In a Wild Wild West marathon shootout, Dodge City football used a record offensive day to return to the win column, beating Highland at home 47-37. The Conqs finished with 370 rushing yards, breaking the school's single-game record, and also set records for first downs (39) and total offensive plays (87).
The win improved the Conquistadors to 6-3 overall and 3-1 in KJCCC action, with 5-0 at home this season.
The day started on defense for the Conqs as Highland won the coin toss, took the ball to open the game, and needed just four plays to find the endzone with a 61-yard pass for an early touchdown. The Conqs evened things up on their second drive, covering 63 yards on 11 plays as
Joshua Taylor punched in the Conqs' first touchdown from four yards out, making it 7-7. Highland countered with another quick score,, but on the extra point the Conqs blocked it, and Roy Henry II scooped up the ball, taking it to the house for 80+ yards and two points, to make it 13-9. Early in the second stanza,, the Conqs hit a big play as
Brylee Perez broke a 45-yard run for a touchdown, and the Conqs took the lead, 16-13. After the Conqs stopped Highland from scoring with a
Jahtavious Gaines interception, they put together a scoring drive. The lead moved to double digits for Dodge City later in the second quarter as
Tim Carpenter scampered for a 15-yard touchdown, and with the extra point the Conqs led 23-13. Highland managed a 29-yard field goal before halftime, leading to a 23-16 score at intermission.
To open the second half,, the Conqs fumbled the kickoff and gave the ball to Highland, who hit another big play to tie the game 23-23 less than 30 seconds. The Conqs took the next drive and, on nine plays, covered 80 yards rushing for all of it, leading to a nine-yard touchdown run by
Joshua Taylor and a 30-23 Conqs lead. The Conqs next drive visited the end zone as Carpenter ran for his second touchdown, this time from 13 yards out, and the lead moved to 37-23. The Conqs added more points on their third straight drive when
Eduardo Solis hit a 35-yard field goal, and the Conqs led 40-23. Highland answered just before the end of the third quarter, making it a 10-point game at 40-30. Another long,,sustained drive for the Conqs in the fourth quarter ended with another rushing touchdown as
Joshua Arthur came in for a two-yard score. Highland answered on the next drive with a touchdown, but after Highland's onside kick attempt failed, the Conqs ran out the clock to secure the 47-37 victory.
Offensively, the Conqs had a record day rushing for 370 yards to break the school record for a single game, which was set back in 2015 (363 yards vs Sterling JV), while also breaking the school record for single-game first downs with 39 (previous record 34 vs Ellsworth in 2014) and total plays with 87 (previous record 85 vs Highland in 2005). The Conqs finished with 538 total yards of offense and were 8-14 on third down.
On defense, the Conqs held Highland to just 63 rushing yards, but the Scotties had 407 total yards, while the Conqs grabbed a pair of interceptions and had two sacks.
Carpenter was strong on the day, running for 132 yards on 19 carries with two touchdowns and going 17-28 passing for 168 yards. Taylor added 101 yards rushing on 14 carries with two touchdowns, while Perez ran for 74 yards on eight carries with a touchdown.
Gaines led the Conqs defense with five tackles and two interceptions and blocked an extra point.
Loden West and
Jayveon Johnson each added five tackles, while
Greg Wardlaw and
Avant Hunter each had a sack.
The Conqs hit the road on Halloween, October 31
st, for their next contest as they will take on #1 Hutchinson in a 5:00 pm kickoff.
