ST. LOUIS (AP) — Adam Wainwright tossed seven scoreless innings and Kolten Wong delivered a run-scoring triple to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 3-1 win over the San Francisco Giants. Paul DeJong had an RBI single for the Cardinals, who have won 10 of 12. They remain three games ahead of the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central. Mauricio Dubon hit his first major league homer for San Francisco, which has lost six of seven.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs announced the signing of two-time All-Pro running back LeSean McCoy, two days after he was released by Buffalo and quickly reached an agreement with Kansas City. The Chiefs signed Carlos Hyde in the offseason with the hope he could provide a veteran presence in a young backfield. But he was unproductive in the preseason and was traded to Houston, and Chiefs general manager Brett Veach moved quickly to sign McCoy to a $4 million contract for this season.

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — He wasn’t named Oklahoma State’s starting quarterback until right before kickoff last weekend, but redshirt freshman Spencer Sanders enjoyed an impressive debut in the Cowboys’ 52-36 victory at Oregon State. After winning a lengthy QB competition with Hawaii grad transfer Dru Brown, Sanders stepped into the spotlight Friday night and completed 19 of 24 passes for 203 yards and three touchdowns, while also rushing for 109 yards on 13 carries.

National Headlines

UNDATED (AP) _ The Atlanta Braves have grabbed a 6 ½-game lead over Washington atop the NL East by earning their fifth consecutive win. Josh Donaldson and Johan Camargo hit two-run homers to support Mike Soroka in the Braves’ 6-3 victory over the Blue Jays. The Nationals absorbed a 7-3 loss to the New York Mets as Noah Syndergaard struck out 10 while scattering three hits over seven shutout innings.

UNDATED (AP) _ Minnesota’s lead in the AL Central remains over the Cleveland Indians. The Twins pulled out a 4-3 win over the Tigers on Max Kepler’s two-run single in the eighth inning. Carlos Santana crushed his team-leading 32nd home run and Franmil Reyes hit a three-run double in the Indians’ 11-3 pounding of the Chicago White Sox.

NEW YORK (AP) _ Mike Minor and two relievers became the first pitchers in 221 tries to shut out the New York Yankees as Texas rolled to a 7-0 victory in the Bronx. Jose Trevino, Delino DeShields and Shin-Soo Choo homered to back Minor, who is 12-8 after allowing five hits over 7 1/3 innings. Masahiro Tanaka took the loss after allowing two runs over six innings.

UNDATED (AP) _ The Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers have padded their substantial division leads with Monday victories. Gerrit Cole recorded 14 more strikeouts and George Springer launched a 10th-inning homer to lead the Astros to a 3-2 victory against the Milwaukee Brewers. Joc Pederson homered twice and drove in five runs as the Dodgers outscored Colorado, 16-9.

Monday Scores

INTERLEAGUE
Final Atlanta 6 Toronto 3
Final Chi Cubs 5 Seattle 1
Final Houston 3 Milwaukee 2 (10 Innings)

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Texas 7 N-Y Yankees 0
Final Minnesota 4 Detroit 3
Final Tampa Bay 5 Baltimore 4 (10 Innings)
Final Cleveland 11 Chi White Sox 3

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final N-Y Mets 7 Washington 3
Final Philadelphia 7 Cincinnati 1
Final St. Louis 3 San Francisco 1
Final Arizona 14 San Diego 7
Final L-A Dodgers 16 Colorado 9

TOP-25 COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Final (9)Notre Dame 35 Louisville 17

DETROIT (AP) — Tigers minor league catcher Chace Numata died Monday, days after being injured in a skateboarding accident in Pennsylvania. He was 27.

Numata’s family and the team announced the death.

Numata, who was playing for Detroit’s Double-A Erie affiliate, was found unresponsive Friday morning by police in the northwestern Pennsylvania city.

GoErie.com reported that police found Numata on the ground, bleeding from the head. Surveillance video was reviewed, and police Capt. Rick Lorah said no vehicles were involved.

Detroit catcher Jake Rogers had “Numi” written on his hat.

