(BY STEVE CARPENTER)
(HUTCHINSON CC SPORTS INFORMATION)

GARDEN CITY, Kan. – For the second-straight season, the Hutchinson Community College football team’s dream of an undisputed Jayhawk Conference championship was dashed by the Garden City Broncbusters.

One year ago, the Busters scored with 18 seconds left to defeat the Blue Dragons at Gowans Stadium. On Saturday in Garden City, the No. 5 Broncbuster kicker Andre Aires booted a 40-yard field goal with 14 seconds left to stun the No. 4 Blue Dragons 20-19.

Both Hutchinson and Garden City are 8-2 overall. The Blue Dragons complete their Jayhawk Conference season at 5-2. The Broncbusters take over first place in the league at 5-1. Garden City still travels to Butler next Saturday, while the Blue Dragons close the regular season with a noon kickoff at Iowa Central.

Saturday’s matchup included five lead changes, three coming in the fourth quarter alone.

Garden City took a 17-13 lead one play after a Mark Wright interception was returned to the Blue Dragon 25. Ramon Jefferson scored on the next play to give Garden City a four-point lead with 10:01 to play in the fourth quarter.

After forcing a Nolan Arrington punt to the Garden City 13, the Busters ran off six plays that ate 4 minutes, 11 seconds off the clock, the Buster punt traveled only 47 yards that Markies Colvin returned to the Garden 30. It took three plays to cover the distance with Tiyon Evans running in from 11 yards out with 4:04 to play. Hutch’s point-after try was blocked and the Dragons led 19-17.

The teams traded punts and the Busters started its potential game-winning drive at its own 15 with 2:01 to play. Garden City converted two fourth downs and drove to the Hutch 23 to set up Aries’ game-winning 40-yard field goal.

The Busters squibbed the ensuing kickoff to the Hutch 37. Evans worked his way up the field and ripped off a 29-yard return, going out-of-bounds at the Buster 34 on the game’s final play.

The Blue Dragons survived a fumble on the opening kickoff as Aries missed the first of two missed field goals in the first quarter. Two possessions later, Kobe Oldfield blocked an Aries’ punt and Jonathan White returned it 30 yards for a touchdown. The PAT missed and Hutch led 6-0.

Garden City scored 10 points in a span of 1 minute, 29 seconds in the second quarter on an Aries’ 33-yard field goal and Jadon Hayes 17-yard run to take its first lead of 10-6 with 11:31 to play.

The Blue Dragons regained the lead late in the second quarter when Erin Collins capped a six-play, 40-yard scoring drive with a 1-yard touchdown for a 13-10 lead

Hutchinson’s offense struggled to a season-low 179 total yards, getting only 29 passing yards and 150 rushing yards. Garden City had just 238 total yards (117 rushing, 121 passing).

Evans finished the game with 70 yards rushing on 11 carries. Collins had 15 carries for 56 yards. Both scored touchdowns.

Wright was just 4 of 13 passing for 29 yards and two interceptions.

Defensively, Latrell Bankston had 13 total tackles with four tackles for loss and half a quarterback sack. Gereme Spraggins had 11 tackles and Jurriente Davis had 10 tackles.

Hutchinson had three turnovers that led to 14 Garden City points.

LIBERAL, Kan. – The No. 10-ranked Hutchinson Community College men’s basketball team held Midland College to 29.4 percent shooting during a 79-59 win, Saturday at the Seward County Pizza Hut Classic.

Hutch got a career high 25 points from Freshman Josh Baker and double digit scoring from Tyler Brown and Josh Ysery to lead the Blue Dragons.  Midland College’s Derrick Ogechi scored 18 and Amani Harris had 21.

Hutchinson returns home for the Hutch Classic on Friday night as Murrary State will be the dragons opponet.

