Garden City climbs two spots to No. 12
By Mike Pilosof
Photo By Adam Shrimplin
Garden City, KS-The Broncbusters keep rising.
Following a 42-16 rout of Fort Scott, Garden City climbed two spots to No. 12 in the latest NJCAA polls released on Monday.
"We just have to keep taking care of our business," Head Coach Tom Minnick said on Monday. "You never know what could happen. But we can't worry about the things that we can't control."
The Broncbusters have been ranked in 23 straight polls and 38 out of the last 42. With their victory over the 18th ranked Greyhounds, Garden City improved to 12-5 in their last 17 games vs. ranked opponents.
"This team is good enough to win out," Minnick said. "But you have to remember that we're dealing with 18 and 19-year old guys. We have the talent to do it."
This was the first poll that included the FCR computer rankings, which take into account a team's strength of schedule. The Broncbusters totaled 148 points, just six back of No. 11 Hinds. Garden City was the highest ranked two-loss team in the poll.
"Our schedule is really tough from here on out," Minnick added. "This league is as good as it gets."
There are five unbeaten teams in the rankings led by No. 1 Hutchinson, who held off Butler 35-27 on Saturday. The Grizzlies dropped to fourth after the loss. Meantime Highland made a return appearance in the polls at 20, marking four Jayhawk teams in the national rankings.
Garden City is back on the road on Saturday vs. Iowa Central, who cracked the top 10 earlier this season for the first time in a decade. They are receiving votes in the latest poll.