Box Score DODGE CITY, Kansas:  Despite scoring first, the Conquistadors gave up 53 points to the nationally ranked #14 Grizzlies to fall 53-36 throughout four quarters of hard work.

It was a beautiful day on the gridiron for the game this afternoon.  The Conqs worked for 619 offensive yards on 90 total plays including 300 rushing yards and 319 passing yards, but the Grizzlies capitalized on choice plays to work for 627 total offensive yards and a big 526 passing yards to overcome Dodge City.
 
The first drive for both teams were uneventful, with Dodge City getting their second start at 11:40 in the first quarter.   Throughout the drive, Keymonne Gabriel worked for 43 rush yards and the four-yard touchdown to put the Conqs up 7-0 with the extra point kick by Dillon Burkhard.
 
The Grizzlies returned the next drive for a field goal opportunity, putting the first quarter score at 7-3 heading into the second.
 
Butler used the rest of their first quarter play and started the second with their first play as a touchdown.  Damarcus Smith passed to Van Powell for 27 yards and with the extra point kick went up for the first time of the game 10-7, a lead the Conqs would not get back throughout the rest of the game.
 
A fumble on the next drive at the Butler 15 turned the ball over for the Grizzlies to return for another touchdown, going up 17-7 with 8:07 left in the half.
 
DC3 worked down the field on the next drive, but was forced to punt back to the Grizzlies who used three plays, 98 yards and 58 seconds of play clock to score their next touchdown on a 96 yard connection from Smith to Michael Gallup.
 
With the score 24-7, the Conqs worked down the field yet again, gaining a field goal attempt from 26 yards out that Dillon Burkhard sent through the posts, ending the half with Dodge trailing 24-10.
 
The second half started in the oppositions favor as the Grizzlies worked down the field and Smith tossing a 58-yard connection to Gallup for another touchdown, putting Butler up 31-16 over the Conqs.
 
DC3 used all facets of their offense to own a scoring opportunity and with two 15-yard rushes by Mark Thompsons, the Conqs ended their next drive with a touchdown.  Burkhard's kick attempt was blocked and returned to the Conq end zone, but a penalty on the play pulled the ball back to a Burkhard kick off attempt and the score standing at 31-16.
 
The 60 yard kick off attempt was returned 48 yards, giving the Grizzlies a good start for their next drive.  A good start they took for a touch down, but with a field extra point rush attempt, the Grizzlies only went up six on the Conqs (37-16).
 
With roughly six minutes left in the third quarter the Conqs started their next drive looking to make a big impact.  Deondre Ford worked the offense for 53 offensive yards; passing for 35 and posting an 18-yard run himself to put another touchdown on the board for DC3.  Burkhard sent the extra kick through the posts to close the gap 37-23 with two minutes left on the clock.
 
The Conquistador defense held up on the next Grizzlies' drive with the visiting team only collecting six yards on three plays before being forced to punt.
 
The third quarter ended with the Conqs trailing by 14 and owning possession heading into the last 15:00.   The rest of the DC3 drive resulted in a forced 41-yard punt by Steve Knoche.
 
DC3 did not allow the Grizzlie much in their next drive however as they forced one incomplete pass and sacked Smith for a loss of 21 yards (sack by Christian Howard), forcing another punt.
 
Dodge City worked down the field for another touchdown, but the kick attempt was blocked yet again and returned for a defensive point after attempt putting the score at 39-29 with the Conqs still trailing and just under ten minutes left to play.
 
In the second play of the next Butler drive, Smith connected with Gallup yet again for a big 62-yard touchdown.
 
With the score at 46-29, the Conqs need to score in the next drive to keep things close.
 
Unfortunately, the next Conq drive was turned over on downs and the Grizzlies used that possession to score another touchdown on an 18-yard rush by Dalton Buehler, putting the score at 53-29.
 
Dodge City started their next drive with 3:34 left on the clock and worked down the field for a touchdown after Ford connected with James Newton for a 14-yard touchdown, closing out scoring at 53-36 and a loss for the Conquistadors.
 
Ford tossed for 29 completions in 36 attempts for 319 total passing yards on the day.  He collected one passing touchdown and his longest throw at 44-yards.  He also put in some rushing work today, with 10 carries for 75 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 6.7 yards per carry.
 
Keymonne Gabriel and Mark Thompson put in some good work on the rushing front, collected 128 and 106 yards respectively.  Gabriel put in 26 carriers for one touch down and averaged 4.9 yards per carry.
 
Thompson was good for 18 carries and one touchdown, averaging 5.9 yards per carry.
 
William French had a big receiving day for DC3 after posting nine catches for 151 total yards, including a 44-yard connection with Ford.  He also had big numbers on kick returns for the Conqs after returning five times for 82 yards, including a 23-yard long run on the day.
 
Steve Knoche was a strong as always on the punting effort for the Conqs with four punts for 171 yards, averaging 42.8 yards per punt and posting two punts inside the 20 and a 49-yard kick.
 
Andre Adams led the defense with six solo tackles and Elijah Battle was second for DC3 with five solo to himself.
 
The Conqs will hit the road next Saturday, October 18 at 12 p.m. to take on Iowa Central before returning home at 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 25 for homecoming against US Air Force Prep to close out October play.