Might as well call Jace Banner the Gravy Train for the Dodge City High School Red Demons.
Give the football to Banner, and it's gravy.
Banner, a senior tailback, had another huge game Friday night, leading the Red Demons to a 35-14 victory over Maize in Class 6A District 8 action.
Banner rushed for 189 yards in 30 carries and scored three touchdowns, leading Dodge to a playoff-berth-clinching 35-14 triumph over Maize Friday night at Memorial Stadium.
"Our main goal is to win football games," said Banner, whose rushing total grew to 1,119 yards on the season. "But the line and myself before every game, we have a goal of getting 200 yards and if we get that, then we met our goal."
Banner and Co. barely missed their rushing goal, yet they were dominating nonetheless.
"That's the main thing, getting physical and playing smash-mouth football. That's what it's about, getting in there and making yourself known."
With the convincing victory, the Demons (6-2 overall) have assured themselves a state playoff berth. Dodge City, the only team still undefeated in its four-team district at 2-0, now has the maximum +26 in the points system.
Maize, 2-6, including 1-1 in district play, sits at minus-9 in the points system. Goddard, which beat Garden City 21-14 Friday night, moves to 1-1 in the district and sits at minus-6 in the points system. Garden (0-2) now sits at minus-11.
"At this time of year, you have just got to feel like you got to win to go on," Dodge City coach Justin Burke said. "We've just got to get better each week."
The Demons were able to flatten Maize by flattening the Eagles at the line of scrimmage.
"Our line is doing the job," Banner said, "and I feel like we're gaining momentum each week."
The Demons' offensive line has been anchored by junior Jesse Trent, a 6-foot-4, 251-pounder, opening gap holes for Banner.
"If you ever see No. 72, Jesse Trent, he probably deserves a lot more publicity than what he gets because he's really, really good and that's who we run behind," Burke said.
And, Banner plants well over 100 yards on the opposition every time out.
"That's what makes a special back really special and that's what takes them to the next level, when they can bust the big ones," Burke said of Banner. "He can do it all."
Banner had 129 yards in 18 carries in the first half alone.
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Might as well call Jace Banner the Gravy Train for the Dodge City High School Red Demons.
Give the football to Banner, and it's gravy.
Banner, a senior tailback, had another huge game Friday night, leading the Red Demons to a 35-14 victory over Maize in Class 6A District 8 action.
Banner rushed for 189 yards in 30 carries and scored three touchdowns, leading Dodge to a playoff-berth-clinching 35-14 triumph over Maize Friday night at Memorial Stadium.
"Our main goal is to win football games," said Banner, whose rushing total grew to 1,119 yards on the season. "But the line and myself before every game, we have a goal of getting 200 yards and if we get that, then we met our goal."
Banner and Co. barely missed their rushing goal, yet they were dominating nonetheless.
"That's the main thing, getting physical and playing smash-mouth football. That's what it's about, getting in there and making yourself known."
With the convincing victory, the Demons (6-2 overall) have assured themselves a state playoff berth. Dodge City, the only team still undefeated in its four-team district at 2-0, now has the maximum +26 in the points system.
Maize, 2-6, including 1-1 in district play, sits at minus-9 in the points system. Goddard, which beat Garden City 21-14 Friday night, moves to 1-1 in the district and sits at minus-6 in the points system. Garden (0-2) now sits at minus-11.
"At this time of year, you have just got to feel like you got to win to go on," Dodge City coach Justin Burke said. "We've just got to get better each week."
The Demons were able to flatten Maize by flattening the Eagles at the line of scrimmage.
"Our line is doing the job," Banner said, "and I feel like we're gaining momentum each week."
The Demons' offensive line has been anchored by junior Jesse Trent, a 6-foot-4, 251-pounder, opening gap holes for Banner.
"If you ever see No. 72, Jesse Trent, he probably deserves a lot more publicity than what he gets because he's really, really good and that's who we run behind," Burke said.
And, Banner plants well over 100 yards on the opposition every time out.
"That's what makes a special back really special and that's what takes them to the next level, when they can bust the big ones," Burke said of Banner. "He can do it all."
Banner had 129 yards in 18 carries in the first half alone.
Dodge owned a 6-0 lead at the 3:55 mark in the first quarter after fullback Bruce Campbell rumbled 14 yards for a touchdown, capping an 11-play, 76-yard drive.
Banner, who rushed for 39 of those yards in the momentum-seizing opening score, then scored his first touchdown on a 9-yard plunge at the 5:16 mark in the second quarter for a 12-0 lead.
Banner set up his own score with a 50-yard burst down to the 12. On the run, he cut to his left on Maize defensive back Tyler Higgins while running down the right sideline at the 28 to prolong his run.
Maize closed the gap to 12-7 in the final seconds before halftime, thanks to a Dodge fumble.
After a Maize punt, a Demons returner inadvertantly touched the ball and then it bounced free down to the DCHS 11, where the Eagles recovered.
Five plays later, Eagles running back Ty Turner scored on a 1-yard scoring run with 26.7 seconds left before halftime.
The second half was owned by the Demons as they had 7- and 5-yard touchdown runs by Banner, sandwiching a 3-yard plunge by
Campbell.
Game Notes -- Dodge City travels to Garden City Friday for the annual Hatchet game to wrap up district play.
