HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Saturday’s noon kickoff in Gowans Stadium pits No. 13 vs. No. 5.
No. 5 Hutchinson (5-1, 3-0) enters the game fresh off just the second win against Butler since 1997. The Blue Dragons held the Grizzlies to 1 of 15 on third down conversions last week in El Dorado.
No. 13 Highland (4-1 ,2-1) is on a two-game winning streak after starting the season with back-to-back wins. The Scotties were 2-4 in games decided by six points or fewer last season, but have found a way to win the close ones in 2018. All of Highland’s games this year have been decided by single digits.
Join Glen Grunwald, Steve Carpenter and Daren Dunn as they prepare you for a noon kickoff from Gowans.
HAYS, Kan. — A few weeks ago, I related to you that my wife and I went on vacation in August for a couple of weeks. We took the trip to Colorado, and then we had various friends and family come out and visit us there. It was a no-television vacation. I did a lot of cooking, relaxing, and reflecting.
The vacation was a little more significant in that a week after we got back, my wife, Barbara, was to retire from her job at the Department of Children and Family Services (it used to be SRS). She had been there for over 25 years.
My wife and I met after the very first year of law school. It was the summer before our second year. We were both taking a course in commercial transaction. We dated for the next two years, then married in September of 1980 after graduating from law school in May.
I have only known her as a lawyer or as a law student.
As you may imagine, two lawyers/spouses can have animated conversations. Particularly, during the law school years, Barbara was very hard on me. I was a terrible writer, with terrible writing skills. That is not a good attribute for law school.
I would write a brief for a class, or for my job as a law clerk, and Barbara would go through it with her red pen. She would challenge my thought process. By the time we graduated law school, I had actually become a pretty good writer and could argue effectively in appellate briefs.
Throughout the years, Barbara has been my sounding board. While we respect client confidentiality, we would exchange the dilemmas our clients or employers were facing. Much of that occurred right after work, but more especially, right before I left for work in the morning. That time from about 7 in the morning until 8 was a time for us to talk about our upcoming day and what we were struggling with.
Barbara is ready for retirement. I am just not sure I have wrapped my head around the idea that she’s no longer going to be a practicing attorney. In a way, I think it has been harder on me to accept that she is at that stage.
I understand now, maybe for the first time, the impact it may have on a person when their best friend retires. I do not think you can help keep from wondering what, if anything, will change in the relationship?
DCF hosted a very nice farewell gathering for Barb on Sept. 7. As I expected, Barb held her emotions well, almost.
I strongly suspect that one day soon, Barb is going to be into some new project, and frankly, I would not be surprised if it was somehow law related.
I do not think that there is a good or bad time to retire. I think it is up to the individual person. I am not there yet. Watching Barb retire, I realized I am not there yet. But I did get a feeling of urgency that there are some things that I want to get accomplished before that day comes, either voluntarily or involuntarily.
EL DORADO, Kan. — No. 7 Hutchinson (4-1, 2-0) travels to El Dorado to take on No. 12 Butler (3-1, 3-0) at 7 p.m.
It’s been nine days since Hutchinson’s 82-0 thumping of Rezolution Prep Academy. Butler took Dodge City into double overtime last Saturday and came away victorious on a Tyler Zentner 35-yard field goal.
Hutchinson has beaten Butler just once since 1997. That victory came in 2014 when the eventual-Jayhawk Champion Blue Dragons defeated the Grizzlies in El Dorado 35-26.
In 2015, Tim Schaffner moved from his defensive coordinator position into a head coaching role. Since taking over as head coach, Schaffner is 3-0 against Rion Rhoades with an 18.5-point average margin of victory.
Join Glen Grunwald, Steve Carpenter and Daren Dunn as they prepare you for kickoff from BG Products Veterans Sports Complex in El Dorado.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Eleven different players scored touchdowns as the No. 11-ranked Hutchinson Community College football team posted the third-largest blowout in team history on Thursday night at Gowans Stadium.
