Broncbusters fall at No. 2 Iowa Western; drop to 0-3

By Mike Pilosof

Photo by Adam Shrimplin

Council Bluffs, IA-Three plays were the difference in Saturday's game. 

Derek Coombs scored three rushing touchdowns, Iowa Western forced three Broncbuster turnovers, and the second-ranked Reivers pounded Garden City, 43-13 at Titan Stadium. The loss dropped Garden City to 0-3 for the first time since 1993 under Jeff Leiker. 

But this game could have went in a completely different direction. 

After Ty Perry, who played despite an injured left leg, engineered a nine-play, 75-yard march that resulted in a beautiful 18-yard scoring toss to Torey Morrison on the game's opening drive, Garden City's offense went into hibernation mode. 

Following an Iowa Western punt, the Broncbusters faced third-and-11 at their own 36. Perry dropped back and spiraled a back-shoulder throw down the right sideline for Giovanni Ribalta. But JoJo Johnson snuck his left hand in and knocked the ball away at the Iowa Western 36. On the ensuing fourth down, Kysean Fenderson's snap sailed over punter, Angel Islas's head resulting in a 31-yard loss that gave the Reivers the ball at the Broncbuster 5. Three plays later, Coombs blasted in from one yard out, knotting the game at 7. 

Unfortunately, it was a sign of things to come. 

After Sam Wilber nailed two field goals in the second quarter, one from 35 yards and the other from 29 that gave Iowa Western a 13-7 advantage, Garden City drove 55 yards in less than 40 seconds, highlighted by Perry's 36-yard dime to Mykel Campbell which moved the ball to the Reivers' 12. But an offensive pass interference on Jaylin Young followed by back-to-back incompletions brought Islas out for a 42-yard field goal attempt. However, the Broncbusters were flagged for a false start, Islas left a 49-yard boot about eight yards short, and Wyatt Rhomer scooped the ball out of the air and raced 100 yards down the left sideline for a momentum-killing touchdown that had the 2021 national runner-up ahead, 20-7 at the break. 

Three plays: a dropped pass, a bad snap, and a missed field goal had changed the complexion of the entire game. 

The second half was a mere formality. 

With Head Coach, Tom Minnick, who was serving a one-game suspension after he was ejected during the fourth quarter last week vs. Iowa Central, sitting at home, the Broncbusters looked lifeless over the final 30 minutes.

Meantime the Reviers kept the pressure on, and Andre Goodman's 19-yard rushing touchdown early in the third, which polished off a nine-play 78-yard drive, gave Iowa Western a 20-point cushion. Coombs added a one-yard score the next time the home team had the ball and another short-yardage touchdown later in the period that made it 41-7. 

Only James Jones' 69-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth prevented Garden City from getting shutout in the second half, as the Broncbusters suffered their worst road loss since an 84-21 beatdown at the hands of Coffeyville in 2014. 

Perry finished 15-of-32 for 149 yards, one touchdown and one interception for Garden City, which managed just 200 total yards. Jones rushed three times for 76 yards and a score, and Raymond Cutts had 10 tackles and a sack. 

Goodman was 10-of-16 for 78 yards for Iowa Western, which improved to 3-0. Trey King Jr. carried the ball 14 times for 88 yards, and Quientrail Jamison-Travis tallied seven tackles and a forced fumble when he stripped Travis Dixon of the ball in the third quarter.

Notes: Garden City's game vs. Aces Elite, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 17 at 11 a.m. has been canceled. Their next game will be at Highland on Sept. 24 at 1 p.m.