'Hounds fall just short at No. 17 Dodge City

DODGE CITY -- Fort Scott Community College's football team jumped out to a big lead here Saturday only to fall in the fourth quarter of Jayhawk Conference play at Memorial Stadium.

The Greyhounds had No. 17 Dodge City on the ropes for quite some time, building a 22-6 lead and leading by five going into the fourth quarter. But again, as was the case the week before at Coffeyville, the home team came back in the fourth quarter.

The final score of 37-36 in Dodge City's favor may make it seem that the still-winless Greyhounds (0-4 Jayhawk, 0-5 overall) have turned a corner. But some of the final numbers show that some things didn't really change that much.

The Greyhound defense intercepted three passes but still surrendered more than 500 yards in total offense, the third time it's allowed at least 500 this season. And it gave up more than its season average in rushing yards, 291, as the Conquistadors (3-1, 4-1) had a pair of 100-yard rushers for the second consecutive week.

Quarterback Jason Stewart, who played at Dodge City last season, had his worst passing game of the season, completing just 8 of 19 passes for 92 yards. But Jo-Nathan Alford, coming off a one-game suspension imposed by the conference, ran for 237 yards to become Fort Scott's first 200-yard rusher since Stanley Hagan ran for the same total at Highland last season. Unfortunately, this was just the second time in 18 games that a 'Hound has rushed for 200 or more yards since the end of the 1995 season and Fort Scott still lost the game.

There was no scoring until Stewart ran in for the first of three rushing touchdowns from 1 yard out six seconds into the second quarter. Carlos Chavez made the PAT kick.

Dodge City got on the board quickly as wide receiver Devonte Robinson took a reverse 64 yards for a touchdown with 13:31 on the clock. But the Conqs' kicker missed the extra point.

Stewart ran in on another 1-yard run with 11:54 to go in the first half and Chavez's PAT kick extended the Greyhound lead to 14-6. Stewart ran in from 8 yards out 3 1/2 minutes later and a 2-point conversion by Demetrius Hill made it 22-6.

Keymonne Gabriel scored for Dodge City on a 1-yard run with 5:53 on the clock. The Conqs failed to make a 2-point conversion, so it remained 22-12.

Alford ran in from 33 yards out for the 'Hounds with 4:55 to go and Chavez's kick pushed the lead to 29-12.

Tyreis Thomas scored on a 39-yard run with 3:19 left and Shane Brittain converted the extra point to bring Dodge City within 29-19, the halftime margin.

The Conqs posted a defensive score when Adrian Burton recovered an Alford fumble and ran it back 44 yards barely two minutes into the second half to get within 29-25. Brittain again missed the extra point.

Dodge went out in front just over a minute later as Thomas ran 14 yards for his second score to put the Conqs up 31-29. A different kicker, Manny Castillo, missed the extra point.

Fort Scott went out in front one last time when Stewart found tight end Walker Evans from 15 yards out with 2:16 left in the third. Chavez's PAT made it 36-31.

Thomas ran in from 14 yards out with 6:49 to go to put Dodge City up 37-36. The Conqs went for 2 to try to make it a 3-point lead but were unsuccessful.

Dodge City defeated Fort Scott for the first time since 2005, when it won at Frary Field, 27-20. The Conqs broke a seven-game losing streak to the 'Hounds. It was Dodge's first home victory in the series since 1998, snapping a six-game home skid.

Thomas finished with 154 yards on the ground and seven receptions for 72 yards to lead the Conqs. Deondre Ford completed 17 of 33 passes for 212 yards. Robinson gained 110 yards on 4 rushes and 70 more on 4 receptions.

Fort Scott will host No. 13 Garden City at 1 p.m. Saturday at Frary Field. The Broncbusters (1-1, 3-1) got by Air Force Prep, 35-34, Saturday night in Garden City.

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FORT SCOTT...... 0 29 7 0 -- 36

DODGE CITY..... 0 19 12 6 -- 37

Scoring

Second Quarter

FS -- Stewart 1 run (Chavez kick) , 14:54 [6, 24]

DC -- Robinson 64 run (kick failed), 13:31 [4, 65]

FS -- Stewart 1 run (Chavez kick), 11:54 [5, 75]

FS -- Stewart 8 run (Hill run), 8:21 [5, 25]

DC -- Gabriel 1 run (pass failed), 5:53 [4, 26]

FS -- Alford 33 run (Chavez kick), 4:55 [2, 42]

DC -- Thomas 39 run (Brittain kick), 3:19 [4, 60]

Third Quarter

DC -- Burton 44 fumble return (kick failed), 13:17

DC -- Thomas 14 run (kick failed), 11:52 [7, 74]

FS -- Walker 14 from Stewart (Chavez kick), 2:16 [6, 57]

Fourth Quarter

DC -- Thomas 14 run (run failed), 6:49 [7, 73]

Individual Statistics

RUSHING: Fort Scott -- Alford 19-237, Hamond 6-26, Stewart 11-20, Vincent 1-5, team 1-0, Buie 1-minus 4. Dodge City -- Thomas 19-154, Robinson 4-110, Gabriel 4-25, Ford 7-22, French 1-1, team 2-minus 10, King 1-minus 11.

PASSING: Fort Scott -- Stewart 8-19-0-92. Dodge City -- Ford 17-33-3-212

RECEIVING: Fort Scott -- Buie 5-33, Dangerfield 2-44, Evans 1-15. Dodge City -- Thomas 7-72, Robinson 4-70, French 3-64, Wilson 2-0, Foster 1-6.

MISSED FIELD GOALS: Fort Scott -- Chavez 31.