Regaining some of that early-season swagger Friday night, Dodge City High School took winless Goddard out behind the woodshed and administered an unmerciful spanking to the Lions.
In a first-round Class 6A district football game, the Red Demons hammered out a 31-7 victory at the Goddard District Sports Complex.
Senior tailback Jace Banner was the catalyst, accumulating a career-high 202 yards in 30 carries and scoring three touchdowns to lead the Red Demons’ offensive assault.
“I had a great push from the offensive line, it was the best of the year,” said Banner, who now has 938 rushing yards on the season. “They did their job up front, which allowed me to get to the linebackers and the secondary and make my cuts.”
When push came to shove, the Demons hit the Lions in the mouth and never let up. So much for Goddard’s blitz package, which never was a factor.
Instead, Dodge ran the ball down the Lions’ throat, with Banner assuming the starring role.
“I thought (Banner) did a good job of following some blocks,” Dodge City coach Justin Burke said. “I thought the line did a pretty good job in the run game.
“In the passing game, we struggled early and then we were able to adjust. Jace did what he was supposed to do. He ran hard and was able to do some things that only he can do.”
