DODGE CITY, Kan. – Down 34-7 with 8:16 remaining in the game, a furious comeback by the No. 10 Dodge City Community College football team fell short in a 34-29 home loss to Iowa Western at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 8.

The loss snaps a five-game winning streak for the Conqs, who fell to 5-2 on the year. Iowa Western, which has won all four games played all-time against DC3, improved to 3-3.

After Dodge City got on the board late in the first quarter on a 13-play 80 yard drive that ate up 6:50 in clock with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Dennis Johnson, the Reivers would respond with a touchdown of their own by Lor'renzo Pratt from quarterback Andre Nunez to make the game tied at seven after one quarter of action.  IWCC would score the only touchdown of the second quarter on a four-yard touchdown pass by Nunez to Nick Easley as the Conquistador offense could not find any rhythm past the touchdown drive in the first half.

Iowa Western would add two touchdowns in the third quarter to put the Conquistadors down 28-7 with a four-yard run by AJ Bush and 24-yard reception by Easley to put DC3 in a large hole. Tboy White would add a touchdown from nine-yards out with 8:16 remaining to make the score 34-7 as Michael Young would block the PAT that would be ran back by Takota Anderson for two points by the Conqs.

Rodney Murphy would then find the endzone for his only touchdown of the game with 6:06 remaining to cut the Iowa Western lead down to 34-16. After an unsuccessful onside kick, IWCC would be forced to punt. The punt would be blocked by a surge of Conquistdors and picked up by receiver Braxton Haley who would take it 60 yards to paydirt and put Dodge City within two possessions.

Another unsuccessful onside kick would allow for the Reivers to chew up clock before punting the ball back to DC3, who would go on a four-play, 52-yard drive that ended when AJ Walker scored from two-yards out to make the game 34-29. DC3 would be unable to recover what would be their best onside kick of the game, and Iowa Western would run out the clock to hand the Conquistadors their only non-conference loss of the year.

Penalties seemed to play a big role throughout the game, as 32 accepted penalties were committed with Iowa Western being guilty of 19 for 154 yards and DC3 responsible for 108 yards on 13 penalties. The Reivers outgained Dodge City 390-150 in total yards and held a commanding 149-47 advantage on the ground.

Individually, Caden Walters finished 13-24 through the air for 103 yards and one touchdown while Walker leading the ground game with 37 yards on nine carries to go along with one touchdown. Johnson finished with five receptions for 47-yards and one touchdown while Trenton Hammond had two receptions for 28 yards.

Defensively, Marquise Blair led all players with 12 total tackles and had one interception while Jermane Conyers had 11 total tackles. Gary Johnson had seven solo tackles to go along with one assisted tackle and recovered one fumble.

DC3 will look to bounce back next week when they return to Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference action at Fort Scott. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. from Frary Field.