Friday night's Western Athletic Conference football showdown at Great Bend is probably circled on a calendar in the Dodge City High School football office.
If it's not, then perhaps it should be.
Flip back the calendar almost a decade. The last time Dodge City beat Great Bend was 1999.
Ever since, Great Bend has basked in WAC supremacy.
If the unbeaten Red Demons (4-0 overall, 1-0 WAC) can pull out a road victory over the Panthers (2-2, 1-1) Friday night, it would go a long ways in yanking the conference crown from their longtime grasp.
With playmakers all over the field, there's no time like the present for the Demons to, well, exorcise the demons of yesteryear.
"We've got to do something this year," Dodge City head coach Justin Burke said. "As far as turning (the corner), you want to see something special and this would be a big win.
"Great Bend would be the opportunity to turn the corner, I guess, and start going upfield. Great Bend has won or had a share of the title for nine years now. Liberal had a share of it one year and Garden City, I think, had a share one year. This is the greatest opportunity we've had."
Meanwhile, Dodge City has been playing second fiddle to the Panthers, at best, during the last nine years.
Dodge City is currently ranked No. 5 in the latest Class 6A poll, showcasing a high-octane spread offense and a punishing defense that have steadily progressed every game. The Demons, who have averaged 47 points and 417 yards during their hot start, rattled off points in bunches last Friday night in belting Liberal 55-17 to open conference play.
Demons senior quarterback Ty Thomas has completed 60 percent of his passes (33-for-55) for 720 yards and 10 touchdowns. The telling statistic is the fact he has yet to throw an interception this season.
Wide receiver Landon Head and tight end Zach Harvey, both seniors, have been the big-play guys with nearly identical numbers. Head has 12 receptions for 210 yards and Harvey has caught 11 balls for 201 yards. Both have a trio of touchdown catches.
Wideout Trey Hallman has four catches for 102 yards and one score.
Senior tailback Jace Banner has racked up 631 yards on 78 carries for a WAC-leading 157.8 per-game average. He has rushed for 10 touchdowns.
His playing status for Friday is unknown after he violated the student conduct code.
Fullback Bruce Campbell, who sometimes lines up in a one-back formation, has 128 rushing yards in 22 carries.
Campbell, a two-way player, has a team-leading 32 tackles from his defensive end position.
"Campbell was a stud last Friday," Burke said. "He was really all over the field."
Meanwhile, linebacker Laton Dowling, who has 29 tackles on the season, spent last Friday having Liberal's offense run away from him.
"The good thing about Dowling is that he still played hard the whole time and didn't get frustrated," Burke said. "He's been solid all year and even though (Liberal) was running away from him. He was leading our defense, still."
Reach Sports Editor Mack McClure at (620) 408-9909 or e-mail him at mack.mcclure@dodgeglobe.com
