HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Prepare yourself for Blue Dragon football as HCC travels to Iowa Central this weekend. The Tritons are 0-5 and have lost nine straight games dating back to last season. The Blue Dragons nearly had a comeback for the record books last week at Highland, but fell short and enter Saturday with a 2-2 record.
Daren Dunn of Eagle Sports had an opportunity to visit with Kevin Twait of Iowa Central.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The World Series champions have failed to make the postseason for the fourth year in a row.
Kendrys Morales and Alex Gordon keyed an eighth-inning rally and Kansas City beat the Minnesota Twins 5-2 on Wednesday night, but the Royals were still knocked out of playoff contention.
The defending World Series champs were eliminated when Baltimore beat Toronto 3-2.
Morales’ ground-rule double to right scored Jarrod Dyson, who had doubled and stole third. Gordon’s single scored Whit Merrifield and pinch-runner Billy Burns.
Taylor Rogers (3-1), the fourth of five Twins pitchers, took the loss after allowing three runs, three hits and two walks while retiring only one of the six batters he faced.
Joakim Soria (5-8) worked a scoreless eighth to pick up the victory. Wade Davis got his 27th save in 30 chances.
HIGHLAND, Kan. — No. 13 Hutchinson Community College (2-2, 1-2) entered the 4th quarter trailing Highland (4-1, 2-1) 20-0.
That quickly changed. The Blue Dragons forced the Scotties to punt from their own end zone and Adrian Cross returned the ball to Highland’s 5. From there, Tre King punched the ball in with 14:42 left.
The Blue Dragon defense would force another punt and give the offense great field position once again.
This time, Chaz Capps found Gary Cross for a 24-yard TD. Luke Niemeyer’s extra point cut the Scottie lead to 20-14.
The Blue Dragons weren’t done. Inspired by great running back play from DeShawn Waller, Tre King and Otis Williams, the Blue Dragons would carry their momentum into the end zone again.
Waller, who suffered an ankle injury in Week 1 and has been sidelined ever since, did the dirty work and got the Blue Dragons close to pay dirt. Tre King would finish the drive once again with a 1-yard run.
Luke Niemeyer’s extra point gave Hutchinson Community College a 1-point lead.
Waller provided a big lift for the Dragons with 90 yards. He led the Blue Dragon rushing attack. King finished with 57 yards and 2 touchdowns while Williams ended with 28 yards on 11 touches.
Highland did most of its damage in the first half.
Kahlil Render opened up the scoring by hitting his favorite target, Demarrre Kitt, for a 73-yard TD.
The Scotties would score again in the 2nd quarter with a 37-yard TD run from Marquis Terry.
Terry scored again from 2 yards out in the 3rd quarter after a RaQuanne Dickens’ 75-yard run.
Highland went for two on every PAT and only converted 1 of the 3 attempts.
The Scotties have struggled in the kicking game with only 7 of 14 point after attempts converted this year.
Hutchinson Community College took the lead with 8:53 left, but failed to convert another drive that would have put the game away.
The Blue Dragons had to punt the ball back to the Scotties with the 4th quarter winding down.
That’s when Kahlil Render struck again. Render was forced out of the pocket as he peered deep downfield. He launched the ball high as Blue Dragon fans looked downfield in disbelief.
Bailey Strunk had beaten the Blue Dragon defense and waited, wide open, for Render’s pass to fall into his awaiting arms.
Asher Goldston nearly made the touchdown-saving tackle, but Strunk darted away and scored the 78-yard pass.
Highland’s two point conversion failed. The Scotties finished the day 1-of-4 on two point conversions.
Down 26-21, the Dragons had one last chance.
That chance ended when Jacob Rominger picked off Chaz Capps’ pass intended for Allen Bishop.
The Blue Dragons had opportunities in the 3rd quarter inside the Scottie 10. Both times, Hutchinson came away empty.
FINAL: Highland 26 Hutchinson 21
The Blue Dragons travel to Fort Dodge, Iowa, next Saturday to play Iowa Central.
The Tritons are 0-4.
HIGHLAND, Kan. — Join Glen Grunwald, Steve Carpenter and Daren Dunn from Kessinger Field as the No. 13 Blue Dragons (2-1, 1-1) prepare to take on the Scotties (3-1, 1-1).
Hutchinson Community College lost here last year 31-12. The Blue Dragons are coming off a loss at home to No. 5 Garden City while the Scotties are on a two-game winning streak after pummeling Iowa Central 42-2.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Preview HCC’s game against HCC. No. 13 Hutchinson Community College (2-1, 1-1) travels to Highland Community College (3-1, 1-1) on Saturday to take on the Scotties.
Daren Dunn of Eagle Sports gives you a ticket to the inside with Highland Head Coach Aaron Arnold. Highland is 9-3 at home in his tenure. The Scotties beat the Blue Dragons 31-12 in Highland last season.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — No. 6 Hutchinson Community College (2-1) held No. 12 Garden City (4-0) to 16 points, but it wasn’t enough as the Blue Dragons fell 16-14.
Luke Herring’s 25-yard field goal with 7:19 left in the third quarter proved to be the difference.
Herring missed a 28-yard field goal just before the half that would have given the Broncbusters the lead at halftime.
Dwayne Lawson hit Jayru Campbell on a pass that put Garden City on the 11-yard line with five seconds left in the first half.
Garden City had no timeouts and the half ended as the Blue Dragons ran off the field. Officials gathered and blew their whistles before HCC could exit the playing field. The referees decided to put 10 seconds back on the clock.
Officials wound the clock after the completion to Campbell, but it was decided he reached the boundary.
Luke Herring had one shot at a 28-yard field goal that sailed wide right.
At the half, HCC led 14-13.
The first half tally came after an 83-yard punt return from Mike Hughes to open the scoring for Garden City. The extra point attempt failed.
HCC answered five minutes later with a Tre King 1-yard run. Luke Niemeyer’s extra point broke the tie.
Garden City scored again just minutes later on a Bryan Blunt 34-yard interception return. This time, Herring’s extra point was good.
Chaz Capps led the Blue Dragons to pay dirt halfway through the second with a 6-yard goal line fade to Josh Reynolds.
That would be the last TD of the game.
With 8:21 left, Adrian Cross returned a Broncbuster punt to the Garden City 7. However, the Blue Dragons committed two penalties on the play. An illegal block in the back was declined, but a roughing the punter call gave the Broncbusters new life.
Ronheen Bingham, one of the heroes from HCC’s big win over Iowa Western two weeks ago, almost scooped another fumble for a TD return in the third quarter, but had to fall on the fumble instead. HCC would start near midfield but get pushed back 18 yards in three plays and punt after a one-minute possession.
HCC held Garden City to 31 yards rushing and 140 passing. The Blue Dragons outgained the Broncbusters offensively 305 yards to 171.
Chaz Capps threw two interceptions and finished with 132 yards and one TD.
Tre King led the Blue Dragon rushing attack with 94 yards.
FINAL: GC 16 HCC 14
The Blue Dragons (2-1, 1-1) travel to Highland next week to take on the upstart Scotties (3-1, 1-1).
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — No. 12 Garden City (3-0) is in town to take on the No. 6 Blue Dragons (2-0). HCC had a bye last week and is still suffering from some injuries on offense. The Broncbusters won three games total last year, but are much improved with a defense that only gives up seven points per game.
Join Glen Grunwald, Steve Carpenter and Daren Dunn as they prepare you for a noon kickoff from Gowans.
