It was a battle on the gridiron and a battle with Mother Nature to open the 2024 football season in Dodge City as the Conquistadors hosted Tyler Junior College to start the season on Thursday night. While the weather delayed the start of the game and stopped the game during the contest for multiple hours it was ultimately the Conqs coming out victorious with a 20-17 win.
This marks the first season-opening win since the 2020-21 COVID season and the first win over an NJCAA opponent in a season opener since 2015. The Conqs also stretched their win streak from the end of last season into the 2024 season as they've won six games in a row. The victory also marks the start of the
Ryan Lusby era as he becomes the first Conqs coach to win their Head Coaching debut since Marcus Garstecki in 2005.
The Conqs defense would stymie Tyler on the first drive leading to a blocked punt by
Loden West to set up a short field and the first score of the evening as
Bryce Conover found
Stone Wilson for a seven-yard touchdown pass and with the extra point the Conqs led 7-0 a little over two minutes into the game. It would be a turnover that would lead to Tyler getting on the board as they intercepted a Conqs pass and returned it 33 yards for a touchdown to even the game up at 7-7 in the first quarter.
After a muffed punt by the Conqs, Tyler was set up with a short field inside the ten-yard line and the Apaches would get their second touchdown to lead 14-7 and take that advantage into the second quarter.
Experiencing a lightning delay before the first quarter was over the game would see a multiple-hour weather delay happen in the second stanza. Once the action finally resumed around 11:30 pm the Conqs would get a short field and tally a 27-yard field goal on the board by
Emanuel Aguilar and the Conqs trailed 17-10 entering halftime. Early in the third quarter, the Conqs would get on the board again as Aguilar booted a 45-yard field goal to make it a 17-13 score. Defensively the Conqs would continue to stymie Tyler and had a chance for three more points but would misfire on a field goal try. In the fourth, the Conqs had a stop and would get field position in their favor starting in Tyler territory and would see Conover hit Antonio Jamison, Akim Laniuex, and
Kerya Powell all for a pass that set up a
Chris Fitzpatrick three-yard touchdown run. The Conqs would grab the lead at 20-17 and would stop Tyler's final opportunities in the game to secure the victory.
While the Conqs offense had just 191 total yards the defense held Tyler to 232 total yards in the contest. Defensively,
Sam Brooks tallied 11 tackles, while
Tory Gethers chipped in seven tackles.
Noah Williams recorded six tackles and an interception, while
Chris Fitzpatrick had six tackles and a rushing touchdown.
Colby Archie tallied the first two sacks of the season for the Conqs.
On offense, Wilson ran for 50 yards on 18 carries and had a touchdown catch while Lanieux had 43 yards on two catches.
The Conqs open KJCCC play with a rivalry showdown against Garden City next week to continue the season as they will host the Broncbusters at 7:00 pm on Saturday, September 7th.
