[ By STEVE CARPENTER ]

[ HutchCC SPORTS INFORMATION ]

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — With four straight victories and an overall record of 5-1, the Hutchinson Community College football team made a significant jump in this week’s NJCAA Football Rankings.

The Blue Dragons are ranked No. 14 this week after a 42-14 victory over Iowa Central on Saturday at Gowans Stadium. Hutchinson has a bye week this Saturday before heading on the road to take on Ellsworth on Oct. 14 at Iowa Falls, Iowa.

Tuesday’s rankings were the first time that the NJCAA Football Computer Rankings were added to the Football Poll Committee. The addition of the computer rankings created a shakeup in the rankings.

East Mississippi received 7 of 9 first-place votes and remains the No. 1 team in the country. Tyler jumped from No. 4 to No. 2. Iowa Western went from No. 9 to No. 3. Trinity Valley went from No. 8 to No. 4 and despite two first-place votes and a 3-0 record, Arizona Western fell from No. 2 to No. 5

Independence is the highest-ranked Jayhawk Conference team. The 4-1 Pirates are No. 7 this week after a come-from-behind road win at Dodge City on Saturday. Butler dropped seven spots to No. 19 after a 36-30 home loss to Garden City, which is receiving votes this week.

Hutchinson and Independence are tied for the Jayhawk Conference lead at 3-0. Every other conference team already has two losses heading into the second half of the season.

Hutchinson’s No. 14 ranking is the highest since its No. 13 ranking on September 20, 2016.

The next rankings will be released next Tuesday, October 10.

 

NJCAA FOOTBALL RANKINGS

                                                                Record                  Points         Last Week

1. East Mississippi (7)                       5-0                          209.00                   1
2. Tyler                                                5-0                          178.78                     4
3. Iowa Western                                 4-1                          148.31                     9
4. Trinity Valley                                 5-1                          138.64                     8
5. Arizona Western (2)                      3-0                          137.13                    2
6. Snow                                                5-0                          129.85                     5
7. Independence                                4-1                          123.84                    12
8. Blinn                                                4-1                          117.65                       6
9. Scottsdale                                       5-0                          111.73                      19
10. Lackawanna                                   4-0                          101.00                      7
11. Northwest Mississippi                 3-1                          94.99                       17
12. Hinds                                               4-0                         87.26                     NR
13. Georgia Military                            4-1                           77.00                      14
14. Hutchinson                               5-1                          68.13                  20
15. Holmes                                            4-1                          67.42                         3
16. Monroe College                              5-0                          55.00                      15
17. Jones County                                  4-1                          44.78                      RV
18. Louisburg                                         4-0                          35.82                     16
19. Butler                                                 3-2                          29.34                     12
20. Mississippi Gulf Coast                    3-2                          23.93                     NR

Others Receiving Votes: Garden City (3-2, 21.4); Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (3-2, 15.2); Central Lakes (4-1, 15.0); Itawamba (2-3, 7.3); Mesabi Range (4-1, 6.0); Mesa (3-2, 3.0).

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Lorenzo Cain and Alcides Escobar tipped their caps and likely said goodbye to Kansas City’s fans, and then the playoff-bound Arizona Diamondbacks ended the regular season with a 14-2 win over the Royals on Sunday.

The foursome joined the Royals in 2011 and keyed the team’s run into consecutive World Series, including a championship in 2015. They are all eligible for free agency after the season.

Manager Ned Yost pulled the group together with one out in the fifth inning. The players hugged behind the pitchers’ mound, then waved their caps to the cheering crowd as they walked off the field. Salvador Perez, who also debuted with Kansas City in 2011, embraced the group on the top step of the dugout.

The Royals played a video honoring the players after the game, and fans stayed and applauded.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Freshman QB Eric Forrest started in place of the injured Cam Jones and threw three touchdowns with one interception to lead the Dragon passing attack with 165 yards.

Dezmon Jackson, Andrew Lee and DeShawn Waller each scored once on the ground to help the Blue Dragons (5-1, 3-0) ease past the visiting Tritons of Iowa Central (0-6).

The Tritons are winless in the last 21 games, dating back to Oct. 10, 2015.

HCC opened the game with an Eric Forrest TD pass to Johnny Lumpkin from 14 yards out. Iowa Central answered quickly with a 68-yard strike from B.J. Phillips to Chris McLeod.

Phillips finished the day with 183 yards and two touchdowns. He was also sacked six times.

When he wasn’t sacked, Phillips led the Triton rushing attack with 63 yards. E’Quan Dorris touched the ball six times for a total of 25 yards as Iowa Central’s second-leading rusher.

The Blue Dragons picked up 238 yards on the ground behind Jackson, Lee, Emmons and Waller. Jackson broke off a 20-yard run early in the second quarter to break the 7-7 tie.

Deadlocked after one quarter, the Blue Dragons reeled off 21 unanswered points before Roddrick Bryant caught a 16-yard TD pass from Phillips to close the first half.

The other two touchdowns in the 21-point run came through the air as Forrest found Jaylen Erwin on an 8-yard pass that finished a 12-play drive, then later Marquis Whitmire on a 58-yard bomb.

Forrest looked impressive, putting the toss right on target to the wide-open Whitmire, who never broke stride on his way to the end zone.

Andrew Lee broke free on a 52-yard romp on the Dragon’s first possession of the third quarter to boost the Dragon lead back to 21.

Lee ran three times for 56 yards (18.7 yards-per-carry) and one touchdown.

B.J. Emmons racked up 46 yards on 13 carries, but was denied the end zone twice in goal-to-go situations.

DeShawn Waller finished the scoring with a 3-yard run that capped a 9-play, 80-yard drive.

The Blue Dragons now have five wins, matching the win totals from each of the last two seasons.

One win away from bowl eligibility, HCC has a bye week before returning to action in Ellsworth on Oct. 14.

The Panthers have a two-game winning streak vs. the Blue Dragons after 2015’s second half comeback where Ellsworth scored 42 points to close out the game and stunned HCC in Gowans 42-35.

The Panthers traveled again to Hutchinson last year and exited with a 3-point victory.

Ellsworth is (2-2) with a victory over Coffeyville by 14 and an OT win over Iowa Central by 7.

FINAL: HCC 42 IC 14

HCC’s defense held the Tritons to 90 yards rushing and 3-of-15 on third down.

HCC proved better in the red zone. After a 1-for-5 showing against Highland, the Blue Dragons scored on 4-of-5 chances Saturday.