Week 10: Garden City grinds past Highland 20–13

Posted November 15, 2025

Saturday, Nov. 25, 2025 — Highland, Kan.

Behind explosive plays from Ahmir Smith and a resilient defensive front, Garden City Community College survived a scrappy Highland squad, holding off the Scotties 20–13 on Saturday afternoon to move to 6–3 on the season. The Broncbusters led wire-to-wire and leaned on timely defense to overcome four lost fumbles and a slow second half, closing out their sixth win of the 2025 campaign in their regular season finale.

How the Garden City Won

Garden City drew first blood late in the opening quarter, capping a short field with Enese Tonga’s goal-line plunge for a 6–0 lead. In the second quarter, the Broncbusters stretched their advantage when Tanner Helton found Ahmir Smith on a 35-yard touchdown strike to make it 13–0 with 3:26 left before the half. 

Highland battled back in the third, fueled by running back T.J. Porter, who broke a 36-yard touchdown run to slice the margin to 13–7. But Garden City immediately answered: on the next possession, Smith took a handoff on a sweep and sprinted 46 yards to the end zone, restoring a two-score cushion at 20–7. The Scotties mounted one last push — a 13-play, 75-yard drive capped by another Porter touchdown — but the Broncbuster defense stood tall from there, forcing a late turnover on downs to seal the win.

Garden City Takeaways

The Broncbusters displayed both explosiveness and endurance in their final road test. Ahmir Smith continued his dynamic stretch with two touchdowns — one through the air and one on the ground — while Helton managed the offense efficiently, completing 9 of 12 passes for 129 yards and a score. The run game showed flashes with DaeOnte’ Mitchell (36 yards) and John Randle Jr. (21 yards) complementing Smith’s big day.

Defensively, Garden City delivered under pressure. Karson Butts led the unit with 12 total tackles, while Asher Horn recorded nine and an interception return for 25 yards that set up a red-zone chance. The Broncbusters also generated three sacks — one each from Michael Floyde, Butts, and Horn — and limited Highland to just one red-zone trip all afternoon. Despite nine total fumbles, the defense’s composure and situational stops defined the road win.

Highland Takeaways

Winless on the season, Highland still made the contest uncomfortable for Garden City thanks to the relentless running of T.J. Porter, who carried 28 times for 161 yards and both Scottie touchdowns. Quarterbacks Ryeki Tuley and Gabe McWilliams combined for 79 passing yards, but the offense lacked balance, converting only 4-of-13 on third down. Defensively, Demarrius Stewart’s interception and a high-effort front produced three sacks and four recovered fumbles, keeping the Scotties in striking distance until the final drive.

Matchup Breakdown

Explosive edges – Garden City generated two of the game’s longest plays — a 46-yard run and a 35-yard pass, both from Smith — accounting for 40% of its total yardage.

Defensive discipline – The Broncbusters turned Highland over twice and made stops on 4-of-5 fourth-down tries, while the Scotties controlled time of possession by nearly ten minutes but couldn’t cash in.

Finishing toughness – GCCC protected its one-score lead through the final 20 minutes, surviving turnovers with field-position management and gap integrity up front.

Final Game Numbers

Final: Garden City CC 20, Highland CC 13
Score by Quarters:

  • GCCC: 6 | 7 |  7  | 0 — 20
  • HCC:    0 | 0 | 13 | 0 — 13

QB Efficiency (GCCC): Tanner Helton 9-of-12, 129 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT; added 4 rushes for –22 yards. DaeOnte’ Mitchell 1-of-2, 36 yards passing; added 4 rushes for 36 yards.

Explosive Plays: Smith 46-yd rushing TD (2-play, 57-yd drive); Smith 35-yd receiving TD (6-play, 51-yd drive); Tonga goal-line TD (4-play, 47-yd drive); Horn 25-yd interception return; Randle Jr. 38-yd catch-and-run.

Team Totals: 

  • GCCC: 52 plays, 215 yards (50 rush on 38 att; 165 pass), 11 first downs, 6 penalties for 75 yards, 2 takeaways / 5 turnovers (4 lost fumbles, 1 INT), 3 sacks, 1-for-11 on 3rd, 2-for-3 on 4th, 1-for-3 red zone.
  • HCC: 67 plays, 244 yards (165 rush on 46 att; 79 pass), 17 first downs, 7 penalties for 39 yards, 1 takeaway / 2 turnovers, 3 sacks, 4-for-13 on 3rd, 1-for-5 on 4th, 1-for-1 red zone.

Leaders (GCCC):

  • Rushing: Smith 7-57-TD; Mitchell 4-36; Randle Jr. 3-21; Thomas 11-10.
  • Receiving: Smith 2-44-1; Randle Jr. 2-38; Burton 1-36; Tonga 1-15; Bennett 1-11.
  • Defense: Butts 12 tackles, 1 sack; Horn 9 tackles, INT, sack; Garnett 8 tackles; Johnson 4 tackles; Floyde 1 sack.

Program Snapshot

Now 6–3 overall, Garden City draws closer to the end of the regular season with its most balanced defensive effort of the year — limiting big plays, forcing turnovers, and scoring in three different ways for the fourth straight game.

Up Next

Garden City returns home for Sophomore Day against Iowa Central on Saturday, Nov. 15 at PM at Broncbuster Stadium before closing the regular season with a conference road finale at Hutchinson on Saturday, Nov. 22.

Highland (0–9) continues its season with a home matchup against Hutchinson on Nov. 15, followed by a road trip to Iowa Western on Nov. 22 in Council Bluffs.

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