“That will definitely stay,” Rogers said after a 4-3 loss to Minnesota at Comerica Park. “Chace helped me get here and his memory will always be with me.”

Numata was Rogers’ backup early this season at Erie.

“This is really tough. I really don’t know what to say. He was a beautiful person, and he brought light into the lives of everyone he met,” he said.

“I don’t think people realize what a great baseball player he was. He forced me to work hard and get better in Erie, because I knew he was always clipping at my heels.”

Numata was in his first season in the Detroit organization. He batted a combined .244 with four home runs and 28 RBIs with Erie and Triple-A Toledo.

Drafted after high school in Hawaii, Numata began his pro career in 2010 in the Philadelphia system. He also played in the New York Yankees’ organization.

Tigers general manager Al Avila told the team about Numata’s death after the game in Detroit.

“It is obviously a very quiet clubhouse right now. My staff and I only got to know him in spring training this year, but he was a real gamer. He loved to play baseball and he had a great personality. This is a tough day, especially since so many of our guys knew him,” Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire said.

Tigers pitcher Bryan Garcia, who played with Numata this year, pitched a scoreless ninth inning in his major league debut Monday.

“Chace was an all-time human being. I never met a single person who didn’t love him,” he said.

IRVING, Texas – Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts earned a pair of Big 12 weekly awards, while TCU’s Garret Wallow and Jonathan Song were recognized.

After a strong debut for the Sooners, Hurts was named the Big 12’s Offensive Player of the Week and Newcomer of the Week. Wallow picked up his first Defensive Player of the Week honors, while Song was tabbed Special Teams Player of the Week for the first time.

Hurts accounted for six touchdowns and set the record for total offensive yards by a player in his OU debut with 508 yards, as the Sooners beat Houston 49-31. Hurts completed 20-of-23 passes through the air for 332 yards and three touchdowns (no interceptions), while running 16 times for a career-high 176 yards (11.0 average) and three more scores.

Wallow registered a team-best 13 tackles, including 3.5 for loss, and one sack. His 13 total tackles and 3.5 TFL were both career-highs and the fourth time in his career with at least 10+ stops.

Song, a senior kicker from Fort Worth, set a career high with five field goals. Song was successful from 24, 36, 19, 34 and 38 yards. His five field goals are the most by a Horned Frog since Jaden Oberkrom had a single-game TCU and Big 12 record six in 2012 versus Texas Tech.

2019 BIG 12 FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK – WEEK 1 AWARDS

Offensive Player of the Week/Newcomer of the Week

Jalen Hurts, QB, Sr., Oklahoma

Defensive Player of the Week

Garret Wallow, LB, Jr., TCU

Special Teams Player of the Week

Jonathan Song, PK, Sr., TCU

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs made some additional roster moves and signed practice squad players. From The Kansas City Chiefs Facebook page:

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — The Chicago Bears have signed Pro Bowl offensive lineman Cody Whitehair to a five-year contract extension through the 2024 season.

The Bears announced the extension Sunday. ESPN reported that it was worth $52.5 million and includes $27.5 million guaranteed.

Whitehair was in the last season of his four-year rookie contract. The second-round draft pick out of Kansas State in 2016 has started all 48 regular-season games since entering the league. He has started primarily at center but will switch this season to left guard, where he started two games during the 2017 season.

Bears GM Ryan Pace says: “Cody embodies everything we look for in a Chicago Bear and I’m excited for us as an organization to extend him five more years.”

The Bears open the regular season Thursday against the Packers.

HESSTON, Kan. – The Central Kansas League held their pre-season volleyball tournament at Hesston this past weekend.  Nickerson defeated Hesston in the finals, 25-23, 22-25 and 25-13 in three competitive matches.

