Box Score DODGE CITY, Kan. -- Highland Community College was playing the role of spoiler well as a long kickoff return and quick touchdown pass gave the Scotties a 20-15 lead over 14th-ranked Dodge City Community College less than a minute into the third quarter as the Conquistadors were looking for a win and a share of the KJCCC title - something it hasn't had a piece of since 1983.

Things looked a bit gloomier when the Dodge City offense went three-and-out on its first possession of the third quarter and gave the ball back to Highland on its own 17.

But that's when Conq middle linebacker Gary Johnson made a spectacular play that changed the tide of the game - and put Dodge City back on track toward that elusive KJCCC title.

The freshman picked off Highland quarterback Taymon Grabauskas' short pass and ran it 14 yards for a touchdown to return the lead to the Conqs for good and ignite a 36-6 run for Dodge City the rest of the way during a 51-26 victory Saturday at Memorial Stadium to make the Conqs co-KJCCC champions with Butler.

Johnson - who had a monster game with 9.5 tackles (three for a loss), two interceptions, two forced fumbles, a sack and a touchdown - said with the momentum going toward Highland early in the third quarter, he knew someone had to make a big play.

"We were in man (defense) and I saw the running back go out," Johnson said. "I jumped the route and took it in for six. We needed it. We needed a boost."

From that point in the game on it was all Dodge City (9-2 overall, 6-1 KJCCC) as the Conqs' offense got rolling after struggling in the first half with only 58 yards - though it still led 15-13 at the break.

The Conquistadors racked up 213 yards in the second half led by the running of Florida commit Mark Thompson. The sophomore rushed for 137 of his 159 yards and three of his school-record tying four rushing touchdowns in the second half.

"We knew if we came and did what we needed to do in the second half, we could get it done," Thompson said. "... This is the first ring (championship) I've ever had. It means a lot to us on the team and the city. We all love it."

Dodge City coach Gary Thomas said the change from the first half to the second half was just about patience.

"The run game stuff is a process," Thomas said. "You aren't going to draw up touchdown runs every time. Our defense played outstanding. We put them in bad positions. But at halftime we talked about credit and that it's not about the offense or the defense. ... It was just about calming people down and getting them all in a rhythm."

The game was a defensive battle early on as the only points scored in the first quarter came when Marquise Blair tackled a Highland (5-5, 4-3) defender in the end zone with 7:45 left in the first to make it 2-0 Conqs. The play was set up by a punt by Dillon Burkhard, last week's NJCAA Special Teams Player of the Week, downed at the Highland 2.

A Burkhard 33-yard field goal followed by a Thompson 9-yard scoring run gave the Conqs a 12-0 lead early in the second quarter before Highland answered with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Grabauskas to Troy Grant with 6:57 left in the second to make it 12-6 (the Scotties' two-point conversion failed).

Another Burkhard field goal, this one from 39 yards away, gave the Conqs a 15-6 lead before Highland answered with a touchdown pass from Grabauskas to John Becker to make it 15-13 at the break.

Highland's Marquis Terry returned the opening kickoff of the third quarter 54 yards to the Dodge City 25 and the Scotties scored two plays later on a Grabauskas 24-yard pass to Damoun Patterson to give Highland its first lead of the game at 20-15.

The Scotties looked like they may add more after forcing a three-and-out by Dodge City, but that's when Johnson came up with the crucial interception returned for a touchdown to give the Conqs the momentum again.

A Tommy Lazzaro 47-yard touchdown pass to Justin McInnis and touchdown runs of 48, 20 and 10 yards by Thompson helped Dodge City pull away and clinch a share of the KJCCC title.

Lazzaro finished 10-for-21 passing for 146 yards and a touchdown while McInnis led all receivers with three catches for 81 yards and a score.

Highland outgained Dodge City by a yard (272-271), but was held to 119 yards in the second half.

Grabauskas finished 14-for-30 passing for 153 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions. Isaiah Ming led the Scotties on the ground with 119 yards and a score on 18 carries while Patterson had a team-high five catches for 82 yards.

The Conqs will wait until the middle of next week to see if and where they will play a bowl game.

But for now, Dodge City is going to enjoy the program's first conference title in 32 years and fifth ever (1953, 1957-58, 1983) and tying the school record for most wins in a season with nine.

"Hopefully Wednesday we'll be contacted by a bowl and get something in concrete," Thomas said. "All we could control was today and I'm proud of our guys. ... This is an outstanding feeling. The guys just had to trust each other. You bring in 18 and 19 year olds where trust may not be a big thing to them and you got to earn that trust. I'm proud of the way they have adjusted and grown."