Several times during a season a coach for a sports team will mention that it was a "total team effort" that propelled their team to victory. That was very true this past Saturday for the Fort Scott Community College Greyhound football team as they beat the Dodge City Conquistadors 34-14 at Frary Field in the 2012 Homecoming Game.
The Greyhounds, 2-2 in the Jayhawk Conference and 2-3 overall, scored touchdowns on offense, defense, and special teams to overcome a Dodge City team that played better than their 0-5 overall record shows.
Saturday marked the seventh time in a row that the Greyhounds have beaten the Conquistadors and their eighth victory out the last 11 tries over their Jayhawk Conference foe.
Sophomore quarterback Owen Jordan followed up a strong performance last week against Coffeyville by throwing for 176 yards on 11 for 24 passing and two touchdown throws of 68 yards and 20 yards against Dodge; both in the first quarter. Jordan, a 6-1, 180 pound Columbus native, not only completed passes to six different 'Hound receivers, he also made great decisions on when to throw the ball away instead of taking the sack; he was sacked only once Saturday.
Fort Scott looked like they were going to make this game a blow-out with two scores early in the first quarter; first with just over 90 seconds off of the game clock when Jordan hit a streaking Terrence Hoskins, down the middle of the field for a 68 yard touchdown. Then three minutes later found tight end Zach Gougler in the end zone for a 20 yard score. It was Gougler, a freshman from Galena (KS), first collegiate touchdown.
Dodge mounted a drive of their own marching down field 64 yards in nine plays that was capped off by a six yard score from running back Jace Banner; cutting the deficit to 14-7 with seven minutes left in the first stanza.
On Fort Scott's next possession it looked as though the 'Hounds were going to score on a tailback pass play but the throw from running back Stanley Hagan to Hoskin. This pass was completed but it was ruled that Hoskin, a 6-2, 190 freshman receiver from St. Louis (MO), fumbled the ball before entering the end zone resulting in a touchback as Dodge City recovered the fumble. The 'Hound defense held Dodge City's offense to a quick three and out forcing them to punt.
The first play of the second quarter started with Jordan fumbling the ball on a quarterback keeper on the Fort Scott 25 yard line. Dodge City only used one play to capitalize on the mistake when quarterback Jason Stewart threw a touchdown pass to a wide open Brian Reed in the back of the end zone to tie the game at 14-14.
Special teams and defense proved to be the difference maker the rest of the way for Fort Scott as both units stepped up and made big plays that led to the next three Greyhound scores.
With 7:48 left in the first half, Dodge City's punter Andrew Casey booted a line drive punt from his own end zone that returner Kevin Short took down the visitors sideline for 36 yards to the end zone putting Fort Scott back ahead, this time for good.
Short, a 6-2, 182 defensive back from Florissant (MO), is becoming a dangerous weapon from the returner position. He is averaging 9.4 yards per punt return and 23.9 yards per kick-off return while also being a "shutdown corner" from his defensive back position.
The score remained 21-14 throughout the third quarter as both teams struggled to get anything going offensively; then the "Dark Side" defensive unit came up big for Fort Scott. With 14:12 left in the contest, defensive back Antonio Carter stepped in front of a Stewart pass and followed his blockers 42 yards for a touchdown. Mark Whitrock's PAT kick was good and the score was 28-14 with the home team starting to run away. Carter has scored twice for the 'Hounds defense this season. He also scored in the season opening win at Highland on a fumble recovery.
It took less than two minutes for the Greyhounds to "seal the deal". Dodge City tried a "quick kick" with quarterback Stewart but it failed as defensive tackle Justin Taimatuia broke through the line and block the punt. Linebacker Stephan Martin scooped the ball up and raced 47 yards for the game clinching score. Martin has scored two touchdowns for the Hounds this season along with leading them with 44 tackles.
Overall, the Greyhounds defense and special team units have tallied for 6 scores so far this season; 4 on defense and 2 on special teams.
Offensively, Hagan finished the game with 89 yards on 35 carries while Hoskins led the receiver corps with a career high 108 yards on 6 catches. Hagan, 6-1 195 pound freshman from Nashville (TN), has 714 yards in five games in 2012 averaging 142.8 yards per game.
On paper, Dodge City's offense amounted 506 total yards of offense but the Greyhounds defense had the quarterback Stewart running for his life most of the game. Stewart was the game's leading rusher with 128 yards; most of these while being flushed from the pocket by Greyhound defenders.
Linebacker Marceice "Bam" Jackson lead all tacklers with 13 total takedowns, 4 solos and 9 assists, while playing most of the game with a stomach ailment. Jackson, 6-3 240 sophomore from Daphne (AL), also had 1 ½ tackles behind the Conqs line of scrimmage.
Olathe (KS) defensive back Austin Fulson also had a big game for the Maroon and Gray defense recording 10 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 quarterback sack.
Fort Scott will look to even out their season record when they travel to Garden City to face the Broncbusters in crucial Jayhawk Conference match-up.
The Broncbusters are 3-1 overall and 1-1 in conference after beating Air Force Prep 47-21 on Saturday.
Game time is set for 7:00pm.
Fans that cannot make the trek across Kansas to Garden City can listen to the game on KSEK "The Ticket" 99.1FM ESPN radio, the voice of the 'Hounds, and also by dialing your radio to 103.9fm in Fort Scott. Pregame will start at 6:00pm and live play by play will start at 7:00pm. Fans can also utilize the internet to listen to live streaming of the game on www.991espn.com.