Box Score Dodge City football, for the second straight opened the season in a non-conference tilt against the Tyler Apaches this time in Texas as a return trip for a two-year scheduling agreement. The Conquistadors struggled to get rolling and dropped the season opener 27-7 on the road under the lights to #9 Tyler. 

After an early three-and-out to open the game, the Conqs gave Tyler a short field, and they would capitalize, getting on the board with a field goal, as the Conqs' defense, with their backs against the wall, held the Apaches to just the field goal. Tyler would, however, later in the first quarter, capitalize on another short field and find their way into the endzone to lead 10-0 after the first quarter. Starting to mount a drive at the end of the first quarter, the Conqs continued it into the second stanza and pushed down the field, ultimately converting a fourth down on a pass from Braxton Clark to Joshua Taylor to keep the drive alive. Two plays later, Clark hit David Ramos for an 11-yard touchdown pass, and with the extra point, the Conqs trailed just by three, 10-7, with just over eight minutes remaining in the first half. Tyler would counter the Conqs' touchdown with one of their own to push the margin to 17-7, and the Apaches threatened just before halftime with another scoring opportunity, but just outside of the redzone, Anthony Mattison would intercept a Tyler pass to stop the drive, ultimately sending the game to halftime at 17-7. 

In the second half, the Conqs' defense continued to stymie Tyler just enough to limit their opportunities as they only managed a field goal in the third quarter and would miss three other field goal tries in the second half. However, the Conqs were unable to get the offense going, struggling to move the ball against the Apaches, and in the fourth quarter, a pick-six by Tyler would be the nail in the coffin for the Conqs, sending them to the 27-7 road loss against #9 Tyler. 

In the loss, the defense was led by Mattison who as the team's top returning tackler, showed out with nine tackles including two tackles for loss and an interception. Tristen Graham led a stout defensive line group as he recorded seven tackles, and the Conqs limited Tyler in the running game. 

Offensively, Clark was 9-22 for 98 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions, while Santana Fleming caught three passes for 41 yards. Derick Shanks Jr. carried the ball 16 times for 66 yards for 4.1 yards per carry out of the backfield for the Conqs. 

The Conqs get back to work on the practice field for the next two weeks as they prepare for a clash with #7 Garden City on Saturday, September 13th at 7:00pm in Garden City as their next contest.