By Taylor Eldridge

I think this game lived up to its billing of a defensive struggle. Everyone knew coming in that Derby and Dodge City both had spectacular defenses, so it would come down to whose offense is more efficient.

Now Derby’s offense wasn’t necessarily better, but it came up with the plays that Dodge City couldn’t make.

Derby came to play right from the opening whistle, forcing a three-and-out on Dodge’s first possession, which gave the offense the ball at the Dodge 26. Two third down conversions gave Derby the ball with first-and-goal from the 3, but two Jameson Moore runs and two Devin Hedgepeth end-arounds couldn’t get the ball in.

Now I saw Dodge in the season opener this year when they demolished Southeast. Back then, the offense was potent with Jace Banner slicing through holes and Ty Thomas slinging it back in the pocket. Give credit to Derby’s defense because none of that happened Friday night.

Banner was largely ineffective plowing up the middle. 17 of his 28 carries were stopped for 3 yards or less. He still finished with 104 yards, but Derby’s defense made him earn every single one. By stopping the running game, Derby’s secondary was able to predict obvious passing downs.

Thomas had problems the entire second half finding open receivers. He was 8-of-11 in the first half; 6-of-15 with a pick the second. Blame that on Derby’s under-sized, but over-achieving defensive line. Thomas was sacked only once, but Derby got enough pressure on him to force pressured throws into a talented secondary.

Dodge’s big missed opportunity came on its opening drive of the second quarter. The Red Demons picked up four first downs and were driving inside Derby’s red zone. Here’s the next four plays: Banner -1-yard run; Head 6-yard catch; Banner 4-yard run and on 4-and-1, Banner was stopped inches short at the Derby 5.

After that, I thought the half would end scoreless. Both teams had been stopped inside each other’s 10-yard-line and Derby quickly got itself in a 3rd-and-7 with about 4 minutes remaining from its own 28. Than the game-breaker lived up to his title.

Devin Hedgepeth, the Oklahoma State recruit, beat his defender down the right sideline and caught a 35-yard pass from Tyler Harrison for a first down. Next play, exact same play. This time Harrison’s throw was a bit deep, but Hedgepeth laid full out to snag the ball for a 31-yard play. By then, Dodge City’s formidable defense was on its heels and the next play Jameson Moore took a sweep to the left in for a 6-yard score.

In a matter of seconds, the game had changed. Derby struck first and led 7-0 with 3:50 remaining. The Panthers had their shot at burying their Demons when a wonderfully placed squib kick from Mason Young was muffed by Dodge and the Panthers took over in enemy territory. But three-and-out went the offense.

Still, Derby had yet another opportunity with the final possession of the half. A spectacular punt return and a facemask penalty put the ball on the Dodge City 23 with 1:23 remaining. A Tyler Harrison strike to Hedgepeth quickly put Derby in a first-and-goal. But a illegal procedure and holding penalty pushed the Panthers all the way back to the 26 and the half ended with no points.

Dodge City’s defense was able to make Derby’s clock-controlling running game a non-factor. Moore was often met at the line and dropped for no gain or a loss. 14 of his 20 runs were for 2-yards or less. Derby, as a team, finished with 83 yards on 40 carries – a 2.1 average.

The second half started off much like the first. Both teams traded failed offensive possessions and it was a game of field position. Derby’s advantage was its kicker, Young.

When a drive stalled in the middle of the 3rd quarter, he booted a 36-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead. Then on the ensuing kickoff, he executed a perfect onside kick that Derby once again recovered. To finish things off, he nailed a 32-yarder for a 13-0 lead to end the third.

Dodge finally got some life in it when Thomas hooked up with Landon Head for a 15-yard touchdown pass. Thomas just threw a fade in the left corner of the end zone and Head went up and made the play. Even though Derby had felt it dominated the game to that point, Dodge was within striking distance at 13-7 with 7:59 left.

It looked like Dodge would get the ball back with the chance to take the lead when a holding penalty pushed Derby back to a 3rd-and-15. But who did Derby go to? Who else? Hedgepeth on a fly route once again worked, as he caught a 35-yard lob pass down to the Dodge 21. Next play, Harrison took off on a designed QB keeper and scored from 21 yards out to clinch the game.

As I mentioned in my story, there were plenty of doubters about how far Harrison could take this team. By no means did he bring Derby to the final four by himself. He had plenty of help from Hedgepeth and his defense. But Harrison made the plays when he had to. He didn’t try to be Jake Snodgrass last night. He was himself and it was good enough for Derby to move on.

There wasn’t much that separated the two teams on Friday night. Both had stiff defenses, but Derby’s got the stops when it needed, had a kicker, and had the difference-maker in Hedgepeth.

For the second straight year the Panthers are in the state’s semifinals. Same place, but entirely different identity this year.

DODGE CITY
START	QTR	YDL	PLYS	YDS	RESULT
12:00	1	20DC	3	-10	PUNT
6:59	1	1DC	4	13	PUNT
4:34	1	15DC	8	22	PUNT
12:00	2	22DC	13	73	TURNOVER ON DOWNS
3:50	2	42DC	0	0	LOST FUMBLE
2:48	2	8DC	4	21	PUNT
9:27	3	21DC	4	28	PUNT
6:36	3	42DC	4	8	TURNOVER ON DOWNS
4:06	3	46DC	0	0	LOST FUMBLE
1:40	3	31DC	3	6	PUNT
10:50	4	40DC	8	60	TOUCHDOWN
5:14	4	20DC	8	25	TURNOVER ON DOWNS
1:13	4	38DC	1	0	INTERCEPTION

DERBY
START	QTR	YDL	PLYS	YDS	RESULT
10:27	1	26DC	9	15	TURNOVER ON DOWNS
5:20	1	42DC	3	0	PUNT
0:52	1	21D	3	2	PUNT
6:00	2	5D	8	95	TOUCHDOWN
3:47	2	42DC	3	-2	PUNT
1:27	2	23DC	4	-9	END OF HALF
12:00	3	43D	7	19	PUNT
8:07	3	17D	3	5	PUNT
5:42	3	50	6	50	FIELD GOAL
4:06	3	46DC	8	46	FIELD GOAL
0:41	3	20D	5	6	PUNT
7:59	4	35D	7	65	TOUCHDOWN
3:11	4	45D	3	-3	PUNT
1:01	4	37DC	2	-2	END OF HALF

DODGE CITY	1st	2nd	Total
First Downs	8	6	14
Turnovers	1	2	3
3rd Down Conversions	2	2	4
3rd Down Attempts	7	6	13
4th Down Conversions	0	0	0
4th Down Attempts	1	2	3
Time Of Possession	14:18	8:20	22:38
Penalties	3	2	5
Yards	18	14	32
	1st	2nd	Total
Rushes	20	13	33
Rushing Yards	34	69	103
Passes	11	15	26
Passing Yards	75	65	140
Total Plays	31	28	59
Total Yards	109	134	243

DERBY	1st	2nd	Total
First Downs	7	9	16
Turnovers	0	0	0
3rd Down Conversions	4	4	8
3rd Down Attempts	9	10	19
4th Down Conversions	0	0	0
4th Down Attempts	1	0	1
Time Of Possession	9:42	15:40	25:22
Penalties	5	6	11
Yards	53	35	88
	1st	2nd	Total
Rushes	17	23	40
Rushing Yards	28	55	83
Passes	13	16	29
Passing Yards	103	115	218
Total Plays	30	39	69
Total Yards	131	170	301