Fourth-Quarter Surge Lifts No. 13 Snow Past No. 10 Garden City
EPHRAIM, Utah (Garden City Community College Athletics) — No. 10 Garden City Community College battled No. 13 Snow College to a tie through three quarters before the Badgers pulled away in the fourth, handing the Broncbusters a 31-17 loss Saturday at Terry Foote Stadium.
Garden City struck first on its opening possession. After Kordavion Reed returned the opening kickoff 42 yards, the Broncbusters drove into Snow territory before Tucker Rinker connected on a 49-yard field goal to give Garden City a 3-0 lead. Snow answered later in the quarter with a 1-yard touchdown run from Aquaylis Jordan to take a 7-3 advantage.
The Badgers extended the lead to 14-3 early in the second quarter on a 19-yard touchdown pass from Bryce Benson to Grayden Dumas. Garden City responded immediately. Rah’ Khem El returned the ensuing kickoff 52 yards to the Snow 43, and Travis Delaney Jr. found Jamarcus Smith for a 43-yard touchdown on the next play, pulling the Broncbusters within 14-10. Snow added a 40-yard field goal later in the quarter to carry a 17-10 lead into halftime.
Garden City’s defense provided the equalizer in the third quarter. Dante Alexander intercepted Jack Thow and returned it for a touchdown, with Rinker’s extra point tying the game at 17 with 10:06 remaining in the third. The Broncbuster defense kept Snow off the scoreboard for the entire quarter, setting up a tie game heading into the fourth.
Snow broke the tie early in the final period when Jadyn Buckner scored from 10 yards out to make it 24-17. Garden City responded with a 63-yard kickoff return from Khem El that put the Broncbusters at the Snow 31, but penalties pushed the offense backward before a fumble ended the possession. Snow took advantage, and Buckner broke free for a 44-yard touchdown with 9:34 remaining to stretch the lead to 31-17.
Garden City finished with 198 yards of offense, including 162 through the air, while Snow totaled 298 yards. The Broncbusters were hurt by 12 penalties for 121 yards and lost two fumbles. Garden City also converted just 2 of 12 third downs.
Delaney Jr. led the Broncbuster passing attack, completing 6 of 12 passes for 130 yards and a touchdown. Smith and Gauge Miesse each finished with 63 receiving yards, with Smith hauling in the 43-yard touchdown. Khem El added 230 yards on six kickoff returns as Garden City averaged 38.3 yards per return.
Defensively, Kyeran Garcia led Garden City with nine tackles. Triston Abram recorded eight tackles and 1.5 sacks, while Dakeriean “DK” Johnson added seven tackles and 1.5 sacks. Alexander finished with five tackles and the interception return for a touchdown as the Broncbusters recorded five sacks and intercepted two Snow passes.
The loss moves Garden City to 0-1 on the season.