With the fourth-most points scored in team history, the Blue Dragons defeated RPA 82-0. One year ago, the Dragons scored a national single-game scoring record in a 91-0 rout of the Wildcats from Arlington, Texas.
Montai Ellis breaks free for a 31-yard TD run. Ellis ran for 88 yards and two touchdowns. Photo courtesy of Casey Bailey, Blue Dragon Sports Information.
Hutchinson’s 82-point output was the fifth most points scored in the NJCAA this season.
Despite playing mostly short fields, the Blue Dragons rolled up 414 total yards, getting 265 yards on the ground and 149 through the air.
Defensively, the Blue Dragons held RPA to negative total yardage. The Wildcats had minus-38 total yards with minus-58 yards on the ground and plus-20 through the air. RPA had six first downs, three coming on Blue Dragon penalties. The Blue Dragons forced three more takeaways, getting a 57-yard Jakorian Bennett interception for a touchdown. Last season, Hutchinson held RPA to negative-59 yards.
The Blue Dragons scored four touchdowns in their first six offensive plays of the game. Khalil McClain caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from Mason Schucker. Dezmon Jackson then had a 4-yard scoring run, Jonathan White had a 1-yard TD run and Drake Bolus broke lead for a 22-yard score to give Hutch a 28-0 lead with 7:03 remaining in the first quarter.
Back-up quarterback Nolan Arrington threw three touchdown passes, completing 14 of 17 passes for 98 yards. Overall, three Dragon quarterbacks were a combined 17 of 20 for 149 yards and four touchdowns.
Ten different Blue Dragons caught passes. Karim Brown caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from Arrington. Dalrone Donaldson caught a 5-yard TD pass. Nick Shelton had a 5-yard touchdown reception as well.
Montai Ellis led Hutchinson on the ground with 88 yards on nine carries and touchdown runs of 1 and 31 yards. Andrew Lee played his first game and ran for 51 yards on 11 carries. Drake Bolus finished with 46 yards and Dante Madden had 40 yards.
The Blue Dragon defense dominated RPA, posting 18 tackles for loss that included six quarterback sacks. Hutchinson held RPA to 1 of 15 on third-down and 0 of 7 on fourth down. The Dragons scored 28 points off Wildcat turnovers.
Malik Wilkerson had 10 total tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Bennett and Josh Reliford had interceptions – the Blue Dragons now have 15 total picks for the season.
Special teams also scored when Kobe Oldfield recovered a muffed punt in the end zone for a touchdown.
Hutchinson returns to Jayhawk Conference play on Saturday, Sept. 29, when the Blue Dragons travel to the Butler Grizzlies for a 7 p.m. kickoff at BG Products Stadium.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — No. 11 Hutchinson Community College (3-1, 2-0) plays on a Thursday night for the second time this season.
The Blue Dragons will host Rezolution Prep Academy of Arlington, Texas. The Wildcats (0-3) lost in Gowans Stadium last year 91-0. RPA lost to Cisco College (TX) earlier this season 99-0.
Under first-year head coach Kirk Risby, the Wildcats gained some offensive momentum by scoring 12 points against No. 6 Blinn College. RPA’s other loss was by one point to Hayden Simmons’ JV.
Join Glen Grunwald, Steve Carpenter and Daren Dunn as they prepare you for a 6 p.m. Thursday night kickoff from Gowans.
*Game time has been moved up to 6 p.m. because of impending rain storms.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — With the possibility of bad weather moving into the area by 9 p.m., Hutchinson Community College has moved kickoff for tonight’s football game with RPA up to 6 p.m.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — For the second game in a row, HutchCC quarterback Mason Schucker threw for over 200 yards.
This time, it was in a winning effort.
Quarterback Mason Schucker threw for 245 yards and 4 TDs in Hutchinson’s 61-21 victory over Fort Scott Saturday. Schucker now has back-to-back 200-yard passing games.
