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Scared straight

Published 10/1/2007 in Sports : GCCC By Tony Adame

With a 7 p.m. kickoff Saturday night against Highland Community College, the Garden City Broncbusters got to watch some college football before they had to play in their own game.

And, in the process, gained some extra motivation.

"We watched a lot of big college games, and a lot of upsets," said GCCC defensive lineman Brett Spresser. "We watched those big teams go down and we knew that we didn't want that to be us. Our coaches were in our ear, too, telling us that could be us if we didn't take care of business."

On that front, mission accomplished.

Garden City (3-1 league, 4-1 overall) jumped out to a 36-3 halftime lead and rolled to a 46-3 win over Highland (0-4, 0-6) at Memorial Stadium without starting quarterback Eugene Smith, who got a much-needed week of rest after fighting injuries all season.

In his place, backup Luke Miller was efficient, if not stellar, running for a 42-yard touchdown and connecting with Anthony Chalmers for a 15-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter.

"We knew on Tuesday that Eugene wasn't going to go," Miller said. "The coaches did a great job with the scheme for tonight and we were able to come out and execute. I think, as a team, we're starting to realize what we can do."

It was Miller's second straight week seeing action for Garden City, after leading the Broncbusters to two second half scores in a win at Hutchinson on Sept. 22.

"As a staff, we have a lot of confidence in Luke to come out and get the job done," said Garden City head coach Lucas Aslin. "He does everything we want out there and with him and Eugene we have two guys we know that we can put in and lead us."

The defense did its part for the Broncbusters, also, coming up with two first quarter safeties for an early, 4-0 lead.

It was the least amount of points allowed by the Garden City defense this season.

"I think we played really well, but not our best by any means," said defensive back Daniel Sheffield. "We had some missed tackles tonight, so there is definitely some things to work on."

Wide receiver/punter/kicker Cameron Kenney had another big game, returning a punt 52 yards for a touchdown, kicking two field goals, converting on four extra point kicking attempts and running in a two-point conversion.

"We had to come out mentally focused so we didn't play down to their level," Kenney said. "(Highland) can do that to teams, they've done it before this year."

Garden City running back Maurice Greer added a pair of rushing touchdowns against the Scotties.

The Broncbusters now enter a crucial stretch, starting with Saturday's homecoming game against Independence, back-to-back road trips to Air Force Prep and Coffeyville, then the regular season finale against Fort Scott in Garden City.

"The guys understand what this stretch means, that we're expected to win and there is going to be some pressure," Aslin said. "They need to realize that this is the time when they can't falter, that if they really want to get what they want then it's there for the taking."

------------

GCCC 46, Highland 3

Highland 3 0 0 0 -- 3

GCCC 14 22 10 0 -- 46

First Quarter

GC -- Safety

GC -- Safety

GC -- Miller 42 run (Kenney kick)

GC -- Kenney 32 FG

Second Quarter

GC -- Chalmers 15 pass from Miller (Kenney kick)

GC -- Kenney 52 punt return (Kenney kick)

GC -- Greer 3 run (Kenney run)

Third Quarter

GC -- Greer 3 run (Kenney kick)

GC -- Kenney 32 FG

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