It was over before it even started.
Football fans packed Memorial Stadium Friday night for the Dodge City High Red Demons' highly anticipated home opener against the Wichita East Blue Aces, and less than three minutes in, the Demons jumped out to a two-touchdown lead en-route to a 59-0 statement win.
"I don't know where to start," Dodge head football coach Justin Burke said after the victory. "I just think they were all dialed up. We knew if we could get ahead on these guys that they wouldn't like it."
Burke and the Demons wasted no time upsetting the Aces, as Dodge sophomore Trey Hallman took the opening kickoff back for a touchdown to put the home team up 7-0 with only 14 seconds running off the clock.
"That's the big thing about Hallman," Burke said. "I remember watching him playing Pee Wee football, and returning kicks was always something he was good at. He has pretty good speed and it's pretty easy when he doesn't get touched."
Senior captain Laton Dowling and the Dodge defense held the Wichita East offense to a three-and-out on the ensuing possession, and after a muffed punt attempt, the Demons' offense took over and went up 14-0 after a rushing touchdown by Jace Banner.
Banner and fellow running back Bruce Campbell continued to power the Demons down the field in the first quarter. Banner grabbed his second score of the night with six minutes to play in the opening period after marching 48 yards to put Dodge up 21-0.
Campbell gave the Demons a four-score advantage on a rushing touchdown of his own at the start of the second.
"They're special players," Burke said of Banner and Campbell. "But it helps when your line is making good blocks and pushing people down the field."
With 16. 1 seconds to play in the half, kicker Josh Ginther gave DCHS a 31-0 cushion headed into the locker room.
Ginther had a flawless night, making his only field goal attempt and knocking down every point-after-touchdown attempt.
"It was the first time we had a perfect kicking game in awhile, and seeing as how we had so many opportunities," Burke said with a laugh.
Dodge went on to score four more touchdowns in the second half and the Demons' defense pitched a shutout en route to a 59-0 win to improve to 2-0 on the season.
Banner led the DCHS offense with four scores on the night, while Campbell racked up two touchdowns. Campbell, who also starts at defensive end, had one on both sides of the ball, including a fumble return in the third.
The Demons will look to stay unbeaten next Friday as they head back to Wichita to face the North Redskins.
DODGE CITY —
