Culture, Family Have No. 4 Garden City Ready to Reach Pinnacle Again

GARDEN CITY, TX-- As you walk towards the home stands of Bearkat Stadium in Garden City, you’re greeted by two football-shaped monuments; one for each of Garden City’s State Championships.

Those 2009 and 2010 teams, coached by legendary Vance Jones, put the finishing pieces on the construction of a powerhouse.

On the back of those monuments are the names of the players, many of which have the same last names as you’ll hear on Friday nights in Glasscock County.

That feeling of community and family is what has kept the Garden City Bearkats at the top.

“It’s very hard to explain,” fourth year head coach Jeff Jones said with a smile. “From the outside looking in, it’s kind of hard to understand. When you’re on the inside looking out, it’s kind of hard to explain.

“This community is a little different than most small schools. A bunch of these parents who live here grew up here and have come back to farm or work and raise their kids here. So, the pride in the community has been steadily growing throughout the years.”

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Last year, the Bearkats went 10-3, won the district title and played in the regional final where they lost to eventual State Champion Borden County.

This year, the Bearkats are favored to win District 8-1A Division 1, which features Sterling City, Roscoe Highland, Westbrook and Water Valley.

To get past the Regional Final, the Bearkats will look to ride on the backs of their 13 returning lettermen and eight starters, many of whom share a namesake with players from 2009 and 2010.

“That brings back a lot of experience. They’ve been in those big games and lost,” Jones said of his returners. “So, they have some unfinished business. They’ve been in that big game, they’ve been in that situation. They’ve got to redeem themselves, so to say.”

Helping the Bearkat’s district title defense in 2018 is a group of eight seniors.

“They’ve been playing together for a long time,” Jones emphasized. “I’m talking back in the pee-wee days.”

Cesar Chavez, Raul Almazan, Hunter McMillan and Hagan Halfmann return in 2018 after All-State years on defense. Jones calls McMillan “Mr. Utility” because of his versatility on the field.

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Trae Jost led the Bearkat’s offense in their game against Borden County after an injury knocked out their starter. Jones says he’s one of the key seniors for his offense this year.

“He’s coming back with more experience,” Jones added.

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Zach Burnet is also back and will likely sure up Garden City’s offensive and defensive fronts like he has throughout his career.

Amando Alegria transferred in to Garden City last year from San Benito in South Texas. Jones feels the senior adjusted well to his new home last year.

“He’s very athletic and has been coached well,” Jones added. “He turned out to be a really good running back. He had about 40 carries, but 18 of them were touchdowns. We’re looking forward to him carrying the ball a lot more this year.”

The Bearkats open their season at home on Aug. 31 against San Jacinto Christian Academy from Amarillo.