GARDEN CITY, TX – The Garden City Bearkats beat the defending state champion Strawn Greyhounds 34-23 in a nail-biter in Garden City on Friday.
The defense on both teams stepped up big, holding each other to only 57 points combined, which is uncommon for these two offense.
“We've been playing good defense all year," said Garden City head coach Jeff Jones. "Last week we played Rankin who was averaging 60 a game and we held them to 8. We hang our hats on defense, we have five returners and three are all-state, so its no surprise to us. That's what we take pride in.”
WATCH: Garden City head coach Jeff Jones
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The game started of fast with Strawn coming in and running the ball with Trey Osini for an 8-yard touchdown.
Garden City didn’t give in at all. The Bearkats came out and ran the ball hard and finally capping off the drive for a seven yard rushing touchdown by Cesar Chavez.
Another huge factor for both sides was penalties. Both teams had multiple penalties during plays where they had twenty plus yards, which really created struggles for both offenses.
The Greyhounds struck back in hurry by running a 75-yard run by Ivan Ruiz.
After this touchdown, Garden City came out throwing and Osini found Chavez for a twenty five yard touchdown.
Garden City then held Strawn big four and out. Which led to Trae Jost finding Chavez once again for an eight yard touchdown.
This final touchdown of the half made the score 20-15 Bearkats.
The Greyhounds came back from the locker room with a chip on their shoulder. They came in and muscled their way into the engine with a three yard run by Ruiz.
Both teams for the most of the third played stellar defense with them each forcing a turnover on downs. With the good field positions off the turnover the Bearkats threw the ball down to the end zone, but ending up running it in for a three yard touchdown by Chavez for his third touchdown of the night.
At the end of third quarter the score was 28-23
To start the fourth quarter Strawn couldn’t get a yard on the Bearkat defense which led to yet another four and out. Garden City started the ball on their own twenty six yard line. Although the offense didn’t step up for the greyhounds the defense did when Chavez threw an interception to Marco Lopez.
The Greyhound defense stepped up at the after the interception by getting another turnover on downs. They started about the same spot as last time, but this time they found their way into the end zone with Hunter McMillan with a one yard run.
Stawn had one last chance to score and keep it close, but after three first downs they ended up fumbling on their own 32-yard line.
“Them being last year's state champions wasn’t an impact," Jones said. "Them just being a great team is an impact. It made us spend a little more time, little more focus, and it opened up the play book a little bit”
Garden City remains unbeaten at 6-0. The Bearkats enjoy a bye in week 7 before hosting Water Valley to begin district play on Oct. 12.
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