Wichita Heights Beats Dodge City; Spoil Trent’s Big Night

Wichita, KS (westernkansasnews.com) The game between Dodge City and Wichita Heights Friday night was very much defined by the numbers.   Both teams had two ties and four lead changes in the first half.  Dodge and Wichita Heights combined for 992 of total offense and 834 yards of rushing offense.

In the end, Wichita Heights was able to score on back to back possessions in the second half and held strong despite allowing an 82 yard kickoff return to the Red Demons Mark Adams in holding on for a 53-48 win.  The Dodge City loss was their sixth in the series since the teams started playing again in 2008.  Two of the Falcons wins came in the playoffs (first round in 2008 and the state semi-final in 2010)  The Red Demons last win was in 1990, when the rivalry was suspended a second time.

Game Highlights

The story of the night for the Red Demons was senior running back Tyler Trent.  Trent scored on runs of 79, 5 and 13 yards and caught a 7 yards touchdown pass from Caden Walters for the Red Demons only score of the third quarter.  His 300 yards rushing were five short of the school record set by Jace Banner’s 305 rushing yards in a 35-14 2009 first round playoff win over Topeka High. Trent’s five yard run in the second quarter was set up by his own 65 yard run a play earlier.  Trent had four touchdowns, three rushing all personal bests.

For Heights their key number was 38.  Senior quarterback Garrett Haskins had a pair of 38 yard touchdown runs in the first half and added a 65 yard run on minute into the second half which gave the Falcons the lead for good. Haskins finished with 11 carries for 196 yards and three touchdowns.  Myles Garner had another 38 yard rushing touchdown at the end of the first quarter which gave the Falcons their first lead at 13-12.

One of the key moments in the game came with a less than ten minutes left when on a third and goal from the one, the Falcons stuffed a running play for Tylor Garcia on his own run of the night. Dodge City settled for a 21 yard field goal and instead of going in for the tying score.  Dodge City trailed 46-42. 

Both teams would add touchdowns in the final 9:03.  The Falcons went 58 yards on their final drive of the night taking almost six minutes before getting a one yard run from Rodney Murphy on fourth and goal.  For Murphy it was one of three rushing touchdowns, he finished with 19 carries for 103 yards.  Adams returned the following kickoff for a touchdown, but after a missed two point conversion, Heights recovered the on-side kick and picked up a first down to secure the win.

Wichita Heights rebounded from a tough loss to Wichita South in improving to 2-1, Dodge City loss drops them to 1-2.    A week after scoring 53 against Wichita Southeast,  Dodge gave up 53 in their loss to Heights.  The loss came at a price too as junior Dylan Servis was knocked out of the game, his injury will be assessed on Tuesday by a doctor, but there is some fear he could be loss for the season.  The injury would mark the fourth different defensive starter who will miss significant time or be out for the season.

Dodge City returns home next Friday night to play Liberal, a team they beat 52-20 on the road last season in starting off WAC play.  Liberal loss Friday night to Hays 29-0.

Coach Dave Foster’s Post-game Comments