Published: August 31, 2009 09:12 am      

TVCC 27, DODGE CITY 13: Conquistators? Conquered

Cardinals break open close game in second half to win season opener on road

DODGE CITY, Kan. — The Trinity Valley Community College Cardinals opened the season with a 27-13 win over the Dodge City Community College Conquistadors Saturday night at Memorial Stadium in Dodge City, Kan.

Coach Brad Smiley's Cardinals came alive in the second half to turn back the Conquistadors for a second straight season. TVCC was a 48-0 winner over Dodge City a year ago at Bruce Field.

TVCC was up 13-6 after a first half in which penalties, blocked kicks and turnovers plagued both teams.

The Cardinals got on the scoreboard first on a 19-yard Ernesto Guerra field on their first possession of the game. After Dodge City converted a Cardinal turnover into a touchdown and missed the extra point, Guerra split the uprights from 44 yards out for a 6-6 tie.

Jared Pickett blocked a punt and returned it 30 yards for a TVCC touchdown with two minutes left in the half for a 13-6 halftime lead.

Dodge City scored on a touchdown pass late in the third quarter to knot the score at 13-13.

The score wasn't tied long. The Cardinals needed just a long pass from Tyler Little to Chris Young and a 27-yard Chad Winbush run to take the lead for good.

Pickett pulled in a Little bomb for the Cardinals' final touchdown early in the fourth quarter.

The Cardinals had 420 yards of offense on 226 rushing and 194 passing. Winbush had 117 of those rushing yards, and Josh Johnson added 103 yards.

The TVCC defense held Dodge City to 272 offensive yards on 122 rushing and 150 passing.

The Cardinals are scheduled to play Cisco in their home opener next Saturday at Bruce Field. Game time is 7 p.m.