ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Hutchinson Community College sophomore cross country runners Andrew Kibet and Sylvestre Kibarar cemented a successful Blue Dragon legacy on Saturday.

Both Blue Dragon runners placed in the Top 10 and helped the Blue Dragon men to a second-straight national Top 10 finish with a seventh-place showing at the 2019 NJCAA Division I Cross Country Championships at the University of New Mexico’s North Course.

CLICK FOR FINAL TEAM RESULTS
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After winning the NJCAA individual championship as a freshman Kibet became the first Blue Dragon in team history to become a two-time NJCAA All-American with a fourth-place performance in a time of 24:08.

Just 21 seconds later, Kibarar became the second Blue Dragon to be a two-time All-American with a seventh-place showing in a time of 24:29.

The Blue Dragons placed seventh with 234 points. Cloud County won the men’s team championship handily over El Paso Community College. The Thunderbirds had 60 points to El Paso’s 107.

Hutchinson finished in the Top 10 for the 16th time in team history. The Blue Dragons were seventh last season as well.

Freshman Teagan Flanagan was the third Blue Dragon to finish on Saturday with a time of 26:45 to finish 81st. Sophomore Brett Hillabrand placed 102nd with a time of 26:58. Freshman Jacob McElhanon was 96th in a time of 27:00.87. Freshman Austin Lorenzo was 106th in a time of 27:04 and sophomore Jeffrey Klopf was 237th in a time of 27:31.

FORT DODGE, Iowa – This year the Hutchinson Community College football team suffered no letdown against Iowa Central.

One year ago, the heartbroken Blue Dragons were soundly defeated by Iowa Central one week after a gut-wrenching loss to Garden City. On Saturday at Dodger Stadium, the No. 6-ranked Blue Dragons pitched a shutout in a 56-0 statement victory over the 19th-ranked and Iowa Conference champion Tritons.

Hutchinson closes the season with a 9-2 overall record and will await an opponent for the 2019 Salt City Bowl on December 7 at Gowans Stadium.

The Blue Dragons are also 4-2 this season against nationally ranked competition with five of those games played on the road.

The Blue Dragons rebounded from last week’s one-point loss to Garden City.

Quarterback Mark Wright combined for 193 total yards with three combined touchdowns. Tray Pettway caught a pair of touchdown passes and the Blue Dragons even blocked a punt for a touchdown for the second-straight week.

Defensively, the Blue Dragons limited Iowa Central to just 147 total yards in the largest margin of victory ever by Hutchinson over Iowa Central. The Dragons made life miserable for the Tritons with 15 tackles for loss, including five quarterback sacks. The Dragons also had two takeaways.

Jurriente Davis had a team-high 11 tackles for Hutchinson. Gereme Spraggins had nine, while Kirmari Gainous and Latrell Bankston had seven each. Gainous also had a fumble recovery and Jakorian Bennett had an interception.

Offensively, the Blue Dragons had 344 total yards (189 rushing, 155 passing).

Wright was Hutch’s leading rusher with 70 yards on seven carries and a touchdown. Tiyon Evans had 49 yards on seven carries with a touchdown. Jonathan White added 34 yards on six carries.

Wright completed 17 of 26 passing for 123 yards and two touchdowns. Khari Lane threw for a pair of scores, going 2 for 4 for 32 yards.

Mitchell Tinsley had five catches for 24 yards. Pettway had two receptions for 42 yards and two touchdowns.

The Blue Dragon return game was also huge. Tinsley had four punt returns for 68 yards with a long of 48. Markies Colvin had two punt returns for 74 yards.

The Blue Dragons used a Colvin 51-yard return to set up the first score of the game. On the next play, Erin College bolted into the end zone from 13 yards out for a 7-0 lead with 11:25 to go in the first quarter. Wright scored from 9 yards out with 8:45 remaining for a 14-0 Dragon lead.

