Red Demons advance in playoffs

DODGE CITY — The Dodge City High School Red Demons football team advanced out of the first round of the class 6A state playoffs for the first time since the 2012 season after a 25-15 win over Junction City on Friday night at Memorial Stadium.

The Red Demons hosted the first round game for the first time since 2010 and cherished every moment of it. Dodge City has nearly been unstoppable in their current 4-game winning streak, which started with a come-from-behind win at Hays on Oct. 5. Since then Dodge City has outscored opponents 83-28 in that time.

Dodge City got on the scoreboard first on a 30-yard field goal from Alexis Alvarez with 7:37 to go in the opening quarter. The Red Demons would then add a touchdown from Beau Foster, as he found De’Jon Delgado for a 15 yards score to make it 10-0 in favor of Dodge City with 3:40 to go in the first quarter. Junction City would then add a score of their own on a 6-yard touchdown run from Chris Garland to pull the Blue Jays within three, 10-7 with 14.7 seconds to go to make it 10-7 Dodge City after the opening quarter.

Foster then used his legs this time to find the end zone from 11 yards out to extend the Red Demon lead to nine after the missed PAT from Alvarez. Alvarez then added a season-best 32-yard field goal with 23 seconds to go in the first quarter to make it 19-7 Dodge City going into halftime.

Junction City got the first score in the second half on a 13-yard touchdown run from sophomore running back, Russell Wilkey to pull the Blue Jays within four at 19-15 following the 2-point conversion. Foster again did it with his arm, finding John Johnson for a 10-yard score to extend the lead back to double figures at 25-15 with 4:32 remaining in the third quarter.

There would be no more scoring throughout the night, as both team’s defenses held up and the offenses were mainly held in check. Foster accounted for all three Red Demon touchdowns.

Dodge City will now advance to the second round of the 6A state playoffs, as they will take on the No. 1 seed in the west bracket, Derby.

WHO? No. 8 Dodge City (6-3) at No. 1 Derby (9-0)

WHAT? Class 6A state playoffs, second round

WHEN? Friday, 7 p.m.

WHERE? Panther Stadium in Derby

COVERAGE? Pregame show begins at 6:30 p.m. on KSKZ-98.1 FM, westernkansasnews.com/z98/ or the Z98 mobile app