Pool A
Haven def. Pratt, 25-22, 25-21
Hillsboro def. Halstead, 25-22, 25-17
Hillsboro def. Haven, 26-28, 25-12, 25-20
Smoky Valley def. Pratt, 25-13, 25-9
Smoky Valley def. Hillsboro, 25-23, 22-25, 25-14
Haven def. Halstead, 18-25, 25-23, 25-23
Smoky Valley def. Halstead, 24-26, 25-21, 25-16
Hillsboro def. Pratt, 25-16, 25-9
Halstead def. Pratt, 25-18, 25-18
Smoky Valley def. Haven, 25-20, 25-13
Pool A results: Smoky Valley 4-0, Hillsboro 3-1, Haven 2-2, Halstead 1-3, Pratt 0-4
Pool B
Hesston def. Larned, 25-18, 25-10
Lyons def. Nickerson 25-13, 15-25, 25-18
Hesston def. Hoisington, 25-23, 25-16
Lyons def. Larned, 25-11, 25-15
Nickerson def. Larned, 25-11, 25-12
Lyons def. Hoisington, 25-16, 25-13
Hesston def. Lyons 25-13, 25-16
Nickerson def. Hoisington, 25-14, 25-19
Nickerson def. Hesston 27-25, 25-19
Hoisington def. Larned 25-12, 25-12
Pool B results: Nickerson 3-1, Hesston 3-1, Lyons 3-1, Hoisington 1-3, Larned 0-4
Tie was broken by percentage of sets won:
Nickerson 7-2 (78%), Hesston 6-2 (75%), Lyons 6-3 (67%)
Consolation Bracket Semifinals:
Haven def. Hoisington, 25-23, 25-14
Halstead def. Lyons, 25-15, 25-23
Championship Bracket Semifinals:
Hesston def. Smoky Valley, 25-19, 25-15
Nickerson def. Hillsboro, 20-25, 25-19, 25-17
Bracket Finals:
9th place: Pratt def. Larned, 25-8, 25-17
7th place: Lyons def. Hoisington, 19-25, 25-10, 25-12
5th place: Halstead def. Haven, 20-25, 25-20, 25-16
3rd place: Hillsboro def. Smoky Valley, 25-23, 25-21
1st place: Nickerson def. Hesston, 25-23, 22-25, 25-13

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Adalberto Mondesi matched a career high with four hits and stole three bases in his return from the injured list, leading the Kansas City Royals past the Baltimore Orioles 6-4 on Sunday.

Meibrys Viloria drove in the go-ahead run for the Royals with a two-out single in the seventh inning. Kansas City took two of three in a series between struggling teams.

Mondesi, who spent 41 games on the IL, led off the seventh with his third hit and stole second. With two outs, Alex Gordon drove him in with a tying double, and Gordon scored on Viloria’s single to make it 5-4.

Whit Merrifield added a solo homer in the eighth.

Kevin McCarthy (3-2) tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief for the win. Ian Kennedy pitched a perfect ninth for his 25th save in 28 chances.

Paul Fry (1-7) took the loss.

Royals starter Danny Duffy was solid in his return from the injured list. He gave up four runs (three earned) and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Baltimore scored in the first inning on a sacrifice fly by Renato Nunez.

Kansas City came right back with three runs in the bottom half. Hunter Dozier drove in Mondesi and Jorge Soler with an opposite-field double. Dozier scored on Ryan O’Hearn’s single.

The Orioles tied it with four straight hits in the third. Richie Martin and Hanser Alberto scored on Trey Mancini’s single.

Baltimore regained the lead in the sixth when Jonathan Villar’s speed helped manufacture a run, with the aid of a throwing error by Viloria behind the plate.

TRAINER’S ROOM
Orioles: RHP Shawn Armstrong was reinstated from the 10-day injured list. He had been out since Aug. 22 with a right forearm strain. … OF Mark Trumbo is expected to be activated Monday before Baltimore plays at Tampa Bay.

Royals: Duffy, Mondesi and catcher Cam Gallagher were activated from the 10-day IL. Duffy had been sidelined since Aug. 4 with a left hamstring strain. Mondesi had been out since July 17 with a left shoulder injury, and Gallagher had been on the IL since Aug. 5 with a left oblique strain. Gallagher is not expected to play against this season, except in an emergency. “I’m not playing him,” manager Ned Yost said.