NO. 10 HUTCHINSON COMMUNITY COLLEGE 79, MIDLAND COLLEGE 59

Midland College (0-2) – Derrick Ogechi 5-8 4-6 18, Elias Poorman 0-1 0-0 0, Thomas Miles 1-6 2-2 5, Elijah Scranton 0-1 2-4 2, Steven Richardson 2-6 0-0 6, Amani Harris 5-14 7-8 21, Kirk Smith 0-1 0-0 0, Glency Lopez 1-4 2-2 4, Melvin Ely II 0-7 0-1 0, Ben Tew 1-3 0-0 3. Totals 15-51 18-24 59.

Hutchinson CC – Fred Odhiambo 2-4 3-4 7, Saquan Singleton 4-6 1-2 9, D.J. Mitchell 1-2 1-2 4, Tyler Brown 4-6 6-7 15, Josh Baker 7-9 7-7 25, Clarence King 2-4 3-4 7, Frankyn Batista 0-0 1-3 1, Josh Yrsery 4-8 0-2 11, Matt Myers 0-2 0-0 0, Majok Kuath 0-6 0-0 0. Totals 24-27 22-31 79.

Halftime score – Hutchinson CC 41, MC 28. 3-point goals – MC 11-35 (Ogechi 4-5, Poorman 0-1, Miles 1-5, Scranton 0-1, Richardson 2-5, Harris 3-7, Smith 0-1 Lopez 0-3, Ely 0-4, Tew 1-3), Hutchinson CC 9-16 (Mitchell 1-2, Brown 1-2, Baker 4-5, King 0-1 Yrsery 3-6). Total fouls – MC 23, Hutchinson CC 21. Fouled out – Miles, Richardson. Technical fouls – Miles, Mitchell.

(BY STEVE CARPENTER)
(HUTCHINSON CC SPORTS INFORMATION)

LIBERAL. Kan. – Freshman Josh Baker stepped into the starting lineup on Saturday to lead the No. 10-ranked Hutchinson Community College men’s basketball team to a 2-0 record at the Seward County/Pizza Hut Classic.

Baker scored 25 points in nearly 28 minutes to lead the Blue Dragons past the Midland Chaps 79-59 at the Green House.

With Friday’s victory over Eastern Oklahoma State, the Blue Dragons improved to 2-0 to start the season. Hutch opened a season on the road for only the second time in the past 30 seasons. Midland falls to 0-2.

Baker hit 7 of 9 total shots, going 4 of 5 from 3-point range and 7 of 8 from the free-throw line to lead the Dragons. Baker capped off a strong first weekend as a Blue Dragons. He had 13 points in Friday’s victory.

The Blue Dragons shot better than 50 percent for the second-straight game, shooting 51.1 percent, hitting 24 of 47 overall shots from the field. Hutch hit 9 of 16 3-pointers and 16 of 22 from the free-throw line. Hutch out-rebounded Midland 35-29.

The big improvement for the Dragons was only 13 turnovers after 29 against Eastern Oklahoma State on Friday. The Dragons also had a huge advance in the paint, outscoring Midland 24-4.

Three Blue Dragons scored in double figures. Sophomore Tyler Brown finished with 15 points on 4 of 6 shooting. Freshman Josh Ursery came off the bench to hit three 3-pointers for 11 points. Sophomore Saquan Singleton had nine points. Fred Odhiambo and Clarence King had seven points each.

Midland shot just 29.4 percent for the game, hitting 15 of 51 overall shots. The Chaps hit 11 of 35 3-pointers.

Amani Harris had 21 points and Derick Ogechi had 18 for Midland.

The Blue Dragons won their third-straight game over Midland. The teams hadn’t played since 2005.

Hutchinson will play Murray State and Labette in the Blue Dragon Classic on Friday and Saturday at the Sports Arena.

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Several area Cross-Country teams participated in the State meets both at Rim Rock Farms in Lawrence and Wamego Country Club.

Buhler HS Boys and Girls sweeped state with 1st place in both events in Wamego.  Pretty Prairie HS Girl’s picked up the 3rd place trophy in class 1A also being ran in Wamego.

Central Christian’s Collin Oswalt place 2nd in 1A State at Wamego.

