The Conquistador football team picked up another win in the middle of their three game home stand. This one was a little more suspenseful than last week as they needed a late Drew Harris to Terrell Warner pass in the final minute of the game to prevail. With that score the Conqs came away with a 34 to 30 victory over the Ellsworth Panthers.
                The game began as a defensive battle between both teams as each teams had two drives that came up empty. Dodge City was winning the field position battle up until their second punt of the game. On that play the ball was snapped over Lewis Halton's head. Then as he picked up the errant snap and tried to punt Ellsworth blocked the punt and returned it over 30 yards to put the Panthers up 7-0. Special team problems were a theme for the Conqs in the game as they could not properly field the ensuring kick-off and Ellsworth recovered at the Conq 23 yard line. However, the Dodge City defense toughened up and got the ball back after a turnover on downs from Ellsworth. After continued strong defensive play the first quarter ended with Ellsworth leading by that 7-0 count.
                Dodge City quickly got into the scoring action in the second quarter. After an offsides penalty on Ellsworth took the Conqs from third and six to go down to third and one, Drew Harris found Anthony Watkins wide open out of the backfield. Watkins streaked down the sideline to give the Conqs their first score of the game and tie it up at seven just over a minute into the second quarter. After holding Ellsworth the Conqs got the ball back again and looked to have something going, however they turned the ball over on downs in Ellsworth territory. Darshun Williams then came up with a big defensive play picking off Panther quarterback Mark Wright, then a facemask penalty set the Conqs up at the Ellsworth 16 yard line. The offense could not get much traction at that point and had to settle for a Devonta Guillory field goal to put them up 10-7. On their next drive Harris threw an interception to set Ellsworth up in good position at the Conq 38 yard line. Ellsworth drove inside the Dodge City 10 yard line but had to settle for a field goal to send the game to halftime tied at 10.
                Ellsworth got their third big special teams play of the game to start the second half as they recovered an onside kick again. The Conqs quickly got the ball back though as Koby Perry came up with a big interception to give the ball back to the offense. The Conqs methodically took the ball 54 yards on the ensuing possession with a steady dose of Watkins and Justin Theriot running the ball. They found the end zone again as John Lux connected with Kyle Jones for a six yard touchdown pass to give Dodge the lead back at 17-10.
                The Panthers had a big kick return and were quickly into Dodge City territory again on the next drive. Malik Williams came up with a big sack to force them into a third and long situation. That eventually led to a missed field goal into a headwind.  Ellsworth quickly put themselves back into a good position as they picked off Lux and brought the ball back to the Conq 26 yard line. Ellsworth managed to get into the end zone to make the score 17-16, but their extra point attempt was blocked and Kadarius Satterwhite returned it to the end zone to give Dodge a little breathing room at 19-16.
                The special teams issues once again gave Dodge City problems as Ellsworth recovered their third onside kick-off of the day. The Panthers drove the ball to the Conq 16 yard line assisted by a pass interference call on the Conqs before the third quarter ran out. Wright quickly threw a touchdown pass on the first play of the fourth quarter to give Ellsworth a 23-19 lead. Xavier White took the ensuing kickoff back for 43 yards to put Dodge City back in Ellsworth territory to start their next drive. The Conqs drove the ball with the assistance of some Panther penalties to the 1 yard line where they had it first and goal. However a mishandled snap was jumped on by Ellsworth and the scoring threat was ended. The Conq defense held, but Satterwhite mishandled the punt. Luckily the Panthers knocked the ball out of bounds, but the Conqs had to start deep in their own territory. A short Halton punt gave Ellsworth the ball at the Conq 31 yard line. They quickly took advantage with another touchdown pass to put them ahead 30 to 19.
                After trading empty possessions, the Conqs got the ball with 6:28 remaining in the game. This time Harris connected with Jones with 4:08 remaining in the game. The Conqs went for two and Watkins started left, then came all the way back to the right side of the field to get into the end zone to make the score Ellsworth 30 Dodge City 27.
                The Conqs forced a quick three and out from Ellsworth and Satterwhite returned the ball to the 30 yard line, but it was called back due to a block in the back penalty to put the Conqs deep in their own territory with 1:41 left in the game. Harris came up big again as he broke a quarterback scramble for over twenty yards. After a Harris to Jones connection put the ball in Ellsworth territory the Conqs came up with the big play they had been looking for. Harris heaved a ball in the direction of Warner who was running a deep post. Warner managed to beat the corner and then the Ellsworth safety could not get his hands on the ball and Warner came up with it in the end zone with just 38.6 seconds remaining in the game to put Dodge City up 34-30.
                After a kick out of bounds gave Ellsworth the ball at the Dodge City 35, Malik Wilson came up with an interception on third down with just 10 seconds remaining in the game. After one snap the Conqs came away with their second win of the season.
                The win pushes the Dodge City record to two wins and two losses. They will next host Butler Community College on September 22 at 6:00pm at Memorial Stadium. The game will be the Homecoming game for the Conqs.