Friday night’s Western Athletic Conference football showdown at Great Bend is probably circled on a calendar in the Dodge City High School football office.
If it’s not, then perhaps it should be.
Flip back the calendar almost a decade. The last time Dodge City beat Great Bend was 1999.
Ever since, Great Bend has basked in WAC supremacy.
If the unbeaten Red Demons (4-0 overall, 1-0 WAC) can pull out a road victory over the Panthers (2-2, 1-1) Friday night, it would go a long ways in yanking the conference crown from their longtime grasp.
With playmakers all over the field, there’s no time like the present for the Demons to, well, exorcise the demons of yesteryear.
“We’ve got to do something this year,” Dodge City head coach Justin Burke said. “As far as turning (the corner), you want to see something special and this would be a big win.
“Great Bend would be the opportunity to turn the corner, I guess, and start going upfield. Great Bend has won or had a share of the title for nine years now. Liberal had a share of it one year and Garden City, I think, had a share one year. This is the greatest opportunity we’ve had.”
Meanwhile, Dodge City has been playing second fiddle to the Panthers, at best, during the last nine years.
Dodge City is currently ranked No. 5 in the latest Class 6A poll, showcasing a high-octane spread offense and a punishing defense that have steadily progressed every game. The Demons, who have averaged 47 points and 417 yards during their hot start, rattled off points in bunches last Friday night in belting Liberal 55-17 to open conference play.
