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DODGE CITY —
It had been 25 years since the Dodge City Community College football team tasted the sweet nectar of victory over the Garden City Broncbusters.
With a trip to the playoffs on the line, the Conqs picked a good time to end a quarter-century-long losing streak.
Behind a solid defensive effort, DC3 held the Broncs to 222 total offensive yards in a 22-14 win and a spot in the regional semifinals for the first time since 2005.
The game kicked off Saturday at Memorial Stadium with much anticipation, as the winner of the game would claim that fourth and final seed in the playoffs, making an already close rivalry even more intense.
Refusing to budge
Both squads traded blows early in the first quarter, with each side refusing to budge.
Dodge would strike first right before the end of the first as Conqs defensive back Shawn Smith jumped a route from Broncbuster quarterback Rashard Burkette and returned the interception 49 yards, putting DC3 ahead 6-0.
The Broncs would continue their offensive struggles while the Conqs would begin to find life through the arm of Bryan Parnes.
Dodge extended its lead midway through the second quarter, as Parnes would connect with a wide-open Logan Singhisen for a seven-yard touchdown pitch and catch, putting the Conqs up 13-0.
However, Garden City would strike on the very next drive as Andrew Pitts gashed the Dodge City defense for a 29-yard scoring burst to cut the deficit to six.
But the momentum would be short-lived for the Broncbusters as Logan Stephens, who exploded throughout the entire game for Dodge, was on the receiving end of a 32-yard touchdown throw from Parnes.
Stephens, the sophomore from Grinnell, would finish with 13 catches for 258 yards and that one touchdown. His long reception came on a 68-yard screen play across the middle of the field, setting up a Conq score.
With that Stephens touchdown, DC3 walked off the field to the cheers of the fans enjoying a 20-7 lead on the scoreboard.
The second half followed the same script as the first, as the defense continued to put the clamps on the Garden City offense, not giving up many big plays and pinning them deep in their own territory when forced to punt.
One of those instances had the Broncs on their own one-yard line, and CJ Overton's key tackle of Garden running back Andrew Pitts in the end zone resulted in a safety for the Conqs and a 22-7 lead.
Despite Garden's great effort to turn a defeat into a victory, Dodge would hold on for a 22-14 win and the celebration could begin.
For head coach Bob Majeski, this victory meant a lot to the Conquistador program, considering the opponent they just defeated.
“It was a deal where it is good for our program because we recruit against them (Garden City), we know all their coaches and they know us, so it’s a matter of recruiting and getting an advantage in the western part of the state,” Majeski said.
Majeski went on to compliment his defense, which really held the team together when other facets of the game weren’t going exactly as planned.
“The defense picked it up and that interception by Shawn (Smith) early in the game became a very big factor, as you can tell,” Majeski said. “I’m happy for the kids, happy for the coaches and happy for everyone involved with the program, and we’ve got another big one next week.”
Statistical leaders for the Conqs include Robert McWright on the ground (19 carries for 89 yards), Parnes through the air (28 of 42 for 331 yards and two touchdowns) and Overton on the defensive side (nine tackles with an interception and a split quarterback sack).
Up next for the Conqs is a trip to Colorado Springs to take on Air Force Prep on Saturday, Oct. 29, with a scheduled 2 p.m. kickoff.
It had been 25 years since the Dodge City Community College football team tasted the sweet nectar of victory over the Garden City Broncbusters.
With a trip to the playoffs on the line, the Conqs picked a good time to end a quarter-century-long losing streak.
Behind a solid defensive effort, DC3 held the Broncs to 222 total offensive yards in a 22-14 win and a spot in the regional semifinals for the first time since 2005.
The game kicked off Saturday at Memorial Stadium with much anticipation, as the winner of the game would claim that fourth and final seed in the playoffs, making an already close rivalry even more intense.
Refusing to budge
Both squads traded blows early in the first quarter, with each side refusing to budge.
Dodge would strike first right before the end of the first as Conqs defensive back Shawn Smith jumped a route from Broncbuster quarterback Rashard Burkette and returned the interception 49 yards, putting DC3 ahead 6-0.
The Broncs would continue their offensive struggles while the Conqs would begin to find life through the arm of Bryan Parnes.
Dodge extended its lead midway through the second quarter, as Parnes would connect with a wide-open Logan Singhisen for a seven-yard touchdown pitch and catch, putting the Conqs up 13-0.
However, Garden City would strike on the very next drive as Andrew Pitts gashed the Dodge City defense for a 29-yard scoring burst to cut the deficit to six.
But the momentum would be short-lived for the Broncbusters as Logan Stephens, who exploded throughout the entire game for Dodge, was on the receiving end of a 32-yard touchdown throw from Parnes.
Stephens, the sophomore from Grinnell, would finish with 13 catches for 258 yards and that one touchdown. His long reception came on a 68-yard screen play across the middle of the field, setting up a Conq score.
With that Stephens touchdown, DC3 walked off the field to the cheers of the fans enjoying a 20-7 lead on the scoreboard.
The second half followed the same script as the first, as the defense continued to put the clamps on the Garden City offense, not giving up many big plays and pinning them deep in their own territory when forced to punt.
One of those instances had the Broncs on their own one-yard line, and CJ Overton's key tackle of Garden running back Andrew Pitts in the end zone resulted in a safety for the Conqs and a 22-7 lead.
Despite Garden's great effort to turn a defeat into a victory, Dodge would hold on for a 22-14 win and the celebration could begin.
For head coach Bob Majeski, this victory meant a lot to the Conquistador program, considering the opponent they just defeated.
“It was a deal where it is good for our program because we recruit against them (Garden City), we know all their coaches and they know us, so it’s a matter of recruiting and getting an advantage in the western part of the state,” Majeski said.
Majeski went on to compliment his defense, which really held the team together when other facets of the game weren’t going exactly as planned.
“The defense picked it up and that interception by Shawn (Smith) early in the game became a very big factor, as you can tell,” Majeski said. “I’m happy for the kids, happy for the coaches and happy for everyone involved with the program, and we’ve got another big one next week.”
Statistical leaders for the Conqs include Robert McWright on the ground (19 carries for 89 yards), Parnes through the air (28 of 42 for 331 yards and two touchdowns) and Overton on the defensive side (nine tackles with an interception and a split quarterback sack).
Up next for the Conqs is a trip to Colorado Springs to take on Air Force Prep on Saturday, Oct. 29, with a scheduled 2 p.m. kickoff.
