Late Touchdown Lifts Garden City Past Independence, 32-28
GARDEN CITY, KS (Garden City Community College Athletics)— Garden City Community College delivered when it mattered most Saturday night, scoring the game-winning touchdown with 53 seconds remaining to defeat Independence Community College, 32-28, at Broncbuster Stadium.
Independence struck first, taking an 8-0 lead on a 1-yard touchdown run and two-point conversion by Ennio Yapoor late in the opening quarter. Garden City answered in the second when Travis Delaney Jr. connected with Jamarcus Smith for a 17-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to one. The Broncbusters grabbed their first lead later in the quarter after Michael McDonald forced and recovered a fumble deep in Independence territory. Two plays later, Delaney Jr. ran it in from 7 yards out to give Garden City a 14-8 halftime advantage.
Independence evened the game at 14 early in the third quarter on Donovan Delong’s 24-yard touchdown run, but Garden City regained control early in the fourth. Delaney Jr. found Rah’ Khem El for 43 yards to set up a 12-yard touchdown pass to Gauge Miesse. Jaden Landrum added the two-point conversion to put the Busters ahead 22-14.
The Pirates answered quickly with Delong breaking loose for a 66-yard touchdown, trimming Garden City’s lead to 22-21. Tucker Rinker responded with a 35-yard field goal to make it 25-21 with 6:43 remaining. Independence then put together a late 80-yard drive, capped by Yapoor’s 1-yard touchdown with 1:57 left, giving the Pirates a 28-25 advantage.
With the game on the line, Garden City’s offense needed just 58 seconds to answer. Delaney Jr. opened the drive with completions of 14 and 2 yards to Smith before a pair of Independence penalties helped move the Busters into scoring range. With 53 seconds remaining, Delaney Jr. connected with Khem El for a 24-yard touchdown to put Garden City back in front, 32-28. The Broncbuster defense then kept Independence out of the end zone on its final possession to secure the win.
Delaney Jr. finished 14-of-34 for 239 yards and three touchdowns while adding a rushing score. Khem El was the game’s leading receiver with five catches for 141 yards and the game-winning touchdown. Smith added six receptions for 58 yards and a score, while Miesse finished with three catches for 40 yards and a touchdown.
Garden City finished with 288 yards of total offense and scored on all four of its trips inside the red zone. The Broncbusters also came away with a key takeaway on McDonald’s forced fumble and recovery in the second quarter.
The Broncbusters improve to 1-1 and return to the road next Saturday, Sept. 5, traveling to Dodge City to face the Conquistadors at 7 p.m.