HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Join Daren Dunn of Eagle Sports and recap HCC’s 21-12 victory over No. 6 Iowa Western. The Reivers fell out of the Top 25 while the Blue Dragons moved up to No. 7.
No. 14 Garden City travels to Gowans on Sept. 17 for a noon kickoff and could enter the game 3-0.
Get the latest updates and hear from HCC Head Coach Rion Rhoades.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Rion Rhoades entered Saturday’s game winless against Iowa Western and his good friend Scott Strohmeier. The last two seasons, the Reivers have gone 2-0 against the Blue Dragons in wins of 20 or more.
That all changed Saturday and Rhoades has his defense to thank. No. 6 Iowa Western (0-2) entered Gowans Stadium Saturday with a sour taste in its mouth after an overtime loss last week. Looking to avenge the loss, the Reivers just made too many mistakes.
Credit the No. 16 Blue Dragon defense for forcing three safeties, two before halftime. The Blue Dragons (2-0) trailed 9-7 at the half after a late TD pass by AJ Bush. The extra point attempt failed.
HCC tallied seven points thanks to a 37-yard Luke Niemeyer field goal and two safeties.
The first safety came just four minutes into the game when punter Bobby Patterson had to kick a bad snap out the back of the end zone. The second came with a penalty in the end zone by the Reivers with nine minutes left in the half.
Chaz Capps took over at quarterback for the Blue Dragons after starter Chris James suffered an injury. James was sidelined and on crutches in the second half.
The Blue Dragon offense gained 233 yards, but never found the end zone.
DT JJ Holmes had a huge tackle in the end zone for the third Blue Dragon safety. It knotted the score at 9 in the third quarter.
Luke Niemeyer kicked two more field goals in the third to give the Blue Dragons the advantage. HCC led after three, 15-9.
Bobby Patterson hit a field goal in the fourth to close the Blue Dragon lead to three.
The Blue Dragons tried to extend their lead late in the fourth on another Niemeyer field goal. But the attempt was way wide.
Iowa Western had one last chance to win the game. Faced with a 4th and 21, AJ Bush hit D’Anfernee McGriff in triple coverage for a first down.
With 10 seconds remaining, the Reivers were on the Blue Dragon 15 in position to take the lead or tie the game.
AJ Bush dropped back and fumbled the ball thanks to Blue Dragon pressure. The race was on with no time on the clock as Ronheen Bingham scooped up the ball and ran for 74 yards to pay dirt.
Iowa Western’s sideline cleared the bench to shake hands with the Blue Dragons as HCC finished the game with a 21-12 victory.
It is Rion Rhoades first victory against Scott Strohmeier in three attempts.
The Blue Dragons are off next week and return to action Sept. 17 against Garden City in Gowans at noon.
FINAL: HCC 21 IW 12
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Glen Grunwald, Steve Carpenter and Daren Dunn discuss Saturday’s matchup against Iowa Western.
Listen to the game live on Country 102.9.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — No. 6 Iowa Western (0-1) dropped another season opener in overtime, this time to No. 12 Arizona Western. The Reivers lost two straight last year before reeling off 10 straight victories to finish the season.
No 16. Hutchinson Community College (1-0) fell to Iowa Western in Gowans Stadium last year 35-15. The Blue Dragons are 0-2 all time against the Reivers.
Kickoff Saturday is set for noon in Gowans Stadium.
COFFEYVILLE, Kan. — The No. 16 Blue Dragons (1-0) used a stable of running backs to race ahead of the No. 18 Red Ravens (0-1) at halftime.
By intermission, HCC had three running backs with one touchdown each and a 20-point lead. DeShawn Waller capped off an 11-play drive with a 6-yard run to put the Blue Dragons up 13-0 with 3:05 left in the first quarter. Luke Niemeyer failed to tack on the extra point. Otis Williams broke free on a 42-yard run to put Hutchinson up 20-7 in the second quarter. Finally, Tre King capped off a 9-play drive with a 3-yard burst for pay dirt. King’s TD was the last of the first half for either team and put the Blue Dragons up 27-7.
HCC opened up scoring on the evening with a 48-yard pass from Chris James to Gary Cross. Coffeyville failed to put a cornerback on Cross in time for the snap and James made the Red Raven defense pay.
Antwan Barksdale scored from 60 yards out for the only Coffeyville score of the first half.
The third quarter belonged to Coffeyville. Trailing by 20, the Red Ravens took advantage of a miscue with James and Cross. Willie Hobdy jumped the short route and ran the interception back for a touchdown. Five minutes later, Cole Murphy finished off a seven-play drive with a 1-yard TD run.
Coffeyville got great field position in the fourth quarter after a short punt from HCC’s Tyler Harris. Harris was forced to punt from his own end zone and gave the ball to the Red Ravens on the Blue Dragon 23.
HCC’s defense stopped the Red Ravens and forced a Cooper Lee 37-yard field goal.
Coffeyville battled back from the 20-point deficit with 16 unanswered points.
Enter: Michael Witherspoon. Cornerback DJ Smalls played the ball perfectly with the Red Ravens backed up against their own goal line. His hit on Terry Wright jarred the ball loose and into the air. A gift from the sky fell into the arms of Witherspoon, who immediately walked in 8 yards for the touchdown.
That would be HCC’s only score of the second half.
Leading 34-23, the Blue Dragon defense went back to work. Terry Wright found a hole in the secondary and scampered into the end zone on a 34-yard pass from Kelan Newton. Coffeyville’s two-point conversion failed.
HCC’s lead was cut to 34-29.
The defense would be tested once again when Tyler Harris was forced to punt from his own end zone. This time the ball stopped on the Blue Dragon 22. HCC’s defense held once again and kept Coffeyville out of the end zone.
The Red Ravens struggled all night with the center-quarterback exchange. It ultimately cost Coffeyville late with an errant snap that left the Red Ravens with 4th and long.
A trip to the red zone ended earlier in the game for Coffeyville when Dominique Briggs snapped the ball over Kelan Newton’s head.
The Red Ravens were 2-of-5 in the red zone. HCC went 2-of-3 inside the 20.
The Blue Dragons coughed up the ball five times, but only lost one fumble. Meanwhile, the Red Ravens put two on the turf and lost one.
Coffeyville threw four interceptions compared to three thrown by Chris James.
FINAL: Blue Dragons 34 Red Ravens 29
HCC will be home against Iowa Western (0-1) next Saturday in Gowans at noon.
COFFEYVILLE, Kan. — Glen Grunwald, Steve Carpenter and Daren Dunn prepare you for Blue Dragon football against Coffeyville.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Week 1 will prove tricky for Hutchinson Community College Football. The last two seasons, the Blue Dragons have opened up against JV teams and won handily. Saturday, the No. 16 Blue Dragons will travel to Coffeyville and take on the No.18 Red Ravens.
The Blue Dragons, known for their ability to run the ball, threw five touchdown passes against the Red Ravens, but fell short in a high-scoring affair at Gowans Stadium. The Dragons lost 52-46. Coffeyville’s quarterback, Riley Ferguson, threw for 410 yards and five touchdowns.
Both teams will look to improve their secondary in a game that could become another record breaker in the scoring category.
Kickoff Saturday is set for 7 p.m.
HC Aaron Flores is entering his fifth season with Red Raven Football. Click below for his interview with Eagle Sports.