Halstead HS placed 6th and Hesston HS Boys ran 10th in class 3A in Lawrence with the Hutchinson Trinity Catholic Boys placing 6th in 3A as well.

WAMEGO, Kan. – The Buhler Crusaders Cross-Country teams both ran at in the 4A State Meet in Wamego on Saturday and both teams captured a State Championship.  The Buhler Girls ran a 1:43:56.35 and scored 60 points over 2nd place Baldwin.  Team members included Emma Williams, Leah Bentley, Amaleigh Mattison, Daycee DeWindt, Lindsay Warner, Iris Rees and Brityn Bobo.

Buhler Boys completed the course with a total time of 1:28:08.93.  Led by Tanner Lindahl’s 3rd place finish to medal, the rest of the team consisted of Cordel Hendrickson, Spencer Hines, Wyatt Bunce, Brayden Dressman and Colton Lohrentz.

Buhler Athletics has had an amazing fall season with Girl’s Tennis finishing 2nd, Girl’s Golf finishing 1st and now Cross Country’s 1st place sweep in State meets.

Buhler Soccer and Football are still competing. Soccer will compete in State competition next weekend and the Crusader Football team won their first playoff game last Friday.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Skylar Thompson ran for 127 yards and three touchdowns, Harry Trotter added 92 yards rushing and another score and No. 22 Kansas State romped to a 38-10 victory over Kansas on Saturday.

Thompson also had 129 yards passing for the Wildcats (6-2, 3-2), who showed no letdown from their upset of then-No. 5 Oklahoma in bludgeoning the Jayhawks (3-6, 1-5) for the 12th consecutive time.

Carter Stanley was 13 of 23 for 115 yards and two interceptions for Kansas before leaving with an injury late in the game. Star running back Pooka Williams managed just 61 yards rushing.

The Wildcats held new coach Les Miles’ team to 241 yards of offense, a 2-for-10 mark on third down and stopped it on both fourth down tries. Kansas State also had four sacks, dominated the time of possession and had 342 yards rushing in what turned into a lopsided affair.

Both teams rolled into Memorial Stadium off big wins, though. Along with the Wildcats’ win over the Sooners, the Jayhawks beat Texas Tech on a game-ending field goal — the two wins separated by a stretch of Interstate 70 each prompting field-stormings and Big 12 reprimands.

So there was a little more excitement than usual for the Sunflower Showdown. Kansas announced a sellout for the first time since 2009, and fans were still waiting in long lines at security outside the stadium long after the game had kicked off.

Many of them missed the only time it was tied.

Kansas State promptly marched 88 yards for an opening touchdown, pounding it downfield with its run game despite having its top two running backs slowed by injuries. And when the Jayhawks managed a field goal, the Wildcats answered with a 78-yard touchdown march for a 14-3 lead.

Stanley, who had been so solid the past two weeks, threw both of his interceptions in the first half. The second came with less than 2 minutes left and set Kansas State up for a field goal.

The only gripe the Wildcats at the break were the penalties: They were flagged seven times for 78 yards, or exactly four yards more than Kansas had in total offense.

The Wildcats ended any chance of a comeback with a 75-yard touchdown drive to open the second half. It was capped by Thompson scrambling to his right, then winning a race with Kansas safety Mike Lee to the end zone for his sixth touchdown rushing in the past two weeks.

Thompson added a seventh early in the fourth quarter, when new Kansas State coach Chris Klieman began to grind away his first win in the 108-year history of the series.

BROTHERLY LOVE

Kansas State fullback Jax Dineen sent his brother, Kansas linebacker Jay Dineen, hobbling to the sideline with a knee injury after a dastardly block late in the third quarter.

WOODLAND’S MOMENT

U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland, a Topeka native who played briefly at Kansas, was honored early in the game. It was the one moment that Kansas State and Kansas fans both cheered.

THE TAKEAWAY

Kansas State proved a massive gulf still exists between the Wildcats and their biggest rival. Not only did they dominate, they did it without much help from top running backs James Gilbert and Jordon Brown, both of whom were nicked up in last week’s game against the Sooners.

