It's never easy any week in the Jayhawk Conference on the gridiron and that was case and point on Saturday when #16 Highland traveled to Dodge City to take on a winless Conquistador team and got all they could handle going to double overtime to secure the 26-23 win.

While the game opened up with a first quarter that featured three Dodge City turnovers and 13 points off those turnovers the contest remained close and the fireworks on the field mostly happened in the fourth quarter and overtime. Scotties saw Dodge City take the lead late at 23-20 but a Jeri Velasquez 31-yard field goal with 31 seconds left in regulation tied the game and then in the second overtime a 40-yard field goal by Velasquez and missed field goal by Dodge City gave Highland the win.

Scotties started strong as they forced a fumble on the first offensive play of the game and Brian George recovered it inside the Dodge City five-yard line leading to a 22-yard Jeri Velasquez field goal. The first touchdown of the game just a little over three minutes of game time later as William McCall read a Dodge City pass and picked it off for a 14-yard pick six making it 10-0 Scotties. Highland got an interception from Jae'vion Matthews later in the first quarter and then drove down the field and nailed a 29-yard field goal by Velasquez to make it 13-0.
Dodge City hung close and tightened the game with an eight-yard touchdown run by Darius James making it 13-7 with 11:09 left in the second quarter and it remained that way entering halftime.

After a stalemate of a third quarter Dodge City found the first points of the second half hitting a 33-yard field goal by Moses Hinojosa to make it a three-point game at 13-10 with 14:55 left in regulation. Scotties looked to have an answer as they worked down the field but a high snap derailed a 30-yard field goal try by the Scotties and it remained 13-10. Scotties however got another Dodge City turnover as Johnathan Butler recovered a fumble and then the Scotties put together a scoring drive with Kenny Mayberry hitting Kajuan Jackson for an eight-yard touchdown on a one-handed grab to make it 20-10 with 7:51 left in the fourth quarter.

Dodge City switched quarterbacks and it payed dividends as they answered Highland's score after a big kickoff return set them up with a short field and then on a fourth down play Jase Orndorff hit Daquan Bailey Brown for a 34-yard touchdown but McCall blocked the extra point making it 20-16 Scotties. The lead swung to Dodge City with 1:41 left in the fourth after Orndorff hit Bailey Brown for a 39-yard pass and then Orndorff ran it in from one-yard out to move the score to 23-20 Dodge City.

Down for the first time in the game the Scotties looked to rally and got a big pass connection for 36-yards from Antavious Cook from Mayberry which lead to a game tying 31-yard field goal by Velasquez and forced overtime.

After a stop of Dodge City in the first overtime Highland went for a 40-yard field goal to win the contest but miss fired. In the second overtime Velasquez got a second chance at the 40-yarder and nailed it to give Highland the lead. Scottie defense forced Dodge City into a field goal try from 25-yards which was made but a false start penalty forced Dodge City to try again this time from 30-yards and the Conquistadors misfired giving Highland the 26-23 win.

Defense was strong forcing six turnovers as George, Daryan Ingram, Matthews and McCall all had an interception in the contest, while Butler led the team with 12 tackles, a sack, fumble recovery and pass breakup. Le'Marcus Washington notched 11 tackles and a sack on the day as the Scotties had five sacks as a team. On offense the Scotties saw Mayberry toss for 170 yards on 13-41 passing with a touchdown as Jackson caught three passes for 58 yards and the touchdown and Alfonso Franklin ran for 71 yards on 26 carries.

The win moves the Scotties to 5-3 on the season and 3-3 in KJCCC action, while gives Highland a four-game win streak over Dodge City. Scotties head out on the road again next Saturday, November 2^nd as they take on Independence for a 1:00pm kick. (Game will be streamed on the Scottie Sports Network)