tier non-conference opponents.

Olathe Northwest Takeaways

ONW’s win was textbook complementary football: a physical rushing attack that opened play-action windows, smart quarterback play on early downs, and a defense that forced Garden City into a long, low-yield series. ONW’s ability to finish drives with touchdowns — not field goals — provided separation, and their control of the clock kept Garden City’s offense on the sideline for long stretches. The Ravens can take confidence from the road win, but will want to maintain finishing efficiency and avoid a late-game stall in future matchups.

Matchup Breakdown

Tempo vs. response. Olathe Northwest dictated tempo with a run-heavy approach on early downs that kept the chains moving and limited Garden City’s offensive reps. That control of possession compressed opportunities for big Buffaloes plays and gave the Ravens the chance to force errors and convert scoring drives.

Edges and fits. ONW’s offensive line won decisive early leverage, especially on second-level runs in the second quarter; Garden City’s front was steadier late but the earlier damage had already tilted the scoreboard. Garden City’s defensive adjustments improved gap integrity in the second half, but ONW’s balanced attack had already set the scoreboard narrative.

Hidden yards & field position. Special teams and early defensive stops repeatedly put Garden City behind the sticks; those hidden-yardage deficits grew into points as ONW converted short fields and long drives into touchdowns. That difference in unseen field position was a persistent theme and a major reason the game finished 34–7 despite Garden City rallying late.

Final Game Numbers

• Final: Olathe Northwest 34, Garden City 7
  
• Program snapshot (GCHS): Home-opener under HC Joe Price; the Buffaloes still working to build offensive continuity after limited returning starters and early non-conference tests.

Up Next

Garden City stays at home to face Wichita Heights on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025 at 7PM at Buffalo Stadium. 

Olathe Northwest also returns home to matchup against Lawrence High School on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025 at the College Boulevard Activity Center (CBAC) in Olathe, KS.