Schucker had a part in No. 12 Hutchinson’s first four scores. He capped a 4-play, 45-yard drive with a 4-yard TD pass to Jaylin Erwin. On the next possession, it only took two plays before Schucker dropped a dime on Cephus Smith from 48 yards out.
In the second quarter, Schucker and Khalil McClain helped the Dragons respond to Fort Scott’s only score of the first half with a 73-yard TD play that only took eight seconds. On Hutchinson’s ensuing possession, Schucker found Jaylin Erwin again, this time from 11 yards away to cap a 5-play, 43-yard drive.
With 10:16 left in the second quarter, Schucker had already thrown for 4 touchdowns and propelled the Dragons to a 28-7 advantage.
Schucker said he felt in a rhythm and knew it was going to be a good game when he hit tight end Leroy Watson IV on a 40-yard play-action pass:
It was Watson’s second catch of the year and only grab of the game. The 40-yard snag set up Erwin’s 4-yard touchdown reception with less than six minutes gone in the game.
It was a familiar play for the Dragons, but with a different result. Against Ellsworth, Watson dropped a sure touchdown in the season opener. The big catch was a relief for the tandem:
Rion Rhoades had nothing but praise for his tight end who has been mostly known for his blocking:
After Fort Scott cut Hutchinson’s lead to 14-7 with 13:24 left before the break, the Blue Dragons went on a 24-point run to close the half. Dezmon Jackson breathed life back into the Dragon run game that was stifled last week against Iowa Western.
Jackson broke free on a 53-yard run to close out the first half. Dezmon’s dash and a Sebastian Garcia 33-yard field goal gave Hutchinson a 38-7 advantage at halftime.
Jackson burst out of the gate to open the third quarter with a 57-yard scamper. Jackson had just 59 yards on 20 carries last week vs. No. 2 Iowa Western, but he finished the day against Fort Scott with 133 yards and two touchdowns. He racked up all but 23 of his yards on two TD carries. Jackson only toted the ball seven times.
The Dragon defense looked like itself again.
Fort Scott’s quarterback Gunner See entered the game with back-to-back 300 yard games and five touchdowns. The Dragons held See at bay.
See finished with 160 yards, one TD and two interceptions. He was also sacked twice.
Both interceptions came courtesy of Art Green. One interception in particular, will look good on film day and on Dragon highlight reels for years to come.
While hugging the sideline with bodies all around him, Green jumped up in traffic — with one hand — and yanked the ball out of the air as he fell to the ground.
Teammate Tank Morgan told Green after the play, “Your hip pad was at my ear pad:”
In all, Dragon defensive backs picked off Greyhound quarterbacks three times. Letayveon Beaton intercepted backup quarterback Justin Agner’s pass in Blue Dragon territory late in the fourth quarter.
Despite being nervous about Fort Scott’s offense entering the game, head coach Rion Rhoades was impressed with his team’s effort:
Fort Scott finished with 226 yards passing, but gained only eight yards on the ground. The Greyhounds were only 3-of-18 on third down.
Meanwhile, the Blue Dragons converted seven times on 18 third-down attempts.
The Dragons rushed for 313 yards and put up another 264 through the air. Hutchinson’s 577 total yards shined in comparison to Fort Scott’s 226. The Greyhounds entered the game averaging 501 yards of total offense a game against conference opponents.
FINAL: Blue Dragons 61 Greyhounds 21
Kicker Sebastian Garcia tied a school record with his 48-yard boot that came with 2:31 left in the third.
Hutchinson (3-1, 2-0) is home for a third-straight game in Gowans when RPA from Arlington, Texas, comes to Kansas for a 7 p.m. kick Thursday, Sept. 20.
The Blue Dragons set numerous records in last year’s 91-0 stomping of the Wildcats.
That record for points scored was broken by Cisco College (TX) earlier this year when the Wranglers defeated the Wildcats 99-0.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The No. 12 Blue Dragons (2-1, 1-0) return to conference play and Gowans Stadium when Fort Scott (0-2, 0-2) strolls into town Saturday for a noon kickoff.
