With the KJCCC and ICCAC alliance returning this year the Dodge City football team took on Ellsworth for the first time since 2019 and held off the Panthers to return to the win column. 
 
The Conquistadors started the scoring early and ultimately made the early lead hold up for a 21-14 win over Ellsworth to move to 3-4 on the season. 
 
Conqs opened the game marching down the field but stalled out just into the redzone handing the ball over to Ellsworth, but the Conqs defense would force a three-and-out leading to great field position. The Conqs then mounted a five-play 55-yard drive that was capped in a 17-yard touchdown from Grant Ciccarone to Tyrence Crutcher and the PAT the Conqs led 7-0. After another three-and-out by Ellsworth the Conqs visited the endzone again on their next drive covering 56 yards on four plays with Ciccarone hitting Jalen Rose Hannah for 39-yard score and the Conqs led 14-0 with just under two minutes left in the opening quarter. 
 
Ellsworth finally moved the ball and would go on a nine-play drive that finished in a touchdown and it was 14-7 headed into the second quarter. In the second both teams went stagnate with the biggest play in the frame ultimately being a play that didn't count. The Conqs went to punt and fumbled the snap which led to a scoop and score for Ellsworth that would have tied the game but a penalty flag for 12-man on the field negated the play and saved the Conqs who went into halftime up 14-7. 
 
In the second half the Conqs would stop Ellsworth inside the redzone on their second drive of the third quarter and then Mark McDonald busted off a 69-yard run to flip the field and get the Conqs in the redzone. Two-plays later DeRhon King who entered the game in the third a quarterback connected with Martavious Crook for 10-yard touchdown and extend the Conqs lead to 21-7. Ellsworth didn't go away quietly as they put together a 10-play drive covering 93 yards to make it a one score game with 5:59 left but the Conqs would run out the rest of the clock to finish off the game 21-14. 
 
Conqs had their best offensive performance of the season with 421 total yards in the victory. Ciccarone was solid going 15-27 for 179 yards and two touchdowns, while King was 6-9 for 84 yards and a touchdown. McDonald had his second 100+ yard performance of the season rushing for 129 yards on 18 carries. Eight different receivers caught a pass for the Conqs with Hannah snagging eight passes for 115 yards with a touchdown. 
 
Defensively contributions came from all over as Dwight Nunoo had nine tackles including 1.5 tackles for loss, while Dallas Robinson added seven tackles. Malkolm Wright and Don'Yae Freeman split a sack and finished with six and five tackles, respectively. 
 
The Conqs hit the road next week for a showdown against another Iowa school taking on #10 Iowa Central in Fort Dodge, Iowa on Saturday, October 15^th with an 11:00 am kickoff.