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GCCC hopes to topple Grizzlies with TV cameras rolling
Published 9/6/2008 in Sports : GCCC
By MIKE KESSINGER
mkessinger@gctelegram.com
When it comes to playing the Butler County Grizzlies, Garden City Community College coach Lucas Aslin knows his team most likely will have to have at least one thing on its side.
Some good fortune.
“It’s Butler County,” Aslin said. “We know them, and they’re not going to change what they do. They do what they do because they’ve won so many games with it. They’re going to line up and do what they run. Film is great to watch of those guys, but you know what you’re going to get. You just have to find a way to stop it. You have to get lucky on some things. You have to make sure you get fortunate on some bounces.”
Tonight, when the game kicks off at 7 p.m. at Memorial Stadium, the Broncbusters (1-0) will see if fortune can be on their side.
Things worked out for Blinn (Texas) in a battle of No. 1 vs. No. 2 Aug. 30 at Cessna Stadium in Wichita, as the Buccaneers toppled the defending national champion Grizzlies 23-20. The loss snapped a win-streak dating back to the 2006 season.
Could Garden City put the Grizzlies at 0-2? Aslin, a former assistant in the Butler program under head coach Troy Morrell, believes his team can play with the Grizzlies.
The Busters second-year coach is prepared for Morrell to have his players forgetting their first loss.
“He is going to be getting at his players,” Aslin said. “I’m sure he’s telling them ‘This game’s going to find out who you guys are. Are you guys a 1-1 team that lost a real close game, or are you an 0-2 team that thinks you’re a little bit better than you are?’” They’re going to ride the troops. They’re going to circle the wagons, and they’re going to bring their ‘A’ game. They’re just going to do it, and I guarantee it, they’re telling them ‘we’re going to do whatever we can to not be 0-2.’”
The streak of 10 straight losses the Busters have to Butler sticks in Aslin’s head. He’s more than willing to give the program props that has established an astounding 85-11 record in Morrell’s eight-year tenure. But if there is ever a time or a team that could knock off Butler and end the streak, Aslin sees no reason why this Buster team couldn’t.
His team will even have a chance to do it with a television audience as channel 22 ‘Kansas Now’ will broadcast the game.
The Busters bring a No. 9 ranking into the game, and in their first test a week ago at No. 24 Cisco (Texas) Junior College, Garden City came away with a 27-14 win.
A slow start that saw the Wranglers jump to a two-touchdown lead on their opening two possessions had Aslin frustrated early, but the Busters adjusted and Cisco had no response from there.
But a slow start against Butler, and it could all be over.
“I think (Butler) is a lot better on offense than they were last year,” Aslin said. “I think their going to have a little more balance. I think their better at the receiving corps. I think their tailback is going to be better than the one they had last year. (Quarterback) Press Taylor is a year older.”
Centered around Taylor, who is in his third year in the program, the Grizzlies racked up 281 yards through the air against Blinn. The down part was that they gained just 19 on the ground.
The Busters secondary, which was burned on a few occasions against Cisco, will have its hands full against Butler. Eight Grizzlies caught a pass in the Blinn game. No one was close in yardage though to Edgard Theiliar, who had six receptions for 156 yards and two touchdowns.
The Busters will counter with an offense led by quarterback Eugene Smith. The second-year starter completed 19 passes against Cisco, and his main target was Cameron Kenney. The Busters receiver caught seven passes for 134 yards and a touchdown. He also kicked field goals of 29 and 42 yards and averaged 40 yards a punt on seven kicks.
“They’re a very solid team,” Aslin said of the Grizzlies. “They’re very, very good on defense. Offensively they’re good, and I think they’re going to be a lot better as the year goes on.”
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