ROSTER MOVES
With rosters expanding, the Orioles recalled OF Dwight Smith Jr., RHP Branden Kline and LHP Tanner Scott from the minors. Kansas City recalled RHP Heath Fillmyer from Triple-A Omaha.

UP NEXT
Orioles: RHP Asher Wojciechowski (2-7, 5.12 ERA) starts Monday afternoon when Baltimore begins a three-game series at Tampa Bay. With Hurricane Dorian bearing down on Florida, Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s games have been rescheduled as part of a single-admission doubleheader Tuesday.

Royals: LHP Mike Montgomery (3-7, 4.66) pitches Tuesday at home against Detroit.

TORONTO (AP) — Justin Verlander took the mound for the ninth inning, fully aware of the no-hitters he finished — and his near misses, too.

Zeroed in, he wouldn’t be denied this time.

Verlander pitched his third career no-hitter, punctuating a dominant season by striking out 14 to lead the Houston Astros past the Toronto Blue Jays 2-0 on Sunday.

Verlander became just the sixth pitcher to throw at least three no-hitters in the majors, an elite club that includes the likes of Nolan Ryan, Sandy Koufax and Cy Young.

“It means a lot,” Verlander said. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t know that. I’ve come so close. Since I’ve had two, I think I’ve blown two in the ninth and another couple in the eighth.”

“I was definitely aware of the history aspect of it. Definitely a big hurdle to get over and a very special moment for me,” he said.

Verlander (17-5) is the first pitcher to throw two no-hitters as a visitor in the same park — he also threw one at Rogers Centre in 2011 with Detroit. His other no-no was in 2007 for the Tigers against Milwaukee.

“I guess I have to like this mound a lot now,” Verlander joked.

Verlander allowed only one runner, with Cavan Biggio drawing a one-out walk in the first inning. The Blue Jays, with a lineup full of young, aggressive batters, never came close to a hit in the Astros’ second no-hitter of the season — four Houston pitchers combined to blank Seattle a month ago.

The 36-year-old Verlander joined Ryan (seven), Koufax (four) and Young, Bob Feller and 1880s-era Larry Corcoran (three each) in rarefied air on the no-hitter list.

“Some of the guys I’ve idolized,” Verlander said.

And it came after a series of close calls.

Verlander lost a no-hit try in the eighth inning late in 2011, had bids broken in the ninth in 2012 and 2015 and had another attempt spoiled last May in the seventh by Jose Abreu of the White Sox.

Verlander’s wife, model Kate Upton, is currently attending the Venice Film Festival, where she tweeted out a message of congratulations.

“She was the first one I called,” Verlander said. “She was actually up very late watching the whole thing, so that’s awesome.”

Verlander threw a season-high 120 pitches, mixing a fastball that reached the upper 90s mph with a sharp curve.

The right-hander retired the last 26 hitters in a row. But he still needed help because the game was scoreless going into the last inning — according to baseball rules, Verlander had to pitch a complete game to get credit for a no-hitter.

That’s when Canadian-born rookie Abraham Toro stepped up for the AL West leaders. The Astros newcomer hit a two-out, two-run homer in the ninth inning off Ken Giles (2-3) that cleared the way for Verlander to complete the no-hitter.

“The whole dugout was going crazy because everybody knew what was one the line,” Toro said.

Toro made a routine play on Bo Bichette’s grounder to third base for the last out. Verlander joked the 22-year-old Toro, playing just his eighth game in the majors, was in for quite a nice reward.

“I could not be happier for that kid,” said Verlander, who sought out Toro for an on-field hug after the game. “Just an incredible moment for him, from Canada, able to do that and then get the last out as well. Such a special moment and I’m happy I’m able to celebrate with him.”

Said Bichette: “I honestly thought I was going to get him, but then he made a really good pitch.”

“He is who is for a reason,” Bichette said.

Only one Toronto player hit a ball harder than 100 miles per hour off the bat.

Billy McKinney sent a grounder that first baseman Aledmys Diaz, playing an unfamiliar position in place of the injured Yuli Gurriel, stopped in the fifth. Diaz fed Verlander to end the inning.

