Box Score DODGE CITY, Kan. — Much like last week, it was the No. 20 Dodge City Community College football team's ball-hawking defense propelling the undefeated Conquistadors as a trio of forced turnovers turned a tie early in the fourth quarter into a 38-21 victory over Independence on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
It's the first time DC3 has started 3-0 in more than three decades.
But on an evening that saw the game ball flown in by helicopter and fireworks filling the sky in front of a large crowd, it was once again a turnover-driven defense – one that forced and scored twice on turnovers to help dig the Conqs out of a hole and into the lead late in the third quarter against rival Garden City last week – making big plays when DC3 needed it after a sluggish start.
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We didn't do anything too different in the second half," DC3 coach Gary Thomas said. "I had a few choice words for them (at halftime). They just started getting after it. They played harder. When you play hard, you put yourself into a good position and good things happen from there. We had a couple of turnovers there and it put us in a great position to win the football game."
The Conqs (2-0 in KJCCC play) trailed Independence (0-3, 0-2) 21-14 heading into the fourth quarter, but were driving and got the ball down to the Pirate 1 on a beautiful catch by Justin McInnis from quarterback Thomas Lazzaro. DC3 eventually scored on the second of what would be four touchdown runs by bruising 6-foot-3, 220-pound running back Mark Thompson to tie the game 21-21 with 13:44 left in the contest
The Florida commit tied a school record with the four rushing scores while racking up 170 yards on the ground on 29 carries."
I believe when the O-line is blocking the wonderful way they do, no team can stop us," Thompson said. "They call each other the Hog Squad - and you can see why. When they get mad and emotional, they play at a level I don't think anyone else can play to."Following the Conqs' touchdown to tie the game is when the defense stepped up for DC3.
A big hit by
Quandreko Statham after a reception by Independence's Deante Ambler dislodged the ball on the Pirates' third play of the ensuing drive.
Gary Johnson was there to pick it up and carry it back to the Independence 36.
On the next play Thompson rumbled for 36 yards down the left side for a score to quickly put the Conquistadors up 28-21 with 12:38 left.
Later in the quarter and with the Pirates driving for a potential game-tying score, DC3's
Antwon Turnage stepped in front of a Bryce Gremmel pass and returned it 55 yards down to the Independence 8.
Two plays later Thompson scored from two yards out to make it 35-21 DC3 with 4:59 remaining.
A bad snap on Independence's first play on the ensuing drive was recovered by
Jacob Harshberger (the DC3 defense's 10th turnover forced this season) on the Pirate 9 and
Dillon Burkhard kicked a 26-yard field goal four plays later to make the final 38-21.
"We are almost there, but we're just not there yet," Thomas said. "The good part is we are 3-0 and we get to make these corrections. ... Last year this is when we took a turn for the worse. Some of the things that we don't do well, the teams we play in the next few weeks will take advantage and beat us down if we don't get better."
Saturday's game was scoreless after the first quarter before the Conqs got on the board in the second at the 13:04 mark on a 10-yard TD run by Thompson.
The Pirates answered with a scoring drive of their own, capped on a 7-yard TD run by Gremmel. The extra point was blocked and the Conqs still led 7-6.
On the first play of the ensuing drive by DC3, Lazzaro hit
Christian Booker for a 54-yard score to give the Conqs a 14-6 lead.
Once again Independence had an answer as a touchdown pass from Gremmel to Kamathi Holsey and a two-point conversion on its next drive tied the game 14-14 with 4:04 left in the second and the score remained that way going into the half.
DC3's Lazzaro finished 9-for-19 for 194 yards and a touchdown with McInnis catching five passes for 45 yards.
Gremmel went 19-for-28 for 248 yards, a touchdown and an interception while rushing for 20 yards and two more scores. Holsey finished with seven catches for 83 yards and a score to lead the Pirates while Edwin Thomas led the ground game with 63 yards on 18 carries.
DC3 returns to action at home 1 p.m. Saturday against Iowa Western.
