Game serves as measurement of expectations

DODGE CITY -- It is perhaps an indication of how high the standards have become as far as Fort Scott Community College football is concerned that after a 30-0 victory over Dodge City at Memorial Stadium here Saturday afternoon, a lot of people were actually disappointed with the outcome.

"We're 6-0, we just won 30-0 and everybody's disappointed," Fort Scott head coach Jeff Sims said. "And I think that's a good thing because I think people are starting to expect winning at Fort Scott Community College. When people expect blowouts and stuff like that, that means we're good. And we're 6-0 and won 30-0, so I'll take it."

It may have been a case of trying too hard, Sims explained. Going up against a winless Dodge City team (0-4 KJCCC, 0-6 overall), it could have been expected that this would be one of those "They'll win by whatever they want to win by" games.

"Our guys want to beat them 50-0," Sims said. "And they think they can score 50 points on every play. Then they try to do too much and that leads to turnovers and forcing passes and doing silly things. I hope we got smacked back to reality a little bit."

The first play of the game didn't exactly dispel those expectations as Pittsburg High graduate C.J. Fondren hauled in a 60-yard touchdown pass from Arvel Nelson, who was getting his first start of the season. This came just 10 seconds into the contest.

Nelson was a contender for the starting quarterback job during the pre-season but he wasn't on the original 55-man roster. When he was activated prior to last week's game versus Independence, he was listed as a defensive back but ended up finishing the game at quarterback, throwing a touchdown pass.

Overall, though, Nelson's performance was like that of one who was making his first start -- 10 of 25 for 155 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

"It was his first game and I think he learned some things as he went through," Sims said. "It was his first game and he played like it was his first game. We all want to score 100 points and win the game. But...he'll get better next week."

Zac Dickey, the Pittsburg Colgan grad who came to FSCC after a year redshirting at Oklahoma State, played about six plays in a second-quarter series. After having to recover a fumble for a loss, Nelson came back in and played the rest of the game.

According to Sims, Dickey was not injured, either before or during the game. He and the staff wanted to give Nelson a look.

"At this point in time, we felt that this would be a good opportunity (to start Nelson) and Zac's doing great and he will be a tremendous football player for us throughout the year," Sims said.

Fort Scott's defense put the Greyhounds in scoring position again quickly when LeVonte David forced a fumble and Tyler McKee recovered it at the Dodge City 12. But the offense was unable to convert after a run was stopped on fourth-and-one at the three.

The defense scored a safety midway through the first period when David stopped Conquistador quarterback Jean Julmiste in his own end zone for a safety to make it 9-0.

The defense got a stop early in the second quarter when the Conqs were able to advance to Fort Scott's seven. However a bad snap on a 25-yard field-goal attempt preserved what would become the Greyhounds' third consecutive shutout.

"Our defense will let you sniff the end zone but they won't let you get in," Sims said. "I don't know if maybe they like to tease the other team. They're playing well. As an offense and as a defense, we still have to play hard. And we'll work on that."

Fort Scott's offense got to the Dodge City eight late in the third period but was turned away. However the defense held and forced a bad punt, which allowed the 'Hounds to take over at the Dodge City 36. Four plays later, Josh Sutton was in position to catch a pass that bounced off Brandon Kinnie and a Conq defender for a touchdown with 1:44 left in the third, making it a 16-0 game.

Shortly after that, as the fourth quarter began, the Conquistadors put together one of their few good drives, getting down to Fort Scott's three-yard line.

On third down, Coryell Judie batted a pass away from a Conq in the end zone. On fourth down, Judie, David Garrett and Jason Pierre-Paul all swarmed tailback Kareem Alexander for no gain.

"I thought Coryell's (deflection) was the best play of the game," Sims said. "It was huge and Coryell's a tremendous football player. People should really watch him because he's special and that play was really good."

Fort Scott's pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns came through defense and special teams. The first was scored when Isaiah Grace blocked a punt and Jacquain Williams scooped up the ball at the Dodge 16 and took it in for the score with 6:43 remaining.

David returned a Julmiste fumble 45 yards for the final touchdown with eight seconds to go.

The Greyhounds' defense and special teams have scored 43 of Fort Scott's 171 points this season.

Dodge City, meanwhile, was shut out for the fourth time this season. The Conqs have been outscored 200-20.

Kinnie had five catches for 52 yards for the Greyhounds. Jasmine Hopkins rushed for 86 yards on 20 carries and Nelson had 54 on 10 rushes.

Julmiste completed 16 of 39 passes for 204 yards with an interception. Vanters caught 10 passes for 129 yards. Dodge City gained only 32 yards rushing on 47 attempts.

Fort Scott had 307 yards of total offense to Dodge's 236. The Greyhounds had five sacks with Pierre-Paul getting two of them for 14 yards in losses. Garrett had an interception as well.

The Greyhounds will travel to Highland for a 1 p.m. conference game Saturday afternoon. The Scotties (1-3, 1-5) lost to Garden City, 37-10, Saturday.