By Marissa VanWingen, The Times Citizen
Just looking at one side of the offensive numbers, Ellsworth Community College had one of its best games of the season. The Panthers were able to move the ball against 11th-ranked Garden City Community College. The problem was that it didn't result in points. ECC (0-3) gave up more than 60 points for the second time this season in a 69-3 loss on the road.
To start the game, the Panther defense made a stand inside their own 20 to keep the Broncbusters (3-1) from reaching the end zone and forced a 30-yard field goal. On ECC's first offensive possession, they moved the ball down the field. They picked up two first downs before stalling at the 35 yard line and having to punt. Garden City then scored their first touchdown of the game on seven plays and eating up 39 yards of turf.
The Panthers responded and cut the deficit to 10-7. Nigel Cheeks opened with a 56-yard kick return as ECC's offense started on the Broncbuster side of the 50. Kellen Cockrell hit Kacen Boyer for nine yards and then Calvin Swinney ran the lions share of the runs. Once again the Panthers stalled, this time on the eight yard line. Nolan Mickelson drilled a 25-yard field goal attempt to get the Panthers on the board and end an eight quarter scoring drought.
The next three Garden City offensive drives in the first half resulted in points while ECC's were a punt and an interception. The hosts went into the half leading 27-3.
The Broncbusters scored on six of their seven possessions. The hosts scored four touchdowns in the third quarter, three in less than two and a half minutes of game time.
In one of the best rushing games of the season, the Panthers averaged four yards per carry led by Calvin Swinney with 122 yards. Five different ECC players attempted a pass, and they finished with just 67 net yards passing – led by Cockrell's two of 11 for 24 yards.
The road trip gets even more difficult this week as ECC travels to top-ranked Hutchinson Community College. The Blue Dragon offense is averaging 37 points per game and 463 yards a contest.
For more coverage of ECC Athletics go to https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.timescitizen.com%2fsports%2fecc%2f&c=E,1,QkQ320fMwZe2b-CPeOxHYDepVBzii4BYuZQijd0KtnqQDD5hWNHnmvdEvfpm8sGzZbRbALIPhBZqU3LLCU1sBFov8ilDKtyfZyXVs3mLAc57UUlE7qPeFhWX-pR_&typo=1.
Garden City 69, Ellsworth 3
Saturday at Garden City, Kan.
ECC: 3| 0| 0| 0 – 3
GCCC: 10| 17| 28| 14 – 69
Scoring Summary:
First Quarter:
GC: 11:12 Tanner Rinker 30 yd field goal
GC: 4:59 Gene Sledge Jr. 1 yd run (PAT)
ECC: 0:50 Nolan Mickelson 25 yd field
Second Quarter:
GC: 12:41 Zo'marion Harper 5 yd run (PAT)
GC: 4:23 Liam Oczkowski 1 yd run (PAT)
GC: 0:00 Rinker 36 yd field goal
Third Quarter:
GC: 11:57 Gene Sledge Jr 17 yd run (PAT)
GC: 5:43 Oczkowski 70 yd pass to Elijah Griffin (PAT)
GC: 5:27 Oczkowski 30 yd pass to Dejuan Lacy (PAT)
GC: 3:09 Sledge 2 yd run (PAT)
Fourth Quarter:
GC: 9:17 Zahmari Palode 46 yd run (PAT)
GC: 0:52 Tylik Burton 27 yd run (PAT)
ECC Stats:
Passing: Kellen Cockrell 2-11 24 yds; Steven Werking 4-5 23 yds, INT; Shane Helmick 3-8 13 yds; Gabriel Robinson 1-3 7 yds, INT; Lucas Katayama 0-1.
Rushing: Calvin Swinney 21-122 yds; Deondre Rutherford 7-56 yds; Helmick 2-8 yds; Jamari Brown 4-7 yds; Nigel Cheeks 2-0 yds; Werking 2-(-1) yds; Cockrell 3-(-3) yds; Robinson 2-(-18) yds.
Receiving: Kacen Boyer 4-32 yds; Caliel Long 1-15 yds; Rutherford 1-12 yds; Troy Werking 1-8 yds; Tate Glaspie 1-4 yds; Swinney 1-(-1) yds; Cordey Taylor 1-(-3) yds.
The Ellsworth Community College Panthers compete in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) and is a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association. Ellsworth Community College is a member of the Iowa Valley Community College District.