Evans make it 20-0 with a 33-yard scoring run in the second quarter. The PAT kick was blocked. Evans then caught his first touchdown pass, taking a 27-yard strike from Wright against double coverage. Jalen Roach caught the 2-point pass for a 28-0 lead with 1:08 to play in the second quarter.

Pettway’s 16-yard touchdown pass from Wright made it 35-0 with 11:14 to go.

Special teams then stepped up as for the second-straight week, Art Green blocked a punt and White turned the loose ball for a touchdown. This was from just 5 yards out, and it gave the Blue Dragons a 42-0 lead with 9:59 to go in the third.

Lane then closed out the scoring with touchdown passes of 26 yards to Pettway with 20 seconds to play in the third quarter and 6 yards to Stacey Marshall in the fourth quarter.

fhsuathletics.com

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State and Northwest Missouri State have made a habit of producing instant classics the last three years. After FHSU claimed two straight in Maryville by one point each, Northwest Missouri State countered with a three-point win, 36-33, in double overtime at Lewis Field Stadium on Saturday (Nov. 9). The Bearcats moved to 9-1, still alive for the MIAA title, while the Tigers dropped to 7-3.

The Tigers were well in control early, scoring the game’s first 17 points up to the 13:36 mark of the second period. Dante Brown hit a 25-yard field goal on the game’s opening drive to start the scoring. Later, as time expired in the first quarter, Harley Hazlett crossed the goal line on a nine-yard touchdown run. A Northwest Missouri fumble deep in Tiger territory set up another touchdown, this time on a Hazlett pass to Manny Ramsey from 20 yards out capped the impressive start.

Most programs would be deflated by such a start, but the championship-caliber Bearcat program did not blink in the face of adversity. Big plays all the sudden brought them right back in the game. Quarterback Braden Wright found Gus Gomez for a 54-yard pass that took the ball down to the FHSU 1. Wright plunged the ball in a play later, cutting the lead to 17-7.

The Bearcats continued to seize momentum further when they stuffed FHSU on a 4th-and-1 situation near midfield. Three plays later following the turnover on downs, Wright found Imoni Donadelle for a 42-yard touchdown pass. Within a span of just three minutes on the clock, Northwest Missouri was right back in the game, down 17-14.

Another Tiger mistake turned into points a few minutes later. Chance Fuller had a pass intercepted at midfield, which led to a 41-yard field goal by Parker Sampson that tied the game 17-17 just over six minutes after FHSU built its 17-point lead.

Even more went wrong for the Tigers in the frustrating second quarter. NWMSU punted the ball down to the FHSU 1 and a play later forced a safety taking a 19-17 lead. The Bearcats took that two-point margin into halftime.

The Tigers moved the ball well on their first drive of the second half, getting down to the NWMSU 10 before Brown booted through a 27-yard field goal to give FHSU the lead back at 20-19. However, the Bearcats responded with a 9-play, 75-yard touchdown drive capped by a 9-yard pass from Wright to Justin Rankin. NWMSU led 26-20 as the game went to the fourth quarter.

Brown continued his solid kicking performance with a 38-yard field goal at 12:25 remaining, cutting the Bearcat lead down to 26-23. Both teams struggled to advance the ball over the next five possessions and the Tigers had the ball back for a final time in regulation with 1:05 to go. Three straight passes, converted for 12, 24, and 15 yards had the Tigers down to the NWMSU 30 with 12 seconds remaining. A nine-yard NWMSU sack pushed the ball back to the 39-yardline with 5 ticks remaining on the clock as FHSU took its final timeout.

Enter Brown one more time but this time in the biggest game of the year, he had to convert a career-long 56-yard field goal. The reigning Don Hansen National Special Teams Player of the Year lived up to the hype and nailed it. Tie ballgame, 26-26, as regulation time expired.

In the first overtime, the teams traded touchdowns. NWMSU had the ball first and eventually scored on a 5-yard pass from Wright to Donadelle. FHSU countered with a 25-yard pass from Fuller to Dandre Reed. The game went to the second OT tied 33-33.