“I think every no-hitter needs something to go your way,” Verlander said. “That was a pretty poor pitch that was hit pretty hard, fortunately on the ground, and AD over there is a great athlete and was able to knock it down and make a great play.”

Just two other pitchers have no-hit the same team more than once. Cleveland’s Addie Joss did it to the White Sox in 1908 and 1910, while San Francisco’s Tim Lincecum held San Diego hitless in 2013 and 2014.

This was the fourth no-hitter in the majors this year. The last one was by the Astros, a combined effort from Aaron Sanchez, Will Harris, Joe Biagini and Chris Devenski against Seattle on Aug. 3. Sanchez and Biagini did it in their first game since being acquired in a trade with Toronto.

Houston is the first team to pitch two no-hitters in a season since Max Scherzer threw a pair for Washington in 2015.

Oakland’s Mike Fiers and a tandem effort by Taylor Cole and Felix Pena of the Angels accounted for this year’s other gems.

Verlander is tied for the big league lead in wins. The eight-time All-Star and former AL MVP and Cy Young Award winner tops the majors in strikeouts (257) and innings (193) and leads the AL with a 2.56 ERA.

With the crowd of 24,104 getting to its feet to begin the ninth, Verlander retired Brandon Drury on an easy grounder and struck out Reese McGuire.

After that second out, catcher Robinson Chirinos went to the mound for a quick visit with Verlander. The count went full on Bichette, who fouled off a pitch before hitting a bouncer to Toro.

Verlander took a couple hops toward first as he watched Toro field the ball, saw the throw on target and then began the celebration in the middle of the diamond.

Not bad for an ace who was ejected in his previous start. Verlander was tossed last Tuesday at home shortly after a close pitch didn’t go his way against Tampa Bay.

It was Verlander’s ninth career shutout and first this season. This was the 13th no-hitter for the Astros, including one by Ryan.

The Blue Jays were no-hit for the sixth time. Before Sunday, the last to do it was Seattle’s James Paxton, who became the first Canadian pitcher to throw a big league no-hitter north of the border when he beat the Blue Jays on May 8, 2018.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Astros: Gurriel (left elbow contusion) was scratched from the lineup. He was hit on the elbow by a pitch Saturday. … RHP Josh James (right shoulder) was activated off the injured list.

Blue Jays: Reinstated RHP Ryan Tepera (right elbow) from the 60-day injured list. To make room on the 40-man roster, RHP Neil Ramírez was designated for assignment. … OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (strained left quadriceps) took batting practice on the field before the game and could be activated off the injured list Thursday. … OF Derek Fisher (sprained right ankle) was scratched from the lineup and replaced by Drury. Fisher ran into the wall while fielding a double Saturday. … LHP Clayton Richard (strained left lat) allowed three runs and four hits in two innings in his first rehab start at Triple-A Buffalo Saturday. He struck out one and walked one.

ROSTER REPORT

Astros: Manager AJ Hinch said Houston will likely add two or more players before Monday’s game at Milwaukee, and said more players will arrive when the team returns home Thursday to face Seattle.

Blue Jays: Toronto recalled C Beau Taylor from Triple-A Buffalo. … The Blue Jays completed their July 28 trade with Tampa Bay by acquiring minor league RHPs Edisson Gonzalez and Curtis Taylor. Toronto traded INF Eric Sogard to the Rays. Gonzalez, 19, was 4-2 with a 2.45 ERA at Class A. Taylor, 24, had seven saves in nine opportunities at Double-A.

UP NEXT

Astros: RHP Gerrit Cole (15-5, 2.85) starts against the Brewers on Monday in the opener of a two-game interleague series. RHP Adrian Houser (6-5, 3.52) starts for Milwaukee.

Blue Jays: RHP Jacob Waguespack (4-2, 3.93) starts Monday in the opener of a two-game interleague series at Atlanta. RHP Mike Soroka (103, 2.44) starts for the Braves.

LINCOLN, Neb. -(AP)- As happy as he was with his defense, Scott Frost was in no mood to celebrate after Nebraska’s opener against South Alabama.

Frost’s coaching resume is built on offense, and he didn’t like what he saw in the No. 24 Cornhuskers’ 35-21 victory Saturday.

