With a struggling offense that ranks 48th nationally in scoring, the No. 5 Iowa Western Reivers turned to their defense and special teams Saturday to get them jump-started.

Atlias Bell returned a fumble 32 yards for a touchdown and Daniel Isom added another on a return of a blocked field-goal attempt to spark the Reivers to a 42-22 win over Dodge City at Titan Stadium.

Quarterback T.J. Starks passed for two touchdowns and ran for another for Iowa Western.

Following last week's 16-13 loss to Garden City on a 42-yard field goal with seven seconds left, Reiver coach Scott Strohmeier said it was important to take care of business this time out.

"I think when you see when you can get into a little bit of a rhythm, you know it was a slow start offensively, but we got a couple of big plays defensively and on the blocked field goal to give us time to get going offensively.

"Our guys coming back and bouncing back from a tough loss last week to play the way they did, I'm pleased," Strohmeier said.

Starks said he was happy the way the offense started to come together beginning in the second quarter when a pair of touchdown runs gave the Reivers a 28-9 lead.

"It was definitely better. The game is starting to slow down for me with the help of my teammates and Coach Stroh," Starks said.

But one negative trend continued for Iowa Western, which improved to 4-1.

The Reivers had a 42-9 lead headed to the fourth quarter before being outscored by the Conquistadors (2-4) 13-0 the rest of the way.

Iowa Western has now been outscored by a combined 42-2 in the fourth quarter this season.

Strohmeier said the team continues to work on finishing games.

"There's lots of reasons for it. I think number one is we have a crazy penalty here or there and then it stops for a fumble to give them some momentum. And we change some of our play calls going into the fourth.

"But that's something, obviously, we want to win that fourth quarter, and we've got to do a better job," Strohmeier said.

Iowa Western took the opening drive to the Dodge City 3 to set up a 20-yard field goal attempt by Eddie Ogamba, but the snap on the attempt went past the holder as the Reivers came up empty.

Bell made up for it on the ensuing drive, scooping up a fumble by quarterback Drew Harris and returning it 32 yards for a touchdown to put Western up 7-0 with 11:30 remaining in the first quarter.

It was the first defensive touchdown of the season for Iowa Western.

Bell credited Devin Drew in giving him the chance for the return after Drew forced the fumble.

"Devin got the strip sack, and I had one against Coffeyville, and I didn't score. So I just wanted to redeem myself and score, but it was a good strip sack by Devin that led to the touchdown," Bell said.

The Reivers led 28-9 at halftime.

After a bad punt following Dodge City's first drive of the second half put the Reivers at the Conquistador 28, Starks hit Nick Singleton with a 21-yard scoring toss to put Western up 35-9.

Starks got his second scoring strike of the game when he hit Michael Zachary from 13 yards out to make it 42-9 late in the third.

Western will next play at Ellsworth Saturday.

Dodge City (2-4) 7 2 0 13—22

At Iowa Western (4-1) 14 14 14 0—42

IW: Atlias Bell 32 fumble return (Eddie Ogamba kick)

DC: Anthony Watkins 13 run (Devonta Guillory kick)

IW: Daniel Isom 65 field goal block return (Ogamba kick)

DC: Safety

IW: Gayflor Flomo 8 run (Ogamba kick)

IW: T.J. Starks 39 run (Ogamba kick)

IW: Nick Singleton 21 pass from Starks (Ogamba kick)

IW: Michael Zachary 13 pass from Starks (Ogamba kick)

DC: Kyle Jones 6 pass from Drew Harris (Guillory kick)

DC: Harris 7 run (kick failed)