Box Score DODGE CITY, Kan. -- The 16th-ranked Dodge City Community College football team was on the verge of staying perfect as a
Justin McInnis 8-yard touchdown reception on fourth down from
Tommy Lazzaro with 47 seconds left in the contest capped a run of 21 unanswered points to take a 35-34 lead over Iowa Western Community College.
However, it was just enough time for the Reivers to rally as a 29-yard touchdown pass from Zach Martin to Malcom Moore with four seconds remaining ended the Conquistadors' undefeated start 42-35 Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium.
In a game where the Conquistadors (3-1) dominated yardage (453-371), first downs (26-16) and time of possession (38:01-21:59), five turnovers led directly to one touchdown, short fields for the Iowa Western offense on others and helped put DC3 behind 34-14 (the game was tied 14-14 at the half).
The Conqs got a spark early in the fourth quarter when Lazzaro hit Tennessee-commit
Jeff George for a 71-yard touchdown to cut the Iowa Western (2-2) lead to 34-21. The 6-foot-6 George had a big day, catching nine passes for 191 yards and a touchdown.
On the Reivers' next possession, DC3's
Marquise Blair forced Tyus Mason to fumble and it was recovered by the Conqs'
Quandreko Statham at the DC3 48 with 8:25 remaining.
The Conqs drove down and scored on Florida-commit
Mark Thompson's 5-yard scamper to slice the Iowa Western lead to 34-28 with 4:28 remaining.
That's when the DC3 defense stepped up and force a three-and-out by the Reivers to get the ball back to the Conqs on the Iowa Western 45 thanks to a 23-yard punt return by
Marquice Flowers.
The Conqs faced a third-and-9 from the Reivers 20 when Lazzaro hit George for a 10-yard gain for first and goal from the DC3 10.
After two incomplete passes and a Thompson 2-yard run, Lazzaro threw a strike to McInnis on a slant pattern to tie the game before Burkhard's extra point made it 35-34 with 47 seconds remaining -- sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
But Iowa Western's Anthony Johnson took the kickoff from the end zone and returned it 44 yards to the Reivers 44.
On third and 10, Martin scrambled for a 12-yard gain to get a new set of downs and followed it up by hitting Moore for a 17-yard gain to the DC3 24 with 10 seconds left.
After a penalty moved Iowa Western back five yards, Martin hit Moore in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown with four seconds left. Martin found Moore for the two-point conversion and the Conqs had no answer as a desperation heave by Lazzaro fell incomplete.
While Iowa Western was 1-2 entering the game, it was ranked No. 3 prior to the season and since 2010 is 54-8 -- including a 2012 national championship.
However, DC3 coach
Gary Thomas knows his team had the Reivers beat if not for its mistakes.
"It's hard to take moral victories in our sport," Thomas said. "You only have 11 opportunities so losses are a big deal. We feel confident that we can beat anyone we play when we play well. This wasn't a loss as much as it was a gift. We gave this one to them. We got to get better and we got to improve."Lazzaro finished 16-for-32 for 301 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions as Thomas said his freshman quarterback continues to grow.
"He took some big shots today but he didn't get rattled," Thomas said. "He made some big throws for us today and did better as the game went on. For a freshman, to do what he is doing (is impressive), though I'm hard on him because I have high expectations for him."
Along with George's big day, McInnis had three catches for 80 yards and two scores for DC3.
On the ground,
Greg Scott led DC3 with 55 yards, Thompson had 47 yards while Flowers had 43 yards and also caught three passes for 26 yards.
Martin finished 19-for-39 for 293 yards and four touchdowns for Iowa Western. Mason caught seven passes for 76 yards and a score, Moore had five catches for 131 yards and a score and Taj Williams caught three passes for 53 yards and two touchdowns. Jon Nzombo led Iowa Western with 53 rushing yards and a touchdown.
DC3 travels to take on Hutchinson 7 p.m. Saturday.
