FORT SCOTT, Kan. — No. 17 Fort Scott (2-1, 2-1) entered Saturday’s matchup against No. 1 Hutchinson (4-0, 2-0) converting 52% of its opportunities on third down.

Once again, the Blue Dragon defense provided a stat line to hang its proverbial hat on.

The Greyhounds were 0 for 14 on third down. The stat comes one week after the Dragon defense put up 10 sacks against No. 7 Iowa Western.

The stellar defensive performance was one of the many reasons head coach Rion Rhoades came away with his 100th collegiate win.

The win could not have come at a better place. Rhoades started his coaching career in Fort Scott. Rhoades led the Greyhounds to a 7-5 record in 2006.

Rhoades now has 93 wins at Hutchinson and 100 overall.

The Blue Dragons started quickly with a 7-play drive that covered 44 yards in just three minutes. The Dragons started in Greyhound territory after Cameron Henderson returned a short opening kickoff 40 yards. Erin Collins registered his first TD of the season when he punched it in from 7 yards out.

The Dragons followed that drive with one that covered 63 yards in 4 minutes and 18 seconds. Sebastian Garcia capped that drive with a 21-yard field goal. Normally, that would seem insignificant, but Garcia had three kicks blocked last week: an extra point, a 22-yard attempt and a 23-yard attempt.

The Dragons quickly raced out to a 10-0 lead.

The Greyhounds answered with their only score of the game. Quarterback Carlos Davis split the Blue Dragon defense on a 57-yard touchdown scamper. After the game, Rhoades called it the only mistake the defense made.

In the second quarter, Nolan Arrington’s punt pinned the Greyhounds at their own 3. Fort Scott could not move the ball and was forced to punt from its own end zone.

Mitchell Tinsley caught the punt at the Greyhound 44 and took it to the house down the left sideline. It was the second special teams touchdown in as many weeks for the Blue Dragons.

With 38 seconds remaining in the first half, Garcia added another field goal. This one came from 37 yards out. The Dragons took a 20-7 advantage into the break.

The Dragons had the only score of the second half. It came with 2:46 remaining in the third after a 10-play, 80-yard drive. Mark Wright finished the drive with a 7-yard run.

Outside of the 57-yard touchdown run, the Greyhounds failed to move the ball offensively. Carlos Davis and backup QB C.J. Ward collectively threw for 45 yards. The quarterbacks were 4 of 18.

Davis was Fort Scott’s leading rusher with 70 yards.

Wright finished the game with 117 yards passing. He had 102 after the first quarter.

Kendall Cross led the Blue Dragons in rushing with 69 yards.

Hutchinson had the ball 10:45 longer than Fort Scott. Hutchinson had 13 more first downs and ran 21 more plays offensively.

FINAL: Hutchinson 27 Fort Scott 7

No. 1 Hutchinson has a bye week before returning home on Sept. 28 to face No. 2 Butler.

The Grizzlies (4-0, 2-0) were tied with Coffeyville (0-4, 0-2) at 13 before reeling off 20 unanswered points.

Butler hosts Dodge City on Sept. 21.

The Dragons are 4-0 for the first time since 2014, the year Hutchinson won the Jayhawk Championship.