In a thrilling, come-from-behind victory on the road, Independence Community College found a way to win when it mattered most.  The Pirates converted a seven-play, fifty-five yard drive for a touchdown to give themselves a 32-28 lead and left just thirty-four seconds on the clock for Dodge.  The home team could not come up with a hail mary as time expired and ICC came away with the conference road win.

Dodge City got things going early on, scoring with 9:35 to play in the opening quarter to give the hosts a 7-0 lead.  The game then settled into a defensive battle, with the teams trading short drives and punts for the rest of the first half.  

Coming out of the locker room, ICC tied the game at 7-7 on a seven yard scamper from Rakeem Boyd on the Pirate's first possession.  Indy got the ball back again with a little over nine minutes to play in the third quarter, and Brandon Bea was able to find Markiese King for an eighty-four yard touchdown catch-and-run.  This gave ICC a 14-7 lead, but the Conquistadors marched down the field on the very next drive to score.  The Pirates blocked the PAT, leaving them with a one-point advantage at 14-13.

The Conqs picked up another score on their next possession to go up 21-14, with ICC responding with 13:33 left in regulation.  The Pirate extra point was blocked, leaving Indy trailing by one.  The teams traded scores again, but a failed point after by Independence found them trailing 28-26 with 6:12 to go.  

Indy's defense stepped up big time on the ensuing drive, forcing Dodge City to punt and giving their offense the ball back with 2:21 remaining.  The Pirates did benefit from a bit of luck, as an ICC fumble was recovered in the endzone for a touchdown and the 32-28 lead that would hold for the final seconds.

The Pirates (4-1, 3-0) return home this week, hosting Ellsworth Community College on Saturday at Shulthis Stadium.

Article courtesy of Independence Daily Reporter 

Nick Dailey
Sports Editor

https://indydailyreporter.com/Content/Sports/Area-Sports/39/96