Meet The Champs

    The Conqs just can't win, both literally and figuratively.
    A week after hosting preseason first-team All-American running back Chad Winbush and the then-No. 12 ranked Cardinals of Trinity Valley, head coach Bob Majeski and the Dodge City Community College Conquistadors football team then had to turn around Saturday and welcome the two-time defending NJCAA national champions in the Butler County Grizzlies.
    Butler took little sympathy on Dodge's tough opening schedule, leaving the Conqs with its second straight home loss, 51-7.
    The Dodge offense failed to get in any kind of rhythm, going three-and-out time after time and forcing its defense to play without getting a breath.
    "We were on the field so long that they never really had a chance to rest," said Majeski, who also serves as the team's defensive coordinator. "We didn't get any continuity going on offense. But here's the deal, defensively, our job is to stop people from scoring. So I don't care if they get the ball at the 1, we've got to stop it from happening."
    DCCC's defense stopped Butler County's offense early, forcing the Grizzlies to fumble during their opening series, but the Dodge offense gave the ball right back after fumbling the snap on the very next play.
    Butler County running back Ricky Jacques put the Grizzlies on the board first as he reached the end zone from 2 yards out. The score remained 6-0 after Dodge blocked the point-after-touchdown attempt.
    With 18 seconds remaining in the first quarter, Butler County grabbed a 13-point advantage when Rico Brazil took a pass 63 yards for the score.
    "We gave up some big plays," Majeski said. "Were we tired? Yeah, but that's the way it is. You got to suck it up and you got to play the game. I'm extremely disappointed. This is the most disappointing game I've had since I've been at Dodge City."
    Things got brighter for the second-year head coach in the second quarter, however.
    With 9:21 on the clock, the Grizzlies threatened inside Dodge's 20, but DCCC sophomore cornerback Paul Robinson intercepted a pass from Ross Dausin to keep the defending champs out of the end zone.
    Dodge's offense finally got something going with less than a minute remaining in the first half when wide receiver Curtis Rice caught a 35-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Justin Heard to bring the Conqs within a score. But 16 seconds later, Dausin countered with a 42-yard score to Marcus Kennard to put Butler County back up 20-7 at the break.
    "Thirteen-7, we had it, and then a big play," Majeski said. "We had great coverage. (Cornerback) Carlos Cox was right on it and it's just they made a play and we didn't make a play. Now, we have to start making those plays."
    After a loss to Blinn (Texas) in week one, the Grizzlies returned to championship form in the second half as they scored 31 unanswered points on a deflated Dodge defense en route to handing the Conqs a 51-7 defeat.
    Butler County outgained Dodge 440 to 153 yards in total offense Saturday night.
    The Conqs will look to get in the win column this Saturday in a road matchup against Independence.