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Football: Busters' Smith named to conference first team
Published 11/15/2008 in Sports : GCCC
By MIKE KESSINGER
When Garden City Community College quarterback Eugene Smith first heard the news he was excited, but at the same time he was a little disappointed.
The excitement came from Smith being named to the All-Jayhawk Conference first team. The disheartening aspect to Smith was that he was joined by just two teammates, sophomore wide receiver Cameron Kenney and offensive lineman sophomore guard Ray Carter.
“It was good to be on there, but I definitely think there should have been more,” Smith said. “We had a lot of guys that had a big season.”
Smith, who was a second team All-Conference pick last season, threw for 2,099 yards, completing 199-of-336 passes this year. He threw 12 touchdowns and had 12 interceptions. His best games of the season came against Butler in their two meetings. In the first game, Smith threw for 395 yards and four touchdowns when the Grizzlies won 34-29 at Memorial Stadium. In the first round of the Jayhawk Conference playoffs last Sunday in El Dorado, Smith threw for 237 yards with one touchdown. On the ground he ran for 125 yards and scored once. The Grizzlies were able to hold on for a 24-19 win, and advance to Sunday’s championship game against Hutchinson at Cessna Stadium in Wichita. Butler quarterback Press Taylor was the second-team pick.
“I was hoping Eugene would get it,” Broncbusters head coach Lucas Aslin said. “It was close between him and Press.”
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Brad Nading/Telegram -- Garden City Community College quarterback Eugene Smith (5) stretches the ball across the goal line for a touchdown as Dodge City's Kevin Dix and Josh Bradshaw tackle him in an October game at Memorial Stadium.
Kenney, a first team selection for the second year, played in eight of the Busters 10 games. He missed two with a sprained shoulder he suffered at Independence on Sept. 20. The Busters acrobatic star led the team with 560 yards and five touchdowns. He had 40 catches, which tied freshman Cameron Horesky for second on the team in receptions. Freshman Adrian Jones led Garden City with 41 catches. Horesky and Jones were both named to the honorable mention team. Kenney was also named honorable mention all conference kicker.
Carter, who was one of four new starters on the Busters offensive line this season, helped pave the way for 1,723 yards rushing, which led the Jayhawk Conference.
“We didn’t accomplish what we wanted to, but we always played hard,” Smith said. “We never let up and were in it to the very end. Everyone always showed a lot.”
Garden City defensive lineman Terry Vaughan was the only Buster to make second team on either side of the ball.
Along with Jones and Horesky, offensive tackle Marcus Cane, guard Brad Youngers and running back Ryan Smith were named to the honorable mention team on the offensive side. Linebackers Aaron Anderson, J.J. Williams and Jarrett Hernandez were named honorable mention defense.
“We’re happy with what we got,” Aslin said, who’s team finished 6-4. “We probably got what we deserve.”
Butler, the regular season conference champs, led the way with seven first team selections. Fort Scott had six selections, and Hutchinson, which tied the Busters for third in the conference, had four selections. The Blue Dragons swept the player of the year honors as running back La’Darrian Page was named offensive MVP, and interior lineman Eugene Kinlaw the defensive MVP. Butler coach Troy Morrell was named the coach of the year.
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