Advancing to the Class 6A state football playoff version of the Elite Eight is not enough.
The Dodge City High School Red Demons (8-2) have won four straight and seem hell-bent on advancing to the 6A semifinals and a home date next Friday against unbeaten Manhattan (10-0).
But first, Dodge needs to get past Derby (7-3) in Derby tonight at 7, and Manhattan needs to get past Wichita Heights tonight at home.
"There's no talk on that stuff yet," Dodge City head coach Justin Burke said. "We're just talking about Derby right now."
And, with good reason.
The Panthers have a dual threat in quarterback Tyler Harrison and wide receiver Devin Hedgepeth, who is an Oklahoma State University signee.
And, don’t forget about running back Jameson Moore, either.
Moore is averaging 72.7 rushing yards per game, and Harrison has averaged 140.8 passing yards per game.
“They have a good offense and they have a good, solid mix of the run and the pass,” Burke said. “If you don’t put enough guys in the box, they’re going to run it all night long.
“Derby runs out of the no-huddle as well. They'll try to see where our defense is and audible at the line of scrimmage. They make you play honest and they make you play the whole field.”
The speedy Hedgepeth is a worry by himself. He has caught 40 balls for 737 yards this season.
“One thing about our defense,” Burke said, “is that we’ll bring pressure and we’ll mix up where we’re coming from and we’ll mix up coverages.
“We’ll try to disguise some things. We can’t give up the deep ball. We can’t give up the big play.”
Burke can draw parallels between Derby and the Demons’ opponent last Saturday, Topeka High, in which Dodge won 35-17.
“They’re very comparable to Topeka High in a lot of ways,” Burke said of Derby.
“They have similar weapons ... good runners and good receivers, but Derby will hang its hat on defense. Derby has a very good one.”
Derby will be trying to limit DCHS senior tailbck Jace Banner, who had a school-record 305 rushing yards in 38 carries and scored four touchdowns against Topeka High.
Banner has revved up the Demons’ spread offense with a devastating ground game. He has accumulated 1,608 yards on the season in 220 carries for a 178.7 yards-per-game average.
Banner has scored 17 touchdowns.
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Advancing to the Class 6A state football playoff version of the Elite Eight is not enough.
The Dodge City High School Red Demons (8-2) have won four straight and seem hell-bent on advancing to the 6A semifinals and a home date next Friday against unbeaten Manhattan (10-0).
But first, Dodge needs to get past Derby (7-3) in Derby tonight at 7, and Manhattan needs to get past Wichita Heights tonight at home.
"There's no talk on that stuff yet," Dodge City head coach Justin Burke said. "We're just talking about Derby right now."
And, with good reason.
The Panthers have a dual threat in quarterback Tyler Harrison and wide receiver Devin Hedgepeth, who is an Oklahoma State University signee.
And, don’t forget about running back Jameson Moore, either.
Moore is averaging 72.7 rushing yards per game, and Harrison has averaged 140.8 passing yards per game.
“They have a good offense and they have a good, solid mix of the run and the pass,” Burke said. “If you don’t put enough guys in the box, they’re going to run it all night long.
“Derby runs out of the no-huddle as well. They'll try to see where our defense is and audible at the line of scrimmage. They make you play honest and they make you play the whole field.”
The speedy Hedgepeth is a worry by himself. He has caught 40 balls for 737 yards this season.
“One thing about our defense,” Burke said, “is that we’ll bring pressure and we’ll mix up where we’re coming from and we’ll mix up coverages.
“We’ll try to disguise some things. We can’t give up the deep ball. We can’t give up the big play.”
Burke can draw parallels between Derby and the Demons’ opponent last Saturday, Topeka High, in which Dodge won 35-17.
“They’re very comparable to Topeka High in a lot of ways,” Burke said of Derby.
“They have similar weapons ... good runners and good receivers, but Derby will hang its hat on defense. Derby has a very good one.”
Derby will be trying to limit DCHS senior tailbck Jace Banner, who had a school-record 305 rushing yards in 38 carries and scored four touchdowns against Topeka High.
Banner has revved up the Demons’ spread offense with a devastating ground game. He has accumulated 1,608 yards on the season in 220 carries for a 178.7 yards-per-game average.
Banner has scored 17 touchdowns.
