Week 3: Garden City Holds On Over Dodge City, 24-17

Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025 — Garden City, Kan.

What started as a Saturday showdown between Jayhawk Conference rivals, Garden City CC and Dodge City CC, turned into a Sunday nail-biter after inclement weather suspended play. The game resumed on Sunday, Sept. 14 with 5:37 remaining in the second quarter, Dodge City in possession at Garden City’s 25-yard line. When all was said and done, it was GCCC that weathered the storm, special teams, and gutsy quarterback draws to seal a 24-17 victory.

How Garden City Won

Garden City’s offense sputtered early, with the Broncbusters managing just –2 rushing yards in the first half and struggling to keep Dodge City’s defensive front out of the backfield. With the run game bottled up, GCCC turned to the air to tie the game 7–7, then found new life after the weather delay. Quarterback Jadyn Sisk’s 11-yard QB draw in the third quarter gave the Broncbusters their first lead and provided the dual-threat element that Dodge couldn’t contain. Even so, the Conquistadors kept pounding away on the ground, slipping through weak-side gaps and keeping the score tight into the fourth. That’s when special teams delivered the game’s defining moment: Nathan Baudry blocked a 51-yard field goal attempt, with Greg Johnson returning it deep into Dodge territory and a horse-collar penalty tacking on 15 more yards. The sequence flipped field position and momentum, setting up Garden City to finish the game with a 24–17 victory.

Garden City Takeaways

This game revealed both vulnerabilities and resilience. Offensively, the Broncbusters finished the first half with –2 rushing yards, forcing them to lean on the passing game to generate momentum. Two timely throws tied the game at 7–7, giving the offense a spark despite early struggles on the ground. When Garden City finally turned loose quarterback Jadyn Sisk’s legs, the complexion changed. His 11-yard QB draw that gave GCCC a 24–17 lead was a defining moment — and a snapshot of how his dual-threat ability adds a critical dimension to the Broncbuster attack. Defensively, Garden City was repeatedly hurt by weak-side runs in the first and early second half, with Dodge slipping through gaps to move the chains. But after the third, the Broncbusters tightened gap fits, forcing plays back inside and limiting explosive runs. The weather delay itself may have been a blessing, giving the staff time to reset schemes and re-establish rhythm.

Dodge City Takeaways

The Conquistadors had a formula that worked early. Their offensive line carved space on the weak side, producing consistent yardage and keeping Garden City’s linebackers off balance. On the other side, Dodge’s defensive front dominated the first half, holding Garden City to negative rushing yards and repeatedly winning first contact. But the cracks showed after the restart. Without a reliable spy, Dodge had no consistent answer for Sisk and Mitchell’s QB runs, allowing the Broncbusters to extend drives in the second half. Add in the unusual scheduling — late-night travel and a quick turnaround into Sunday afternoon — and fatigue became visible as the defense wore down late.

Matchup Breakdown

Ground game contrast. Dodge City’s game plan was clear: control the ball and test Garden City’s run fits. The Conquistadors ran 53 times for 119 yards and 2 touchdowns, leaning on Derick Shanks Jr. (23 carries, 83 yards) to move the chains. Garden City, meanwhile, finished with just 123 yards on 31 attempts — almost all from quarterback play. Jaydyn Sisk (14–62, TD) and DaeOnte’ Mitchell (6–52) carried the load, with the backs largely bottled up. The contrast in approach defined the stat sheet: Dodge pounded away but struggled to finish drives, while GCCC turned selective opportunities into points.

Efficiency vs. volume. Dodge City dominated time of possession (51:14 to 32:10) and ran 39 more plays (89 to 50). Yet Garden City produced more points on fewer chances by capitalizing on explosive moments — a 46-yard touchdown strike to John Randle Jr., a 14-yard toss to Ahmir Smith off a short field, and Sisk’s late 11-yard QB draw. Dodge piled up first downs (27 to 12) but could not turn long drives into touchdowns after halftime.

Hidden yards and penalties. Dodge City consistently moved the ball but sabotaged itself with penalties — 15 flags for 123 yards, compared to Garden City’s 6 for 45. Special teams swung momentum too: Nathan Baudry’s fourth-quarter block of a 51-yard field goal turned into a 35-yard return by Greg Johnson and an additional 15 yards on a horse-collar, flipping the field from GCCC’s own 30 to Dodge’s 20. That hidden yardage proved decisive.

Final Game Numbers

Final: Garden City CC 24, Dodge City CC 17
Score by Quarters: [Dodge City: 7 | 3 | 7 | 0 — 17] [Garden City: 7 | 0 | 7 | 10 — 24]

QB efficiency (GCCC): Jaydyn Sisk 6-of-16, 119 yards, 2 TD; added 14 rushes for 62 yards and the game-clinching 11-yard QB draw TD.

Explosive plays:

• 1st Q — John Randle Jr. 46-yard TD reception from Sisk.
• 3rd Q — Ahmir Smith 14-yard TD catch after turnover.
• 4th Q — Nathan Baudry blocks 51-yard FG, Greg Johnson returns 35 yards plus penalty to Dodge 20.

Team totals:

• Dodge City: 89 plays, 303 yards (184 pass, 119 rush), 27 first downs, 51:14 TOP.
• Garden City: 50 plays, 242 yards (123 rush, 119 pass), 12 first downs, 32:10 TOP.

Rushing leaders: Derick Shanks Jr. (DCCC) 23–83; Jaydyn Sisk (GCCC) 14–62; DaeOnte’ Mitchell (GCCC) 6–52.
Receiving leaders: Mahki Whitney (DCCC) 7–82; John Randle Jr. (GCCC) 2–45, TD; Demond Littles Jr. (GCCC) 1–36; Ahmir Smith (GCCC) 1–14, TD.
Turnovers: Dodge 1 INT (Clayton); Garden City 2 fumbles lost.
Penalties: Dodge 15–123; Garden City 6–45.

Program snapshot (GCCC): Second season under HC Kiyoshi Harris; Broncbusters stay unbeaten (2–0) thanks to timely defense, explosive special teams, and situational quarterback play, and continue on ranked No. 4 in the NJCAA and No. 1 in the KJCCC.