6 hours on a bus: Garden City HS football team crosses state for 6A battle

EMPORIA, Kan. (KWCH) - A battle of east versus west has the Garden City High School football team traveling more than 730 miles roundtrip (nearly 370 miles each way) for Friday night’s game at Olathe Northwest. By the time the Buffaloes return home early Saturday morning, they will have spent nearly 12 hours on a bus.

12 News caught up with the team in Emporia on their final pit stop before reaching the Kansas City suburb for Friday night’s Class 6A matchup. With rival Dodge City being the only other team in Garden City’s classification within two hours of Garden City, the Buffaloes aren’t immune to long road trips or to hosting teams that travel a long way, primarily during the postseason.

Last week, Manhattan traveled more than four hours to play at Garden City in the season opener for both schools. But as far as the distance between competitors goes, the Garden City-to-Olathe journey stands out. Dodge City is also traveling to Olathe Friday, a near-five-hour trip to play at Olathe East.

Garden City players discussed their thoughts ahead of the early-season cross-state road trip.

“Some of me is dreading it but also, I like getting to bond with my teammates,” said GCHS quarterback Ethan Gomez. “You’re stuck on a bus together, so there’s no way to get closer (than that).”

GCHS Head Football Coach Brian Hill said being in Western Kansas means more drive time for students involved in sports and other activities.

“Getting in the car, you know for four or so hours, you know for many people, it’s a vacation and for us, you know, we just call it a Tuesday,” Hill said.

That time builds quality relationships between players.

“They don’t necessarily remember specific plays or the score of games that they’ve played in, but road trips and things like this are opportunities for them to you know, build rapport with their teammates,” Hill said.

Heading into Olathe, the Buffaloes said they were hoping for a good game and a safe journey home.

“Hoping for a good game, hoping to get a win so we can celebrate on the way back,” Gomez said.

“Obviously, a victory, you know, it makes the six-hour ride home a lot easier if you go home a winner,” Hill said.