Polls even more fuzzy; Garden City at No. 5 now

By Mike Pilosof

Photo by Adam Shrimplin

Garden City, KS-Things are definitely getting interesting.

The top five of the new NJCAA rankings looks like a jigsaw puzzle with Garden City coming in at No. 5 in the latest polls released on Monday. It's their highest ranking since they were No. 3 in the preseason.

"We talked about going 4-0 a couple of weeks ago," Head Coach Tom Minnick said on Monday. "We are halfway there. But we have two really good teams to play to close this thing out."

Consider this: never has a two-loss team played for the National Championship. But with the Mississippi State playoffs starting this week and Texas beginning their postseason on Saturday, this year could be an anomaly.

"We just have to find a way to win these two games," Minnick added. "Then we'll see where everything else falls."

Mississippi Gulf Coast, who opens the playoffs with defending National Champion East Mississippi, is No. 1 at 9-0. Lackawanna (they play a non-NJCAA team this week) is second followed by Kilgore, who stormed back from a 21-3 deficit to beat sub .500 Tyler in two overtimes on Saturday, is third, and Hutchinson, who visits Broncbuster Stadium, dropped from three to four after humiliating Rezolution Prep.

The Broncbusters need some help, there is no doubt about that. But any slipups at the top of the polls, coupled with Garden City winning their final two games, could have the Broncbusters making NJCAA history. But Minnick isn't jumping the gun.

"We are playing the most talented team in the league this week," Minnick said. "When Hutch takes the field, you will see some dudes. They've recruited well at every position. And this will be a definite challenge."

So the NJCAA game of the week is set: No. 4 Hutchinson and No. 5 Garden City, Saturday at 1 p.m. The winner is one step closer to the Jayhawk Crown.

Attention fans for this week's game For this week only, ticket prices have been reduced. Adult tickets are $2 at the gate and $1 for students. If you bring two canned food items, admission is free. Come out and get loud for the biggest game of the season.