The big break went the way of the Bearcats in the second overtime. On third down Hazlett reached the ball out on a rush trying to gain a first down, but it was punched loose and NWMSU recovered. NWMSU moved the ball just four yards on its possession, but Sampson like Brown remained perfect on field goal attempts by hitting a 38-yarder to win the game for the Bearcats.

The loss is unfortunate for the Tigers, considering that the No. 8 (Missouri Western) and No. 6 (Grand Valley State) ranked teams in the Super Region lost. Ranked No. 10 in the latest Super Region rankings, the Tigers were trying to take down the No. 7 ranked Bearcats. The path to a potential playoff berth was lining up for the Tigers, but fate broke the direction of the Bearcats in overtime.

Fuller had 342 passing yards, completing 30-of-54 attempts. Ramsey finished with a team-high 115 receiving yards, followed by Hazlett with 86. The Tigers struggled to just 33 rushing yards, led by Te’Corey Tutson with 26. Jordan Starks led the Tiger defense with 12 tackles and an interception, while Drew Harvey added 10 tackles.

Wright led the Bearcat offense with 279 passing yards and 96 rushing yards. Donadelle had a team-high 70 receiving yards for NWMSU. Blake Bayer and Jackson Barnes had a team-high eight tackles each.

The Tigers close out the 2019 regular season next Saturday (Nov. 16) in a contest at Northeastern State. Game time is set for 2 pm in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Cameron Dicker kicked a 26-yard field goal as time expired, sending Texas to a 27-24 victory over No. 20 Kansas State on Saturday as the Longhorns maintained their hopes of returning to the Big 12 championship game.

Dicker has won games on the final play twice this season. His 33-yarder to beat Kansas on Oct. 19 capped a wild 50-48 finish.

Texas (6-3, 4-2) had lost two of its previous three games. The victory over the Wildcats (6-3, 3-3, No. 16 College Football Playoff) made the Longhorns bowl-eligible and kept them in the hunt for a berth in the league championship with three games left.

Keaontay Ingram rushed for 139 yards and two second-half touchdowns for the Longhorns. His second one put Texas up 24-14 early in the fourth quarter.

Kansas State rallied to tie it on Joshua Youngblood’s 98-yard kickoff return and Blake Lynch’s 45-yard field goal.

The Wildcats surged behind first-year coach Chris Klieman and had Texas down early 14-0 behind two first-quarter touchdown passes from Skylar Thompson. Thompson passed for a career-high 253 yards but had just 36 yards in the second half.

THE TAKEAWAY

Kansas State: Thompson was excellent early until Texas’ press coverage neutralized his receivers, and the Wildcats’ running game never developed. The Wildcats also got a bit sloppy with a rare fumble that ended a promising drive in the first half and a dropped pass in the end zone in the fourth quarter. The drop would have been a difficult catch for Dalton Schoen, but he got both hands on the ball and was pulling it in before a Texas defender knocked it away.

Texas: After early miscues, the Texas defense looked better than it has all season. A healthier secondary that returned All-Big 12 safety Caden Sterns locked down the Kansas State offense over the final three quarters. The secondary didn’t force any interceptions, but for once, opposing receivers weren’t running wide open all over the field.

UP NEXT

Kansas State hosts West Virginia on No. 16.

Texas plays at Iowa State on Nov. 16

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Devon Dotson and No. 3 Kansas got back on track.

Dotson had 22 points and six assists and Udoka Azubuike added 10 points and 10 rebounds in Kansas’ 74-62 victory over UNC Greensboro.

“I thought Devon played great,” Kansas coach Bill Self said. “That was a different Devon than we saw on Tuesday night.”

The Jayhawks rebounded from a loss to No. 4 Duke on Monday night.

“We had a tough time dealing with him (Dotson) tonight, staying in front,” UNC Greensboro coach Wes Miller said.