The Greyhounds were off last week, but began the season with a pair of tough losses. In week one, Fort Scott dropped a decision at Highland by one point. Kale Pick’s Greyhounds followed that up with a three-point loss vs. Coffeyville.
Kale Pick is 1-0 against Rion Rhoades. In his first season, Pick orchestrated a stunning 29-24 victory over the Blue Dragons in Gowans last year.
Join Glen Grunwald, Steve Carpenter and Daren Dunn as they prepare you for kickoff from Gowans Stadium.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — No. 11 Hutchinson (2-1, 1-0) started off Saturday the way it finished the first half last week against then-No. 5 Independence.
Mason Shucker hit Khalil McClain on just the second play of the Blue Dragons second drive for a 60-yard touchdown pass. The early 7-0 lead was immediately cut to 4 when Eddie Ogamba hit a 21-yard field goal. No. 2 Iowa Western’s (3-0, 1-0) third drive of the game stalled after 7 plays and 77 yards.
After Hutchinson’s first TD with 7:44 left in the first quarter, it was all Iowa Western. The Reivers reeled off 31-straight points. All five of Iowa Western’s drives that led to touchdowns consisted of six plays or more from scrimmage.
QB T.J. Starks started the game for Iowa Western and scored the Reivers first touchdown from 1-yard out just 1:10 into the second quarter. Starks finished the day passing 6-of-14 for 77 yards. He ran for 21 and the TD. He was soon replaced by Clay Beathard.
Beathard started the air attack for Iowa Western with 1:56 left in the first half. Beathard found Marcell Barbee from 33 yards away to close out the first frame. It was a connection that happened three times Saturday.
The Reivers only led 17-7 at the break, but Beathard came out throwing in the third. He found Marcell Barbee two more times in the third quarter: once from 26 yards out, then again from 10 yards away. The scoring run for Iowa Western began with the Ogamba FG at the 4:57 mark in the first quarter and did not end until 6 seconds remained in the third quarter.
Enter: Jaylen Erwin.
Jaylen Erwin gave Hutchinson life late in the third quarter with his 74-yard punt return. Erwin has shown big-play ability in his three touchdowns this season: two TD receptions (65, 56) and now a punt return for a TD (74).
Erwin proved to be a deep threat in the passing game in Hutchinson’s first two contests. Erwin caught only three passes, but two of them were for touchdowns — long ones. Erwin had TD receptions of 65 and 56 in his first two contests.
This time, Erwin showed his long-play ability on a punt return. If not for an illegal formation the first punt-around, Erwin’s stellar return never would have happened. Iowa Western punter Hunter Pinegar pinned the Blue Dragons down at the 8 yard line with his first punt, but it was called back because the Reivers did not have enough players on the line of scrimmage.
Erwin did not waste the second opportunity. Like a bolt of lightning, Erwin exposed the sideline, then outraced the punter Pinegar when he circled back to the center of the field. Erwin’s 74-yard punt return gave Hutchinson some life to close the third quarter.
From there, the Blue Dragons went on a run of their own. A little trickery helped the Blue Dragons score with 12:42 left in the contest. Mason Shucker handed off to Khalil McClain, who promptly spotted Marquis Whitmire down the field. The 34-yard TD pass brought the Blue Dragons within 10 points.
A 13-play, 81-yard drive for Hutchinson would later stall with just 6:36 left in the contest. However, it led to a Sebastian Garcia 28-yard FG that cut the Reiver lead to 31-24.
Once down 31-7, the Blue Dragons used an 8 1/2-minute scoring run to make it a one-possession game.
On the Reiver’s next possession, the Blue Dragons held Iowa Western to five plays and a punt. That punt, however, was downed at the Hutchinson 2.
With just under 4 minutes remaining, the Blue Dragons had 98 yards and a Reiver defense between them and a tie ballgame.
