Red Demons squeeze past Great Bend

Full Game Highlights: https://soundcloud.com/user-197579773/dchs-football-week-4-dodge-city-24-great-bend-21-full-game-highlights

Dave Foster Postgame: https://soundcloud.com/user-197579773/dchs-football-week-4-dodge-city-24-great-bend-21-dave-foster-postgame

Matt Friess Postgame: https://soundcloud.com/user-197579773/dchs-football-week-4-dodge-city-24-great-bend-21-matt-friess-postgame

Juan Lopez Postgame: https://soundcloud.com/user-197579773/dchs-football-week-4-dodge-city-24-great-bend-21-juan-lopez-postgame

DODGE CITY, Kan. — The Dodge City Red Demons built a 21-0 lead going into the halftime break and were able to hold off Great Bend, 24-21 on Friday night at Memorial Stadium.

The Red Demons grabbed a 7-0 lead with 5:31 to go in the first quarter on a 2-yard rushing score from Alden Knelder, his fifth rushing score of the season. Beau Foster then scored from 1-yard out with 4:59 to go in the first half to put Dodge up 14-0. The Red Demons would add one more score before the half on a halfback pass from Knedler to Foster from 12 yards out to make the score 21-0 with 4:18 remaining.

Great Bend came storming out in the second half and scored on a 1-yard rushing score from quarterback Dalton Miller with under two minutes to go in the third quarter. After a Dodge City turnover, Great Bend was able to punch it in again from a yard out and again with the legs of Miller to make it 21-14 after three quarters.

The next Panther drive resulted in a score, as this time Miller took it 63 yards to the house to tie the game up at 21 apiece with 9:35 to go.

The Red Demons had their backs against the wall now on Homecoming and in the Western Athletic Conference opener, so they needed something to happen. That thing would be a Miller fumble recovered by Dodge City around midfield. The Red Demons then took plenty of time off the clock and brought it down to the left foot of Jose Valverde.

Valverde, a transfer from Paw Paw High School in Michigan came up clutch a week ago at Wichita Heights to send that game to overtime, was asked to step up yet again. The sophomore drilled a 22-yard field goal with 1:02 to go to give Dodge City the 24-21 lead.

The Panthers then got the football back with plenty of time remaining and a couple of timeouts. Miller’s first connection was to All-WAC performer Alex Schremmer, which gave them the ball near midfield. Great Bend was then called for a few big penalties and faced a 3rd and long with just seconds remaining. Miller found Schremmer who then pitched it off to a lineman who was thrown to the turf to end the game.

Dodge City improves to 4-0 on the season and 1-0 in WAC play with the win, while Great Bend falls to 2-2 and 1-1 in WAC. The Red Demons will travel to Wichita West (2-2) on Friday, while Great Bend will travel to Bishop Carroll (2-2).