For the second straight year the Dodge City football team will finish with a winning record in the season series with the Iowa schools after a 39-15 victory over Ellsworth; going 2-1 against the three Iowa schools.
The win moves the Conquistadors to 4-3 on the season, evens the all-time series at 6-6 against the Panthers of Ellsworth, and sends the Conqs into the bye week off a victory.
The Conqs would open the contest electing to kick off and would force a three-and-out that would see Ellsworth snap the ball over the head of their punter into the endzone giving the Conqs a safety to start the game. Next offensive drive for Ellsworth the Conqs would force a fumble by
Jamari Mosley and
Chris Fitzpatrick recovered it, but the Conqs would stall out on offense near midfield. The Panthers would take advantage of a starting field position in Conq territory scoring a touchdown, but the extra point was blocked by
Tory Gethers to make it 6-2.
Early in the second quarter, the Conqs got back on the scoreboard on a 13-play drive capped by an
Emanuel Aguilar 27-yard field goal making it 6-5. After a
Kaleb Pillow interception, the Conqs would see
Bryce Conover connect with
Akim Lanieux for a 16-yard pass and then a 44-yard pass for a touchdown giving the Conqs the lead at 12-6. Next, the Conqs dipped into the bag of tricks and Aguilar executed an onside kick and recovered it himself on the next offensive play
Kerya Powell darted off for a 67-yard touchdown run as the Conqs lead grew to 19-6. Conqs would block a 27-yard field goal attempt by the Panthers at the end of the first half to lead 19-6 at intermission.
In the second half, specifically the third quarter it was all Conquistadors scoring 20 points. After a 51-yard kick return by
Antonio Jamison Jr. the Conqs visited the endzone just three plays later as
Derick Shanks Jr. ran for a nine-yard touchdown. The Conqs would get a short field on the next offensive drive after the defense forced a three-and-out and the punt would be blocked by
Zach Lorhan. Two plays after the block
Shannon Craver ran for an 18-yard touchdown to make it 32-6. The Conqs' third offensive drive of the second half would also be capped with a score after going 53 yards in seven plays finishing it off with a two-yard touchdown run by Fitzpatrick leading to a 39-6 score. While Ellsworth would get a touchdown and safety in the fourth quarter the Conqs would secure the contest claiming the 39-15 win.
The Conqs defense would surrender just 107 total yards on the day as Gethers tallied nine tackles with a sack, 2.5 tackles for loss, and a blocked kick. Mosley,
Antonio Delgado, and Fitzpatrick each recorded six tackles as Mosley added a forced fumble and Fitzpatrick had 1.5 sacks and a fumble recovery.
Powell paced the Conqs offense with 100 yards rushing on seven carries and a touchdown and caught three passes for 16 yards. Conover finished the game 8-18 for 154 yards and a touchdown, while
Stone Wilson added 84 yards rushing on 11 carries. Lanieux grabbed three passes for 88 yards and a touchdown.
The Conqs enter the bye week and prepare for the final three games of the season including their final home game of the season which is their next contest on Saturday, October 12th at 1:00 pm against Independence.
