Back in the win column, but it didn't come easy, as Dodge City football got locked in a shootout with Independence that went down to the wire; the Conquistadors regained the lead with just 1:02 remaining and went on to win 43-42 over the Pirates.
The victory moves the Conqs to 2-2 on the season and 2-0 in KJCCC action.
The Conqs defense stepped on the field first, forcing a three-and-out by Independence, and the Conqs wasted no time getting the offense rolling with a short field. The short field led to a touchdown on the first offensive play for the Conqs as
Tim Carpenter hit
Armani Rogers for a 49-yard touchdown pass. The Pirates answered later in the first quarter, capitalizing on a few big plays to make it 7-7. Conqs drove again into the second quarter, and on the first play of the stanza, Carpenter threw a 41-yard dime to
Omarion Lewis; with the extra point, the Conqs led 14-7.
Independence answered on the next drive, but a missed extra point kept the Conqs ahead 14-13 with 12:25 remaining in the first half. The Pirates got the ball back and went on an 11-play, 60-yard drive for a touchdown, and then a Conq fumble inside the five-yard line set up the Pirates in the redzone but the Conqs defense held them to a 23-yard field goal; however, that pushed Independence in front 22-14. Another Conq turnover on an interception set up Independence with a short field, and they capitalized, scoring another touchdown but failing on the two-point conversion to lead 28-14. Conqs got back on the board just before halftime as
Eduardo Solis hit a 45-yard field goal, making it an 11-point game at intermission as the Conqs trailed 28-17.
Out of halftime, the Conqs had the ball first and capitalized when Carpenter connected with
Maximus Howard for a 24-yard touchdown, making it 28-23. Independence, two plays later, cut the lead back, but the Conqs answered with a big play when
Joshua Taylor busted a 65-yard touchdown run to make it 35-30. The scoring continued the next drive as Independence went 73 yards on nine plays for a touchdown, then Taylor hit a 78-yard touchdown run, making it a touchdown on the first five combined possessions of the second half. Trailing 42-37 entering the fourth quarter, the Conqs stymied the Pirates in the fourth when they missed a 41-yard field goal attempt, giving the Conqs the ball back with plenty of time. Stuck on fourth down and 10 on their own 35-yard line, Carpenter found Lewis for an 11-yard gain to keep the Conqs hopes alive; then he connected with Rogers for two completions before breaking a 40-yard touchdown run to give the Conqs the lead back with 1:02 remaining. After a failed two-point conversion, the Conqs defense held firm over the final minute and secured the 43-42 victory.
Conqs offense had its most yards since October 2
nd, 2021 (692 yards at Fort Scott), putting up 551 total yards and scoring the most points in a game since September 24
th, 2022 (46 vs Diamond Football Academy). Carpenter went 21-for-29 for 259 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 74 yards and a touchdown. Taylor ran for 168 yards on 12 carries with two touchdowns. Lewis led the Conqs pass catchers with eight receptions for 126 yards and a touchdown, while Rogers added six catches for 95 yards and a score.
Defensively,
James Robinson had a monster game, recording 10 tackles, a ½ sack, and 1.5 tackles for loss.
Greg Wardlaw added seven tackles, while
Jabrae Shaw,
Dontavious Carter, and
Terrance West each had five tackles.
Conqs are back home again next weekend as they will host #13 Iowa Central on Saturday, September 26
th for a 12:00 pm kick.
