LIVESTREAM NJCAA: Garden City Broncobusters @ Iowa Western Reivers, Oct. 3, 18:00 CET (6 pm, 12 noon ET)

The Garden City Broncbusters (2-3) travel to Council Bluffs, Iowa, Saturday to face the Iowa Western Reivers (3-1) in an NJCAA matchup at Titan Stadium. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. Central, 18:00 CEST.

The defending national champion Reivers return home looking for a response after suffering their first loss of the season, a 26-0 defeat at Hutchinson.

Reivers looking to rebound

Before the setback, Iowa Western had been impressive. The Reivers opened with a 71-0 rout of Highland, survived Coffeyville 27-24 and shut out Dodge City 31-0.

That gives Iowa Western two shutouts in four games, although Hutchinson provided a reminder of how quickly things can change against top-level JUCO opposition.

The Reivers enter Saturday averaging 235.8 passing yards per game and will be trying to reestablish the balance that helped them win their first three.

Watch live. Garden City Broncobusters @ Iowa Western Reivers, Oct. 3, 18:00 CET (6 pm, 12 noon ET)

Broncbusters building momentum

Garden City has taken a more difficult route to this matchup. The Broncbusters opened with a 31-17 loss to Snow, then fell 26-21 to Dodge City.

They have responded, however, beating Ellsworth 28-0 before going on the road last week and defeating Coffeyville 19-14.

The Broncbusters therefore arrive with consecutive victories and considerably more momentum than their overall record suggests.

Homecoming adds another layer

Saturday is also Homecoming for Iowa Western, adding another edge to the Reivers’ return to Titan Stadium.

For Garden City, the opportunity is obvious: knock off the defending NJCAA champion on its home field. For Iowa Western, the assignment is equally clear — make last week’s shutout loss an interruption rather than the beginning of a trend.