Dodge City football had a solid bounce-back season from 2025 to 2026 with a five-win improvement, but the Conquistadors wrapped up the 2026 season with a tough 28-20 loss to Coffeyville in the season finale.
The Conqs finish the season 6-5 overall and 3-3 in KJCCC action.
The day started strong for the Conqs with a three-and-out forced by the defense, which led to a short field after a 28-yard punt return by
Sherrod Lay. The Conqs then worked down the field and took the initial lead with a 30-yard field goal by
Mason Janis. The 3-0 lead held up until early in the second quarter when Coffeyville capped an 11-play drive that covered 83 yards with a touchdown pass but missed the extra point to make it 6-3. The Conqs answered on the next drive, covering 74 yards on 11 plays with a four-yard touchdown pass from
Tim Carpenter to
Omarion Lewis and with the extra point Dodge City led 10-6. Coffeyville then turned over the ball for the first time on the day in the final minute of the first half after
Amarius Perdue forced a fumble and the Conqs recovered setting up a field goal chance on the final play of the first half but it was blocked leaving it at 10-6 at intermission.
In the second half, it was a quick strike from the Conqs as Carpenter busted off a 79-yard touchdown run to push the Conqs in front 17-9, but Carpenter would be injured and miss the rest of the contest. Just before the end of the third quarter, Coffeyville found the end zone to cut the deficit to 17-14. The lead flipped back to Coffeyville after they capitalized on a few Dodge City penalties and ultimately scored a touchdown to take a 20-17 lead, missing on a two-point try. A bad kickoff by Coffeyville gave the Conqs solid field position and then moved into Coffeyville territory, working toward a 37-yard field goal try, and Janis split the uprights to make it 20-20. The Conqs quickly got the ball back when
Jalen Johnson intercepted a Coffeyville pass, but they couldn't score. Coffeyville then threw another interception when
Cordall Brown picked off a pass, but the Conqs couldn't move the ball downfield again. Then Brown picked off his second pass, and with 1:22 remaining, the Conqs had the ball again. After a sack, the Conqs, with Nacari McFarland, threw the ball toward the far sideline; Coffeyville picked it off and returned it 56 yards for a touchdown, and with a two-point conversion, they led 28-20 with 35 seconds remaining. The Conqs went on to fall 28-20 in the contest.
Defensively, the Conqs forced four turnovers by Coffeyville and held the Red Ravens to just 253 total yards.
Greg Wardlaw led the team with 12 tackles, while
Jayveon Johnson added eight tackles and a fumble recovery.
Tristan Pitts had a strong game with six tackles, a sack, and 3.5 tackles for loss.
Jalen Johnson recorded five tackles with an interception, while Brown picked off two passes.
Offensively, the Conqs had just 270 total yards, led by Carpenter, who ran for 114 yards on eight carries with a touchdown and was 9-10 for 30 yards and a touchdown.
Armani Rogers caught five passes for 58 yards, while Lewis snagged three passes for 48 yards and a touchdown.
Year three under head coach
Ryan Lusby sees the Conqs put together a bounce-back season from 2025, finishing 6-5 and tying for third in the KJCCC.