After leading by four points at the half, the Jayhawks (1-1) shot 41.7% from beyond the arc in the second half to pull away. Kansas shot 45.8% from the field overall and outrebounded the Spartans 42 to 35.

“I think our team got kind of relaxed and fatigued, and they took advantage of us,” Isaiah Miller said.

Miller led Greensboro (1-1) with 19 points, and Kaleb Hunter had 17 points.

A late 9-0 run brought the Spartans within 10 points.

BIG PICTURE

Kansas: Having fallen 68-66 to Duke in a matchup plagued by 28 Kansas turnovers, the Jayhawks turned the ball over 10 times amidst the full-court pressure from Greensboro.

UNCG: After routing North Carolina A&T 83-50 on Tuesday and hanging tight early with Kansas, the Spartans take considerable momentum home to Greensboro Coliseum in preparation for the Spartan invitational next week.

TURNING POINT

While the Spartans kept it close early, a critical three-ball by Isaiah Moss extended the Kansas lead to 42-34 at the 17:30 mark, forcing a UNCG timeout and shifting momentum in favor of the Jayhawks. Moss finished with eight points after receiving the second-half starting nod.

“That was his first official game, so he had to get his feet under him,” Dotson said of Moss. “He’s getting the flow, and once he gets that, comfortable, he was fine. He’s only going to get better from here.”

ROLE PLAYER

Contributing 20 minutes off the bench, Tristan Enaruna provided a much-needed spark for the Jayhawk offense, recording nine points and corralling five rebounds, seeing quality minutes through the first two games of his collegiate career.

“I think it’s just a switch you have to turn on, and once you’ve done that it’s just all automatic,” Enaruna said.

INJURIES

After missing the Jayhawks’ season-opener due to an ankle injury, Jalen Wilson saw only a few seconds of action Friday before limping to the sideline and asking Self to call a timeout, not facing any contact.

“He broke it and requires surgery early next week,” Self said. “Time table on return will probably be close to three months. I’m not going to tell you he will sit the rest of the year, but the likelihood of that is pretty strong.”

UP NEXT

Kansas: Hosts Monmouth on Nov. 15.

UNC Greensboro: Hosts Averett on Monday in the opening game of the Spartan Invitational.

(BY STEVE CARPENTER)
(HUTCHINSON CC SPORTS INFORMATION)

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The No. 10-ranked Hutchinson Community College men’s basketball team held Murray State scoreless over a six-minute stretch of the second half and pulled away for a convincing 92-64 victory over Murray State on the opening night of the Atrium Classic at the Sports Arena.

The victory improves the Blue Dragons to 3-0 heading into Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. contest against Labette. Murray State will play Barton at 3:30 p.m.

Hutchinson led 38-35 at halftime, but couldn’t pull away from the Aggie. A Kori Guest 3-pointer cut the Blue Dragon lead to 51-45 with 15:14 to play in the second half. Hutch then scored 13 unanswered points, holding the Aggies scoreless for 5 minutes, 52 seconds and 54-45 on a Majok, Kuath inside bucket with 10:08 to play.

The Blue Dragon continued to pull away in the second half, building a 20-point lead on a Saquan Singleton buck for 66-46 lead. The Dragons’ largest lead was 31 points in the final minute of the game.

Sophomore Tyler Brown scored a game-high 19 points to lead the Dragons. Saquan Singleton had 16 points with four assists. Jaden Okon had 16 points.

The Dragons were 27 of 58 shooting (46.6 percent), hitting 7 of 20 from 3-point range and 31 of 38 from the foul line.

Guest had 18 points to lead the Aggies.

FORT DODGE, Ia. – The Hutchinson Community College football team has had a tough week.

The week started with a 20-19 loss at Garden City where the Broncbusters kicked a go-ahead 40-yard field goal with 14 seconds left last Saturday in Garden City. The subsequent poll wasn’t bad as Hutch slipped to No. 6 and the Blue Dragons still had a chance at a share of a Jayhawk Conference title.

