EL DORADO – The last time that Hutchinson Community College defeated Butler in football, HCC head coach Rion Rhoades was just three years removed from playing for the Blue Dragons and the current roster’s ages ranged from 1 to 3 years old.
The much talked-about losing streak to the Grizzlies – 23 games in duration – ended on Saturday night at BG Products Stadium. The No. 6 Blue Dragons survived a first half filled with self-inflicted wounds to defeat the No. 9 Grizzlies 35-26, earning a victory over Butler for the first time since 1997.
After jumping out to a 13-0 lead just 5 minutes, 26 seconds into the game, the Blue Dragons (3-0, 2-0 Jayhawk Conference) started committing mistake after mistake – four turnovers and six penalties – and Butler took full advantage. Tied at 13-all, the Grizzlies took a 20-13 lead into halftime after Bakari Triggs intercepted a Kylen Binn pass for a 35-yard touchdown with 1:21 to play before intermission.
But instead of letting those mistakes snowball into the second half, the Blue Dragons regrouped in the locker room, and dominated the third quarter. Hutchinson rallied from a halftime deficit for the eighth time in the Rhoades’ era, out-gaining Butler 127-23 in the third quarter. The Dragons took a 22-20 lead into the fourth quarter.
HCC sandwiched two Juwan Dickey touchdown receptions around a Butler touchdown and then held the Grizzlies on downs three times in the fourth quarter to finally defeat the Grizzlies.
After that rough end to the first half, HCC had no turnovers and just three penalties in the second half.
Quarterback Dalton Demos threw a career-high five touchdown passes, completing 18 of 21 passes for 240 yards to lead the Blue Dragons. Demos, in the second half, completed 11 of 13 passes for 152 yards and three touchdowns.
Dickey hauled in a season-high eight passes for 143 yards and three touchdowns. He had fourth-quarter touchdown catches of 72 and 6 yards, both scores gave Hutchinson a two-possession lead.
Running back Alvin Kamara rushed for a game-high 145 yards on 28 carries. Travis Custis ran 16 times for 48 yards. At least one HCC running back has rushed for better than 100 yards in each of the first three games this season.
The Blue Dragons racked up 25 first downs and 463 total yards against Butler, scoring 30-plus points against the Grizzlies (1-2, 1-1) for the first time since 2003. HCC rushed for 211 yards and passed for 252.
Defensive ends Marquavius Lewis and Jeremiah Ledbetter led a gritty Hutchinson defensive effort. Lewis had 11 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, two quarterback sacks and four quarterback hurries. Ledbetter had 10 tackles with a sack. Lakel Bass had nine tackles and Kyle Wilson eight. Linebacker Claude George had just five tackles, but broke up two passes, had one sack, two quarterback pressures and blocked two extra points.
Hutchinson had four quarterback sacks and two takeaways.
The Blue Dragons were able to corral the Butler rushing game, holding the Grizzlies to 73 yards. Butler passed for 289 yards. Grizzly running back Chris Carson was limited to 55 yards on 16 carries. Quarterback Demarcus Smith threw for 204 yards on 17 of 39 passing with a pair of TDs and an interception. Receiver Anthony Johnson had four catches for 102 yards.
Hutchinson knocked Butler back on its heels with two dizzyingly fast scoring drives to open the game. The Dragons took the opening kickoff 70 yards in just five plays over 1 minute, 18 seconds and scored on the first of three Demos-to-Dickey touchdown receptions, this one from 7 yards out to lead 7-0.
After forcing a Butler punt, the Dragons struck again, converting a third-and-14 when Custis took a short Demos pass and weaved his way 25 yards for a touchdown to cap a nine-play, 67-yard drive. The extra point was blocked and HCC led 13-0 with 9:34 to go in the opening quarter.
That blocked extra point seemed to give Butler life and things started to go badly for HCC. The Dragons committed turnovers on three of their next four possessions and Butler finally tied the game with 2:13 to play in the second period on a Brady Chavis 7-yard TD reception. George blocked the extra point and the game was tied at 13-all.
The Grizzlies’ defense rocked the Blue Dragons after Triggs’ 35-yard interception for a touchdown to build a 20-13 lead just before halftime.
HCC’s first two possessions totaled 137 yards on 14 plays and yielded 13 points. The remainder of the half, the Dragons had just 55 yards, no points and four turnovers and Hutch trailed by seven entering the second half.
After forcing a Butler punt to start the second half, the Dragons served a big dose of Kamara, who had six carries for 38 yards on the drive. Facing fourth-and-3 from the BCC 6, HCC sent the field-goal team out, but called timeout and sent the offense back onto the field. The move paid off as Demos hit Kamara with a swing pass and Kamara sprinted to the corner of the end zone for a touchdown. The extra point missed wide right and HCC still trailed 20-19 with 9:37 to play in the third quarter. The drive covered 80 yards in 12 plays.
Tyler Williams’ second interception of the season set up the go-ahead drive for HCC late in the third quarter. HCC needed eight plays to cover 24 yards to the Butler 9. This time the Dragons went with the field goal and Kassidy Lemons booted a 26-yarder with 4:02 to give HCC its second lead of the game at 22-20 with 4:02 to play in the third.
Hutchinson’s first possession of the fourth quarter lasted just one play. Dickey, with one-on-one coverage, made a magnificent catch, battling with a Butler defender for the ball at the Butler 40 and sprinting into the end zone for a 72-yard TD pass from Demos. Hutchinson led 29-20 with 13:27 to play in the fourth quarter.
Butler needed just 1:03 to strike right back and pull within one possession when on fourth-and-1, Smith connected with Johnson for a 33-yard touchdown pass. George again blocked the extra point and HCC led 29-26 with 11:54 to go.
HCC answered that drive with a nine-play 58-yard march, converting two third downs. Demos threw his fifth touchdown pass of the game, hitting Dickey with a perfect fade to the left corner for a 6-yard TD pass. The extra-point snapped was bad and HCC led 35-26 with 8:39 remaining.
The Grizzlies made two more marches into HCC territory, but the Dragons didn’t relent.
On fourth-and-5 from the HCC 11, Riley Hunsicker broke up a pass in the end zone with 4:50 to play. After a bad punt, the Grizzlies set up at the HCC 25, but the Dragons held again on fourth down. This time, Jarrod Sanders broke up the fourth-down pass in the end zone with 3:43 to go.
Butler’s final drive started with a Lewis sack of Smith and three incomplete passes, the final pass was broken up by George with 1:22 to play.
The Blue Dragons return home next Saturday to take on Iowa Central in a 1 p.m. kickoff at Gowans Stadium.
GAME NOTES – Saturday’s game with Butler was the 91st series history. The all-time record between the two teams is 45-45-1. … The Blue Dragons are now 15-19 vs. nationally ranked opponents in the Rion Rhoades’ era. It was the second victory over a Top 10 team. … Under Rhoades, the Dragons are now 8-25 when trailing at halftime and 36-6 when having a 100-yard rusher. … Sophomore tight end John Gilbertson had a career-best two receptions for 32 yards. Both catches set HCC in goal-to-go situations.
(HCC Sports Information)