Red Demon Soccer completes unbeaten season to win 6A title

TOPEKA, Kan. — The Dodge City High School boys soccer team finished off one of the best seasons in Kansas history by winning the Class 6A State Championship on Saturday afternoon in Topeka. The Red Demons defeated Olathe East, 6-0 at Hummer Sports Park to finish their season with a 20-0 record. 

“It feels so surreal right now,” Dodge City coach Saul Hernandez said after the victory. “These boys worked so hard, and did all the things in the classroom right, and all the things in the summer right. They protected themselves, and kept themselves healthy, they’re just such good kids and I’m so happy for them and this program.”

The Red Demons took a 1-0 lead with 11:03 to go in the first half following a shot from just outside the box by Erik Martinez, as he got it just left of the diving Olathe East goalkeeper. Dodge City took a 1-0 lead into the halftime break, and had a lot of momentum, as well as just being more physical than the Hawks in the first half.

Dodge City came out strong in the second half with the wind at their back and holding onto the lead. Olathe East had a chance to tie the game up with 31 minutes remaining when the Hawks had a Penalty Kick. The kick was sent to the left of the Dodge City goalie, Carlos Sanchez dove that way when the ball deflected off of his right foot and over the goal to hold onto the lead. That save right there ignited the Dodge City players, and fans that made the long trek to Topeka.

Alan Lopez would give the Red Demons a 2-0 lead after he got a pass on the right side of the box, and then got past the defender and fired a shot with his right foot off that went off the diving attempt of the Olathe East keeper. Lopez celebrated by running towards the Dodge City crowd and slid on his knees after he had just given Dodge City a two-goal lead with 14:55 to go. Lopez wasn’t done yet, as he put the final nail in the coffin when he scored his second goal with 8:28 to go to give the Red Demons a 3-0 lead.

The Red Demons were able to run out the clock, and cap off an unbelievable season and their second state title in program history. Dodge City outscored it’s opponents 110-7 on the season, and shut out 16 of their 20 opponents.

“I told the boys it wasn’t going to be easy,” Hernandez said. “We’re gonna get punched, but champions keep going forward. I think they took that literal, cause they kept on going forward every time there was something that went against us, but these boys kept on going forward, just like champs, just like I told them.”

The Red Demons are 91-11 over the past five seasons, and have won two state titles during that five-year span.