Kansas had been averaging 548 yards per game since Miles fired offensive coordinator Vic Koenning and promoted Brent Dearmon. But the Jayhawks never got on track against the Wildcats.

UP NEXT

Kansas State heads to Texas next Saturday.

Kansas has the week off before visiting Oklahoma State.

LIBERAL, Kan. – The Hutchinson Blue Dragon men’s basketball team opened the 2019-20 basketball season with a win over Eastern Oklahoma in Liberal Friday night 93-74 playing in the Seward County Invitational.

Balanced scoring from the dragons was the key as 5 players scored in double figures with Derby Sophomore Tyler Brown leading the way with 20 points including 6 three point baskets.  DJ Mitchell chipped in 14 points, Majok Kuath also added 14. Freshman Josh Baker and returning Sophomore Saquan Singleton scored 12.

The blue dragons were hampered by 29 turnovers including 17 in the first half of play. Hutchinson owned the boards by a 50 to 27 ratio over the mountaineers plus the dragons shot 57% from the field including 11 of 23 from outside the arch.  Hutchinson’s defense held Eastern Oklahoma shooting to 34%.

The Blue Dragons now play Midland College who lost to Seward County in the late game in overtime 74-70 today at 4:00 pm.

By DAVE SKRETTA
AP Sports Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is questionable against the Minnesota Vikings, raising the possibility the league MVP could return after missing just one game to a dislocated kneecap.

Mahomes practiced on a limited basis throughout the week, just as he did last week. But rather than being listed out, as he was for the Green Bay Packers, he was given the official injury designation that means it is uncertain whether Mahomes will play.

“He did good this week. He added quite a little bit to it,” said Chiefs coach Andy Reid, who added little more during the roughly 3 minutes that he spent speaking to reporters Friday.

When asked how Mahomes was moving in practice, Reid replied: “He’s doing some good things.”
Mahomes split reps this week with backup Matt Moore, who played well against the Packers in a 31-24 loss and would start in his place. But also entering the equation is Chad Henne, who is on the injured list after breaking his ankle in the preseason but could be activated in a pinch.

“Same thing. You go out, you prepare, you get ready to play a game, you value the reps you get and use those to your advantage,” Moore said. “You move forward with that mindset. Again, this is nothing new. I’ve been in this situation before. I’m used to it.”

Rookie quarterback Kyle Shurmur was activated from the practice squad for last week’s game.
“It’s a unique situation right now that we’re sitting in,” Reid said. “Everyone got ready to go and they’re ready to go if they’re out here practicing.”

The Vikings are preparing for both Moore and Mahomes because each has a unique skillset.

“Sometimes it can be over-talked about: ‘Well, they were missing this or that guy.’ I mean we lost Adam Thielen in Detroit and we had to keep going, keep moving the football and scoring points,” Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins said. “You don’t throw in the towel. Whether (Mahomes) is out there or not, it’s going to be a very, very tough game against a really good team. He certainly is one of the best players in football, and if he’s out there, he really gives them a spark.”

There were only three players listed as out: left tackle Eric Fisher, who appeared to have a setback with his return from groin surgery; right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, who hurt his ankle against the Packers; and defensive end Alex Okafor, who also has an ankle injury.

That represents an improvement over a week ago, but the Chiefs are still in a precarious situation.

That’s because along Mahomes, the Chiefs have several other stars listed as questionable: defensive end Frank Clark returned to practice on a limited basis Friday after missing last week’s game with a neck injury; cornerback Kendall Fuller was limited all week after surgery on his broken thumb; and top defensive tackle Chris Jones was a full participant Friday as he comes back from a groin injury.

“He has been out for a little bit,” Reid said of Jones, “so I think just getting him out there and moving around a little bit will be good.”

Off the injury report entirely was cornerback Bashaud Breeland, who didn’t practice Wednesday with a shoulder injury, and left guard Andrew Wylie, who had missed a couple weeks with a sprained ankle.