“That’s as anemic an offensive effort I’ve been a part of in a long time,” Frost said. “That’s not the offense I’ve been seeing all fall camp. We have to go back to the drawing board and figure out what happened today. I give credit to South Alabama for the coaching job they did. Their kids came in and fought.”

Two defensive touchdowns and one on special teams bailed out an offense that generated only 276 yards, including just 66 in the second half, and never established a ground game against an opponent from the Sun Belt Conference that ranked 101st against the run last season.

“It’s no secret we played very poor,” quarterback Adrian Martinez said. “It’s probably the worst we’ve played in a long time, and it’s not acceptable. We’re happy we got the win. Our defense played great, special teams made some plays, but offensively we need to be a lot better. It’s pretty simple.”

The five-touchdown favorite Huskers led only 14-7 at halftime, and the anxiety at Memorial Stadium was palpable.

But the defense had five takeaways, the biggest one Eric Lee Jr.’s 38-yard interception return for a touchdown, and JD Spielman ran back a punt 76 yards to make it a three-touchdown game early in the third quarter.

South Alabama wouldn’t go away. The Jaguars converted two straight turnovers into touchdowns to cut it to 28-21 and had the ball heading into the fourth quarter.

Things started turning for Nebraska when Cam Taylor hammered Jaguars quarterback Cephus Johnson, popping the ball loose, and Alex Davis picked it up at the goal line and stepped into the end zone for a touchdown.

Then, with South Alabama threatening from the Nebraska 12, Taylor stepped in front of Johnson’s pass and ran in back to midfield.

The Huskers had three non-offensive touchdowns for the first time since 2005.

“Defensive-wise, getting to the ball, everyone was competing for tackles, everyone was competing to get turnovers,” Taylor said. “Everybody wants to get to the ball.”

It was the second straight time the Huskers struggled against a Sun Belt team. Last year they lost at home to Troy, one of the lowest points in a 4-8 season.

The Huskers averaged just 2.2 yards per carry against the Jaguars and finished with 98 on the ground. They were outgained by 38 yards and had 15 first downs to South Alabama’s 19.

“Disappointing loss,” Jaguars coach Steve Campbell said. “When you have more total yards, more first downs, I think we were a little better than them on third down efficiency… Then to come up short, that tells you what a big stat turnovers is. You can look at explosives and all that stuff all you want to. Still, it’s a game of turnovers.”

Martinez was intercepted once and nearly two other times, had difficulty handling center Cam Jurgens’ high snaps and the offensive line was beaten often by pass rushers.

The Huskers’ best series was their first, when they drove 81 yards in nine plays for a touchdown. Only three of their remaining possessions lasted more than five plays.

Martinez, the most productive freshman quarterback in the nation last year, passed for 178 yards but was held to 6 yards on 13 carries.

“I’m not worried about Adrian because I know how he can play and who he is,” Frost said. “I don’t think he had his best game. If that’s our fault for putting him in bad situations, we’ll get it fixed.”

THE TAKEAWAY

South Alabama: The Jaguars look like they could be better than the 3-9 team in Campbell’s first year.

Nebraska: The Huskers will be facing questions all week about their poor production on offense. They were outgained 314-276.

FACTS AND FIGURES

Freshman Dylan Jorgensen handled the place-kicking with Barret Pickering injured. … Redshirt freshman Cam Jurgens became the first freshman (true or redshirt) to start at center for Nebraska since freshman eligibility was reinstated in 1972. … The Jaguars are 1/3 against ranked opponents.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Nebraska was in the preseason Top 25 for the first time since 2014. The voters must decide if the Huskers still merit a spot after having to fight for four quarters against a Sun Belt Conference opponent.

UP NEXT

South Alabama hosts Jackson State.

Nebraska visits Colorado, which came from behind to win in Lincoln last year.

— Associated Press —

By Steve Carpenter – Hutchinson CC Sports Information

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – Mark Wright had 354 total yards and threw for four touchdowns as the No. 5-ranked Hutchinson Community College football team won its ninth-consecutive home opener on Saturday.

