Demons Ride Defense to Their First Win
Dodge City, KS (westernkansasnews.com) What a difference a year makes.
Last year Wichita West and Dodge City opened up the football season in a game that resembled a track meet with West beating Dodge 48-41. This year’s game looked more like a slow jog, but in the end the Demons defended their home field making two touchdowns in the first quarter stand in beating the Pioneers 14-7.
Game Highlights
The defense was the key to Dodge City success. After a fumble just minutes into the game from the Pioneers, the Demons marched down the field quickly and scored on quarterback Dawson Williams three yard touchdown run. Williams added another 15 yard rushing touchdown capping off a 95 yard drive with 11:11 to go in the second quarter in giving Dodge a 14-0 lead.
The Demon defense led by stop on three fourth down plays and two turnovers including an interception from safety Sam Unruh played well and came close to a shutout up until six minutes left in the fourth quarter when sophomore running back Xavier Sellers rushed for a 38 yard score giving West their only points of the game.
Dodge City defense stopped a fourth down conversion on their own five late in the first quarter and had two separate stops including with 1:30 left on a 4th and 4 from the Demon 45 with West attempting to score the game tying touchdown.
Most of Dodge City’s 232 rushing yards came in the first half. Dawson Williams rushed 31 times for 130 yards and two scores, but was held to zero yards in the second half. Tylor Garcia had a good night rushing 23 times for 102 yards, but had a costly fumble in the second half outside the West 20 when Dodge City was trying to go up by three touchdowns.
Quinton Royal led the Pioneers rushing attack ending with 10 carries for 74 yards. Neither team was able to produce much through the air combining for 18 yards.
With the win Dodge City football coach Dave Foster improved to 6-1 in season openers with the Demons. Dodge City will have their first road game of the season Thursday against Wichita Southeast a team they beat 53-12 last year. Pre-game coverage begins at 6:30 with the kickoff at 7 on Z 98 and westernkansasnews.com.