Then the news came out that Fort Scott had to forfeit all its games for the use of an ineligible player. That dashed any hopes of a shared title.

Still, the Blue Dragons have something to play for Saturday in the season finale at Iowa Central. A win over the Tritons and a Salt City Bowl victory and the Blue Dragons would have a 10-win season, which has happened only five times in program history.

The No. 6-ranked Blue Dragons will kickoff at No. 19 Iowa Central at Noon Saturday at Dodger Stadium in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

The game will be broadcast live on Blue Dragon flagship station KHUT-FM (102.9) and sister stations KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5) beginning at 11:30 a.m. with Countdown to Kickoff. Glen Grunwald (play-by-play) and Randy McKay (color) will call the action. The game will also be streamed live by the Blue Dragon Sports Network beginning at 11:30 a.m.

The Blue Dragons would also like to not have a repeat of last year against Iowa Central.

After narrowing losing the Garden City game for the KJCCC Championship, one week later, the Tritons came in and blew out the Blue Dragons 54-16.

The Blue Dragons will meet the Iowa Conference champions on Saturday. Iowa Central won the three-team league with wins over Iowa Western and Ellsworth.

Hutchinson has lost its two games by a collective three points this season.

Information Box

BLUE DRAGON FOOTBALL

No. 6 Hutchinson (8-2) at No. 19 Iowa Central (5-5) When: Saturday, November 9, 2019 Where: Dodger Stadium, Fort Dodge, Iowa Kickoff: Noon Live Radio: KHUT-FM (102.9); KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5), 11:30 a.m. Video: Blue Dragon Sports Network, 11:30 a.m. Twitter: @bluedragonsport

(BY STEVE CARPENTER)
(HUTCHINSON CC SPORTS INFORMATION)

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

8 Player DI Regional
Caldwell 30, Medicine Lodge 18
Canton-Galva 58, Lebo 8
Madison/Hamilton Co-op 52, Maranatha Academy 6
St. Francis 52, Hill City 0
Wichita County 54, Clifton-Clyde 38

8 Player DII Regional
Axtell 46, St. John’s Beloit-Tipton 0
Centre 46, Crest 0
Hutchinson Central Christian 64, Minneola 18
Osborne 40, Sylvan-Lucas 6
South Barber 62, Norwich 22
Thunder Ridge 64, Wheatland-Grinnell 18

Class 1A Regional
Centralia 46, Northern Heights 14
Inman 43, Elkhart 13
Jackson Heights 6, Valley Heights 0, OT
Olpe 56, Uniontown 0
Pittsburg Colgan 29, Hillsboro 21
Plainville 53, Ell-Saline 21
Sedgwick 34, Meade 12
Smith Center 56, Republic County 14

Class 2A Regional
Conway Springs 40, Eureka 7
Garden Plain 56, Belle Plaine 0
Hoisington 48, Lakin 7
Humboldt 60, Southeast 14
Norton 34, Cimarron 6
Riley County 14, Southeast of Saline 8
Silver Lake 62, Riverton 21

Class 3A Regional
Andale 49, Clearwater 0
Beloit 28, Colby 14
Cheney 30, Wichita Collegiate 13
Frontenac 20, Galena 6
Scott City 28, Concordia 0
Topeka Hayden 14, Jefferson West 6

Class 4A Regional
Andover Central 45, Augusta 7
Arkansas City 13, Winfield 3
Bishop Miege 57, Bonner Springs 16
Buhler 24, Mulvane 0

Class 5A Regional
DeSoto 31, Shawnee Heights 0
Maize 31, Emporia 0
Maize South 41, Hays 10
Mill Valley 42, Olathe West 6
St. Thomas Aquinas 34, St. James Academy 7
Wichita Bishop Carroll 35, Andover 7

Class 6A Regional
BV North 42, Gardner-Edgerton 41
Blue Valley 24, Olathe East 7
Derby 49, Wichita West 13
Junction City 54, Dodge City 7
Olathe North 56, KC Wyandotte 13

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — For Kansas City coach Andy Reid, when Patrick Mahomes plays again is easy. It’s when the reigning NFL MVP is physically ready. Mahomes wanted back on the field for the Chiefs soon after dislocating his right kneecap. But the Chiefs have gone 2-1 with Matt Moore. With sights set on a fourth straight AFC West title, that makes it easier for the Chiefs to think longer term than the next kickoff. The Titans desperately need a win before their bye.

