Broncbusters cough up double-digit lead; fall to No. 9 Iowa Central

Fort Dodge, IA-Mark this down as a major missed opportunity.

Western Kentucky transfer, Justin Silverstein accounted for four total touchdowns (three through the air and one on the ground), Mario Sanders caught six balls for 106 yards and three scores, and No. 9 Iowa Central stormed back from a 13-point second-half deficit to beat fifth-ranked Garden City, 30-20 Saturday afternoon at Dodger Stadium. The loss dropped the Broncbusters to 1-1 overall. 

For the second straight week, Garden City, one of the most penalized teams in the country last season, couldn't get out of their own way. They were flagged 17 times for 186 yards including a backbreaking facemask call on a critical fourth-down play midway through the third quarter that eventually resulted in a Tritons' touchdown. 

But this game should have never been close.  

After James Jones' electrifying 75-yard touchdown run down the left sideline on the first play of the third quarter, Garden City had rattled off 20 straight points to take a 20-7 advantage. They had all the momentum, and their defense had kept the Silverstein-Sanders combination, which totaled four scores in a week-one victory over Independence, in check for the most part. But all it took was one play to ignite the dynamic duo. 

Following a massive fourth-down stop where Terrell Elliott stuffed Tritons' running back Spencer Zinn for no gain at the Garden City 31, the Broncbusters had a chance to put the game out of reach. But after Fred Davis's 19-yard rumble gave Tom Minnick's club a first down at the Iowa Central 44, South Carolina transfer, Jalen Daniels tried to force a ball into Terence Fall down the middle that Aaron Warren snagged for a momentum-shifting pick near midfield. Four plays later on fourth-and-6, the Broncbusters appeared to get off the field when Silverstein's pass for Tyler Schenkelberg fell incomplete. But Dakota Doyle-Robinson was flagged for a facemask allowing the drive to continue. Seconds later, Silverstein found a streaking Sanders for a 35-yard touchdown that trimmed Garden City's lead to 20-14 with 8:16 remaining in the third.  

Nothing went right for the visitors from there. 

On the Broncbusters ensuing possession, Daniels was stripped sacked by Kolben Miller, and Khelton Reed recovered at the Garden City 49. Later in the period, after Kody Kirk's shanked punt, which landed in plus territory at the Broncbuster 31, Silverstein located Sanders again, this time on a crossing pattern for a 16-yard score. Doyle-Robinson blocked Kongolo Mwenemkamba's extra point, and the game was tied at 20 at the end of the third quarter.  

The next time the Broncbusters touched the ball, they moved it to the Iowa Central 21. But after a Tritons' timeout, tight end Ajou Ajou, who transferred from Clemson, was called for a false start. Daniels then muffed the snap resulting in a six-yard loss before firing an incomplete pass to Demond Demas near the end zone on fourth-and-17. In all, the possession was a complete disaster. 

Iowa Central took full advantage of yet another mishap.  

What followed was a time consuming, 10-play, 68-yard march. Silverstein, the reigning Iowa Community College Conference player of the week, found Michael Bartolo for a 14-yard hookup on third-and-4 at the Tritons' 38. Two plays later, Silverstein zipped a pass to Jaylon Washington for 18 yards down to the Garden City 15. Then it was Silverstein to Sanders for 18 before an illegal substitution penalty put the ball at the 1-yard line. Two plays later, the redshirt sophomore quarterback sprinted around right end for the go-ahead touchdown, giving Iowa Central a 27-20 advantage with just over six minutes to play.  

Garden City had a chance to redeem itself the next time their offense was on the field. Daniels fired a pass over the middle that appeared to be intercepted by Jamal Spiyee. But Fall ripped the ball away from the Tritons' defensive back resulting in a Broncbuster first down. However, the euphoria was short lived because two plays later, Dan Knudsen knocked the ball out of Daniels' hands, and Kolben Miller recovered at the Garden City 33.  

Jesse Montalto's team then put the game out of reach when Mwenemkamba drilled a 21-yard field goal to stretch the lead to 30-20 with 1:46 to go. That was followed by Warren's second pick of the afternoon, a game-clinching interception at the Iowa Central 31. 

Daniels finished 16-of-26 for 179 yards, two touchdowns, and one pick for Garden City, which lost to the Tritons for a second straight year. He was sacked four times. Jones eclipsed the century mark on the ground for a second consecutive week, carrying the ball 12 times for 115 yards and a score, and Alexander Lines tallied four catches for 27 and a touchdown.  

Silverstein was 22-of-44 for 200 yards, three touchdowns, and one pick for Iowa Central. He carried the ball eight times for 68 and a score, and Miller recorded four tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. 

After Iowa Central took a 7-0 lead on Silverstein's 24-yard touchdown pass to Sanders late in the opening period, the Broncbusters responded just over two minutes later. A six-play, 57-yard drive resulted in a beautiful touchdown pass from Daniels to Ajou in the back-right corner of the end zone. The play was highlighted by Daniels, who rolled right away from pressure before throwing a picture-perfect pass to his sophomore wide receiver. But kicking woes, which have plagued Minnick's team the first two weeks, came into play again, forcing the Broncbusters to go for two. They failed.  

Midway through the second quarter, Daniels struck again. This time, he polished off a 10-play, 80-yard march with a seven-yard scoring toss to Lines. Davis ran in the two-point conversion, and Garden City was up 13-7.