Box Score Kicking off the season on the first night of college football, Dodge City traveled to Roswell, New Mexico, and fell 37-20 to New Mexico Military Institute. 

While the Conquistadors hit a few big plays, it was miscues with a pair of turnovers and penalties, which were amplified by timing, that doomed them on the night. 

The night opened with what looked like it would be a three-and-out forced by the Conqs' defense, but an offensive-side penalty gave NMMI a shorter try on third down, which they converted, and then went down the field to record the first points on a 40-yard field goal. It was a quick answer for the Conqs as Joshua Taylor broke free for a 75-yard touchdown run, and with the extra point the Conqs led 7-3. 

After both teams struggled to move the ball the rest of the first quarter, there was an explosion of points in the second stanza. NMMI capped a 13-play drive with a 33-yard field goal to make it 7-6 and then took on the lead on a 55-yard touchdown pass after stopping the Conqs on a fourth down just inside their territory. Conqs again had a quick response as Tim Carpenter hit Omarion Lewis for a 76-yard touchdown pass, but a missed extra point chance tied the game at 13-13. NMMI then took the kickoff to the house 99-yards swing the lead their way again. A short kick on the kickoff led to good field position for the Conqs, and Carpenter connected with Lewis again this time for an 18-yard touchdown with extra-point to tie the game at 20-20. NMMI controlled the ball the first of the first half and moved down the field to get in position for a 22-yard field goal to grab the 23-20 advantage at intermission. 

The second half started rough for the Conqs as three plays in NMMI intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown, leading to the Conqs trailing 30-20 after three quarters. Another interception by the Conqs and more penalties continued to stymie them on both sides of the ball as NMMI went on to add another touchdown as the Conqs fell 37-20. 

In the loss, the Conqs outgained NMMI just slightly, finishing with 372 total yards with 215 on the ground, but were just 1-10 on third down and finished with over 100 yards of penalties. 
Taylor ran for 105 yards on nine carries with a touchdown, while Carpenter scrambled for 78 yards while going 7-18 for 157 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Lewis led the receivers with three receptions and two touchdowns. 

Defensively, Greg Wardlaw racked up nine tackles, while both Wilie Fletcher and Jahtavious Gaines each had six tackles. Fletcher and Tristan Pitts each had a sack on the night, while Cordall Brown grabbed the Conqs' lone turnover forced, an interception. 

The loss drops the Conqs to 0-1 to open the 2026 season as they will now look to put in more work at practice to prepare for the start of KJCCC action on Saturday, September 5^th, when they take on Garden City at home in a 7:00 pm contest.