UNDATED (AP) — In a conference best known for producing Heisman-winning quarterbacks and Biletnikoff Award-winning receivers, Big 12 freshmen are making their names running with the football. Four of the nation’s top nine freshman rushers from Power Five schools play in the Big 12: Iowa State’s Breece Hall, Texas Tech’s SaRodorick Thompson, Oklahoma State’s Spencer Sanders and Roschon Johnson of Texas.

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Preseason All-Big 12 guard Desmond Bane scored 26 points with five 3-pointers and TCU opened its season with an 83-62 victory over NCAA Division III team Southwestern. Kevin Samuel added 17 points and 12 rebounds. They are the only returning starters for TCU.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia guard Tynice Martin has been reinstated to the women’s basketball team a day after she pleaded no contest to a battery charge. The Mountaineers announced Martin’s reinstatement in a news release Thursday. West Virginia faced St. Francis, Pa., in its season opener Thursday night. Martin entered a plea to the charge Wednesday and was sentenced to community service.

National Headlines

UNDATED (AP) — All eyes are on LSU-Alabama this week. It’s the first matchup of Nos. 1 and 2 teams in The Associated Press Top 25 since the Tigers and Crimson Tide met in 2011. The loser still has a path to the playoff if it wins out and a one-loss Georgia falls in the Southeastern Conference championship game. The other big game Saturday is in Minneapolis, where fifth-ranked Penn State plays No. 13 Minnesota in another battle of unbeatens. No. 18 Iowa visits No. 16 Wisconsin in a key Big Ten West game.

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) _ Josh Jacobs scored on an 18-yard run with 1:02 remaining as the Raiders pulled out a 26-24 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in Oakland. Derek Carr led the Raiders down the field methodically 75 yards after Philip Rivers threw a 6-yard pass to Austin Ekeler that gave the Chargers a 24-20 lead with 4:02 remaining. Carr was 21 of 31 for 218 yards, one TD and no interceptions.

CHICAGO (AP) _ Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout has received his 7th Silver Slugger Award after batting .291 with 45 home runs and 104 RBIs this season. Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr., Freddie Freeman and Ozzie Albies are among the first-time winners on the National League side, along with Los Angeles outfielder. First-timers for the American League are Cleveland first baseman Carlos Santana, New York Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu, Houston Astros infielder Alex Bregman, and Minnesota catcher Mitch Garver.

BEREA, Ohio (AP) _ A person familiar with the negotiations says Cleveland Browns center JC Tretter has agreed to a three-year, $32.5 million contract extension. The source says Tretter will receive a guaranteed $23 million in a deal that was first reported by NFL Network. The 28-year-old Tretter has been a steady presence up front for the Browns, who signed him in 2017 after he played three seasons with Green Bay.

UNDATED (AP) _ U.S. Presidents Cup captain Tiger Woods has used one of his four wild-card selections on himself. The decision makes Woods the first playing captain in the tournament since Hale Irwin in the inaugural edition 25 years ago. Woods is the reigning Masters champion and is No. 6 in the world ranking. He tied the PGA Tour record with his 82nd career victory, capturing the Zozo Championship in Japan two weekends ago.

Thursday Scores

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Oakland Raiders 26 L.A. Chargers 24

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final Boston 108 Charlotte 87
Final San Antonio 121 Oklahoma City 112
Final Miami 124 Phoenix 108
Final L.A. Clippers 107 Portland 101