Red Demons use dominant first half to best Pioneers

The Dodge City Red Demon football team opened up their 2026 season with a 42-20 win at home against Wichita West. The Demons led 35-6 at halftime after a fast start offensively.

The scoring started immediately, as junior wide receiver Xavier Carrillo found a lane down the sideline on the opening kickoff and ran it back 93 yards for the score.

Wichita West responded accordingly as a tipped pass made it through Dodge City’s defense and resulted in Jevaun Darnell scoring a 76-yard touchdown. The Pioneers went for two and it was unsuccessful to keep Dodge City in front at 7-6.

The Demons then scored the next 35 points of the game, as Cayden McElgunn, Oakley Rich and Luis Perez all found the end zone on short runs. Junior quarterback Reis Ochs scored on a quarterback sneak, and in the second half ran in an 11-yard touchdown to conclude the scoring early in the third quarter.

Late in the fourth quarter, Wichita West scored on a scoop-and-score and a long shot to Darnell for his second score of the night to bring the score to 42-20.

The Red Demons only passed the ball seven times in the win, as Ochs went 4-of-6 for 60 yards and junior Isai Reyes threw a pass for a two-yard gain. The run game was dominant by committee, as no one ran the ball more than seven times on the night.

Next week, the Demons will play on Thursday night against Topeka High School on the road at 7 p.m. on Z98.