The Blue Dragons survived a rough third quarter to hold off Independence, 31-21, at Gowans Stadium.

The Blue Dragons improve to 2-0 and are 1-0 in the Jayhawk Conference. Independence falls to 1-1 (1-1 KJCCC).

Wright became the first Blue Dragon quarterback in 11 seasons to rush for 100 yards in a game; going for a game-high 160 yards on 27 carries. The last Blue Dragon quarterback to rush for 100 yards was Bryant Johnson (123 yards) on Oct. 11, 2008 against Coffeyville at Gowans Stadium.

Wright completed 16 of 27 passes for 194 yards with four touchdown passes against the Pirates. Wright is the first Dragon quarterback to throw at least four touchdown passes in a game since last season when Mason Schucker threw four against the Greyhounds.

Wright hit three different receivers for touchdowns. Karim Brown caught scoring passes 10 and 27 yards. Mitch Tinsley caught a touchdown pass for a second-straight game with a 25-yarder from Wright. Craig Burt started the day off with a spectacular 29-yard touchdown catch in the right corner of the end zone.

Tinlsey caught a career-high seven passes for 72 yards. Brown had five catches for 74 yards.

Trey Coleman rushed for 82yards on 16 carries. Kendall Cross had 10 carries for 28 yards.

Defensively, the Blue Dragons had four takeaways against Independence, including three interceptions off Indy quarterback Stephon Brown, the reigning KJCCC Offensive Player of the Week.

Ronald Brown had two interceptions and Jakorian Bennett had the other. Dionte Gipson had a fumble recovery on a bad snap.

Lavar Gardner had 12 total tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss.

Offensively, the Blue Dragons racked up 33 first downs and 484 total yards. The Dragons rushed for 290 yards and passes for 194. The Pirates had 341 total yards (189 rushing, 152 passing). The Dragons possessed the ball for 38 minutes, 14 seconds.

Hutchinson survived two first-quarter turnovers to take a 7-0 lead after 15 minutes. A partial punt by Art Green step up Hutch’s first scoring drive. Wright connected with Burt for a sensational catch in the back of the end zone for a 7-0 lead with 11:11 to play in the opening quarter.

The Blue Dragons tacked on 10 points in the second quarter. Brown caught a 10-yard pass from Wright with 8:39 to play in the quarter for a 14-0 lead. Sebastian Garcia kicked a 19-yard field goal with 5:27 to go for a 17-0 Blue Dragon lead, which was the halftime score.

Independence was held to 120 total yards in the opening half. That changed in the third quarter as Brown led three Pirate scoring drives and pulled within three points twice in the third frame.

Wright connected with Raekwon Heath for a 39-yard touchdown pass to cut the Dragon lead to 17-7 with 12:35 to go in the third. That duo connected again 3 minutes later, again from 39 yards to cut the Hutchinson lead to 17-14 with 9:06 to play.

The Dragons responded with a 13-play scoring drive that covered 74 yards. The final 27 came on a touchdown grab by Brown. Independence responded with a 92-yard kickoff return to set up 2-yard touchdown run and the Dragon lead was 24-14. A 92-yard kickoff return on the ensuing kickoff set up Brown’s 2-yard plunge to cut the Dragon lead to 24-21 with 2:27 remaining in the quarter.

Again, Hutchinson responded with a six-play, 75-yard scoring march that was capped by a Tinsley 25-yard scoring grab from Wright with 37 seconds to play in the third. Hutch led 31-21 after three quarters.

Independence had 149 total yards in the third quarter.

With the Pirates driving, Brown intercepted his second pass of the game in the middle stages of the fourth quarter, which silenced Indy’s comeback bid.

GAME NOTES – Blue Dragon head coach Rion Rhoades is now alone in fourth on the Jayhawk Conference coaching wins list with his 98th, his 91st as the Blue Dragon head coach. … The Dragons are now 55-23-5 all-time against Independence, the most wins against any opponent in team history. Hutch is 33-9-2 at home against the Pirates. … The Dragons are now 52-24-2 in home openers.