COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa — No. 1 Hutchinson (3-0, 1-0) called on its defense three times late in Saturday’s game against No. 7 Iowa Western to get a stop. Each time, the defense answered.
Hutchinson’s defense registered 10 sacks against Iowa Western, including the sack that prevented Shelton Applewhite from heaving the final prayer.
The Reivers (1-2) opened with a three-and-out. Hutchinson took its first possession 53 yards for a score. Mark Wright pitched the ball to Tiyon Evans, but the ball bounced and rolled across the ground. Evans was able to secure the ball and run 4 yards to pay dirt. It was just the fourth rush of the season for Evans and his first TD.
Four minutes later, Hutchinson scored on Cortez Braham’s first touchdown of the season. Wright fired the ball 39 yards through the air for the score. With just 8 minutes gone by, the Blue Dragons were up 14-0.
Cam Thomas started the game for Iowa Western, but he was pulled after two series. He finished the day 1 of 4 with just two yards to show.
Applewhite provided a spark for the Reivers by immediately chucking a 47-yard completion. Applewhite then found Corey Reed from 11 yards out to cap a 6-play, 75-yard drive.
Iowa Western was able to strike again in the second quarter after a Blue Dragon mistake. Markies Colvin muffed a punt inside the Dragon 5. The Reivers recovered. It took Iowa Western just two plays to cover the 4 yards. However, the potential tying extra point was blocked.
Hutchinson scored again with 4:49 before the half on a Kendall Cross 3-yard run. The Blue Dragons had a chance to go up by 8, but Sebastian Garcia’s extra point was blocked. Garcia would have three kicks blocked on the afternoon.
He had a 22-yard attempt blocked in the second quarter. His 23-yard attempt that would have put the Dragons up by 10 with less than a minute to play was also blocked.
Hutchinson took a 20-13 lead into an extended halftime.
Just as time expired in the first half, the game went into a lightning delay. The game resumed nearly 45 minutes later.
It was unclear if Hutchinson would maintain any momentum it built in the first half.
Tiyon Evans immediately erased any doubt. For his second TD of the day, Evans took the second half opening kickoff 95 yards to the house. Evans broke nine tackles on the return that put Hutchinson up 27-13.
Iowa Western answered when Florida State transfer Zaquandre White tore off a 50-yard romp. That run was the only reason Hutchinson gave up its first 100-yard rusher this season. Outside of that run, White averaged just 3.5 yards per carry. White entered the game averaging 9.9 per touch.
Hutchinson would answer later in the third with an 8-play, 56-yard drive. Wright finished off the drive with a 1-yard sneak.
Wright put the Hutchinson defense in a predicament to start the fourth quarter with his only interception of the game.
Devin Ruffin returned the ball to the Dragon 2. It was the second Iowa Western drive that started inside the Dragon 5. White punched the ball in from 2 yards out.
Wright would fumble the ball away later and give Iowa Western another opportunity. The Reivers had three possessions with a chance to tie the game late, but the Dragon defense kept pushing the Reivers back. Anthony Greene registered two sacks on one series alone.
Latrell Bankston got the final sack of the game as time expired.
FINAL: Hutchinson 34 Iowa Western 27
The win was the first in Council Bluffs for Blue Dragon head coach Rion Rhoades.
Rhoades is now 6-20 against teams ranked in the Top 10.
Three Blue Dragons registered two sacks: Latrell Bankston, Oliver McDowell and Anthony Greene.
Mark Wright finished the day with 188 yards passing. He had one passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown.
For the first time this season, a running back led the Dragon rushing attack. Trey Coleman ran for 61 yards. Wright led the Dragons in rushing from the quarterback spot the previous two games.
Hutchinson is on the road again next week to take on No. 20 Fort Scott (2-0, 2-0). Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on Sept. 14.