Conqs fall to Blue Dragons

    Coach Bob Majeski has yet another hurdle to jump in the process of turning things around in his first year at the helm of the Dodge City Community College Conquistador football team.
    He needs to erase a mentality of impending doom he said is plaguing his players. Saturday's 40-6 loss in Hutchinson to the Hutch CC Blue Dragons can't help his cause.
    "The players who played here last year have a record of 1-12," said Majeski. "It gets in your head - that 'Oh, here we go again' mentality when things go wrong. I think kids are sitting there waiting for something bad to happen instead of going out there and making something good happen, and that's the mentality that we're fighting against."
    The Conqs' habit of self-destructing struck again Saturday. After a second-quarter drive that ended with a Jean Julmiste touchdown pass to Scott Donaldson brought the Conqs to within three points (the score was 9-6 after the missed PAT), the Dodge City special teams unit gave up a 97-yard touchdown return on the ensuing kickoff to make the score 16-6. The Blue Dragons never looked back.
    Hutch held the Conqs scoreless in the final two periods and tacked on 24 more points for good measure.
    "Defensively, we had some people in position to make plays," Majeski said. "Guys just weren't making them."
    Hutch out-rushed the Conqs 302 yards to a paltry 49. Hutch running back La'Darrian Page ended the night with 196 yards and two scores. Chris Clay and Trezz Tillman also got into the end zone for the Blue Dragons.
    To make matters worse, Conqs starting quarterback Colby McGill had to be replaced after only five pass attempts due to injury. Majeski would not go into specifics about the injury, but said that as far as he knew McGill would still be in the starting lineup for the Conqs' next game Saturday at home against Air Force Prep.
    "He'll see the doctor [today] and we'll go from there," Majeski said. "We have to get healthy, and we're going to need some guys up front to start taking care of their business and taking it personal when the guy they're supposed to be blocking makes a play. Right now I'm not seeing that."
    Hutch CC recorded five sacks in the game. The Blue Dragon defense got to McGill twice and took Julmiste down three times during his time behind center.
    The loss moves the Conqs to an 0-4 overall record with an 0-3 Jayhawk Conference mark. Dodge will look to fight off the losing culture that surrounds the team against the Air Force Prep Huskies Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.