-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Darryl Kelley of Iowa Central gains a few yards during the kick off against Garden City on Saturday

For the second consecutive week, Iowa Central put an early scare into a national junior college power.

However, a pivotal three-minute stretch late in the first quarter and early in the second doomed the Tritons, as they fell to No. 17 Garden City here Saturday at Dodger Stadium, 37-0.

Over the opening 13 minutes, the Iowa Central (0-10 overall) defense held up vs. former University of Oregon quarterback Terry Wilson and the Broncbusters (7-3), forcing back-to-back three-and-outs to start.

Wilson, though, found his groove on Garden City’s third series, directing a 12-play, 76-yard drive that culminated in a 7-yard touchdown run by Charles West for the defending national champions.

“I thought our defense played great, especially our line,” ICCC head coach Kevin Twait said. “But our offense was the most inept it has been all year.

“We had four starting offensive linemen out and against a good defense like that, it only makes the job even tougher.”

Wilson, a redshirt freshman, completed 9 of 18 passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns — all in the first half. He has already received offers from Baylor and Indiana this year.

Still, with the score sitting at 7-0 after the opening 15 minutes, the Tritons were feeling as good as last week when they led top-ranked Iowa Western in the first half.

The Broncbuster quickly changed all that.

Wilson hit Kahari Foy-Walton on a 52-yard touchdown strike and Garden City’s Jon Alexander picked off a pass on the very next possession, setting Wilson up deep inside Iowa Central territory.

Nigel Kilby, a 6-foot-8 tight end, hauled in a 7-yard pass from Wilson for another score, making it 21-0.

“We didn’t tackle very well and that second quarter really got away from us,” Twait said. “We also killed ourselves on special teams with penalties and in the field position game. I’ve never seen us commit so many blocks in the back and holds on special teams.”

As disappointing as the loss on a day when the Tritons honored their sophomores prior to kickoff, Twait did see positives in the final 30 minutes.

“We challenged the guys in the locker room down 34-0 at the half and with things not looking great,” said Twait, who is third on wins list for active coaches in the NJCAA. “It seemed like Garden City could name their score, but our kids came out and competed hard.”

Julian Viersen had an interception for the Triton defense, with Savon Robinson and Jacob Giese each recording a sack. The Broncbusters recorded six sacks and had six more tackles for loss, holding Iowa Central to minus-6 yards rushing.

The Tritons conclude their season next Saturday at 10th-ranked Butler. They have played four current members of the Top-25 this season.

ICCC GC

First Downs 5 17

Rushes-Yards 31-(-6) 35-158

Passing 30 188

Comp-Att-Int 8-19-2 15-25-1

Total Offense 24 346

Punts-Avg. 10-38.0 4-44.0

Fumbles-Lost 1-0 1-0

Penalties-Yards 9-65 6-60

Iowa Central 0 0 0 0– 0

Garden City 7 27 3 0–37

Scoring Summary

Garden City — Charles West (7-yard run), 2:06 left in first. James White kick.

Garden City — Kahari Foy-Walton (52-yard pass from Terry Wilson), 14:41 left in second. White kick.

Garden City — Nigel Kilby (7-yard pass from Wilson), 14:16 left in second. White kick.

Garden City — White (36-yard field goal), 9:33 left in second.

Garden City — Foy-Walton (24-yard pass from Wilson), 5:18 left in second. White kick.

Garden City — White (21-yard field goal), 1:30 left in second.

Garden City — White (33-yard field goal), 3:20 left in third.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing — Iowa Central: Roman Edwards 8-13, E’Quan Dorris 6-12, Justin Daubaris 2-3, Taylor Holston 4-2, B.J. Phillips 11-(minus-36). Garden City: Taylor Thomas 7-55, Charles West 11-48, Terry Wilson 7-28, Rayvon Bartlett 8-17, Billy Mance 2-10.

Passing — Iowa Central: B.J. Phillips 4-13-1-19, Taylor Holston 3-3-0-8, Josh Walshire 1-2-1-3, Chris McLeod 0-1-0-0. Garden City: Terry Wilson 9-18-0-166, Rayvon Bartlett 6-7-1-22.

Receiving — Iowa Central: Mikal Baker 2-19, Chris McLeod 1-7, Kurt Trumm 1-5, Justin Daubaris 1-5, E’Quan Dorris 1-(minus-1), Ty Sohn 1-(minus-5). Garden City: Kahari Foy-Walton 2-76, Charles West 3-47, Daniel Davis 3-36, Yatil Gant 2-13, Billy Mance 2-8, Nigel Kilby 1-7, Kahari Love 1-3, Taylor Thomas 1-(minus-2).