On just the second play from scrimmage, running back Jonathan White was gobbled up in the end zone by Atlias Bell for a safety.
Now down by 9 points, the Dragons had to free kick the ball away from their own 20.
Despite the now two-possession contest, Hutchinson still had some life when it got the ball back after holding Iowa Western to 8 yards on three plays.
The chance at an improbable comeback looked even better when Shucker found big-play receiver Jaylen Erwin for a 39-yard strike. From the Reiver 8, Hutchinson could not punch the ball into the end zone. Hope ended when RB Dezmon Jackson was stopped just shy of the goal line on fourth down.
Jackson finished the game with 59 yards on 20 touches. The Blue Dragons were without star running back Erin Collins. Collins registered back-to-back 100-yard games in his first two appearances as a Blue Dragon. However, an undisclosed pregame injury sidelined Collins for the contest.
Collins had a boot on his lower leg and was seen using crutches on the sideline.
When asked about Collins’ availability going forward, coach Rion Rhoades said he had no idea “Without knowing what the injury is.”
“Don’t know, really, anything about his injury,” coach Rhoades said after the game, “other than they (the training staff) said he couldn’t go before the game.”
In Collins’ absence, the Blue Dragons rushed for just 16 total yards. Collins ran for 104 and 129 in his first two games, respectively.
Hutchinson had been solid against the opposing run game. Heading into Saturday, the Blue Dragon defense was giving up just 41 yards on the ground a game.
Hutchinson was without Clarence Hicks (unsportsmanlike penalties last week against Independence) defensively to start the game, then lost Jalen Pinkney before the close of the first half.
“Jalen Pinkney is a really smart guy,’ coach Rhoades said. “If you’d talk to him, he’s super intelligent, super friendly. But he made in impulse decision when he walked by the ref.”
Rhoades said the loss of Hicks and Pinkney definitely worked against the Dragons:
FINAL: Iowa Western 33 Hutchinson 24
Despite not having a receiving touchdown, Jaylen Erwin scored for the third-straight game with a 74-yard punt return. All of his touchdowns this season have come from 56-plus yards away.
Even though Dragon fans have only seen his big-play ability, Erwin says he still has the mid-range and short-range game to exhibit:
Iowa Western finished with 485 total yards of offense, including 363 yards through the air. QB Clay Beathard finished 19-of-31 passing with three touchdowns and one interception. Though he did not start, Gayflor Flomo led the Reivers in rushing with 68 second-half yards.
Jalik Jaggwe led Hutchinson in receiving with 69 yards on 11 grabs.
Mason Shucker threw the ball 45 times and hit his intended target 27 times. He finished with one touchdown and two interceptions.
Hutchinson is home again next week for a noon kickoff against Fort Scott (0-2, 0-2). The Greyhounds had Saturday off. While they are winless, the Greyhounds dropped a one-point decision to open the season at Highland and fell by just three points to Coffeyville a week ago.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Community College Blue Dragons beat a Top 5 team last Saturday for the first time since 1995. It was the first win for Rion Rhoades over a team ranked in the Top 5.
Fresh off the 37-27 victory over No. 5 Independence last week, the No. 11 Blue Dragons (2-0, 1-0) now face the No. 2 Iowa Western Reivers (2-0, 1-0).
Iowa Western is fresh off a narrow 26-20 victory against conference foe Iowa Central.
In the last two meetings between Hutchinson and Iowa Western, the game has come down to the final play.
In 2016, Iowa Western was driving for the winning score in Gowans Stadium. Hutchinson forced a sack-fumble that was returned by Ronheem Bingham for a Blue Dragon touchdown as time expired. The Dragons won 21-12.
Last season, Hutchinson scored the game-tying touchdown in Council Bluffs, Iowa, with seconds remaining. A penalty on the play resulted in a 10-second runoff and the score was erased. Hutchinson lost 27-21.
Join Glen Grunwald, Steve Carpenter and Daren Dunn of Eagle Sports as they prepare you for a noon kickoff from Gowans:
