(HCC Sports Information)
HIGHLAND – Saturday was a day where it felt like the Hutchinson Community College football team would take one step forward and two steps back.
The Blue Dragons had a touchdown called back on a penalty in the first quarter. When it looked like the Dragons were going to take the lead at halftime, another penalty stopped a drive and HCC misfired on fourth down. After a Treyvon Paulk touchdown run to pull the Blue Dragons within four points, Highland intercepted a potential two-point try pass and returned it for a defensive conversion.
Add to the fact that Highland quarterback Kahlil Render made several big plays and all that led to the Blue Dragons falling 31-12 to the Scotties at Kessinger Field.
The Blue Dragons fall to 4-4 overall and 2-4 in the Jayhawk Conference. HCC steps out of conference play for the next two weeks with a pair of home games against Iowa Western and Ellsworth. Highland improves to 4-3 and 3-1 in the Jayhawk.
Hutchinson was slightly outgained Highland 407-401, outrushed the Scotties 189-96, had a 4 minute, 2 second advantage in time of possession and was a plus-2 in turnover margin. Yet, the big-play capability of Render and the aforementioned mistakes by the Blue Dragons were too much to overcome.
Render completed 16 of 29 passes for 311 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for a crippling 10-yard rushing touchdown that gave Highland a 24-12 lead with 11:06 to play in the fourth quarter.
Treyvon Paulk rushed a 33 times for 167 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Blue Dragons offensively. DeQuan Bowman made six catches for 60 yards and Gary Cross had five receptions for 49 yards. Quarterback Kylen Binn came off the bench to complete 10 of 20 passes for 127 yards. Dimonic McKinzey was 9 of 16 for 85 yards.
The first quarter was played to a scoreless tie with the help of three Blue Dragon interceptions – two by Asher Goldston and Jordan Noil. Two of the interceptions were in the end zone. Noil’s interception was returned to the HCC 13. A holding penalty and two negative yardage plays led to Paulk getting tackled in the end zone for a Highland safety two plays into the second quarter.
One play after Tymony Bonilla’s free kick, Render found Bob Pugh in stride for a 75-yard touchdown pass – the longest play of the season against Hutchinson – and the Scotties led 9-0 with 14:03 to play in the second quarter.
Two possessions later, the Blue Dragons took the ball at their own 2 yard line. The Dragons marched the entire distance in 12 plays, getting a 20-yard Paulk touchdown run. HCC lost some momentum, though, with a missed extra-point try. HCC trailed 9-6 with 5:59 to go in the second quarter.
Render’s next big play came late in the third quarter on third-and-7 from the 50. Render scrambled out of the pocket, threw against his body and completed a 48-yard pass to Troy Grant to the Dragon 2. Two plays later, Grant caught a 5-yard touchdown pass for a 16-6 Scotty lead with 53 seconds to play in the third quarter.
Hutchinson immediately answered with a five-play, 63-yard scoring march. Paulk burst up the middle for a 33-yard touchdown to pull within 16-12 with 14:28 to play in the fourth quarter. The Dragons went for two, but McKinzy’s pass was intercepted and returned for a defensive conversion by Damariu Brinson to give Highland an 18-12 lead.
HCC missed on its next two possessions, failing to convert on fourth down both times. Isaiah Ming’s 19-yard touchdown run with 3:42 to go finished off the Dragons.
Hutchinson will play Iowa Western at 1 p.m. next Saturday at Gowans Stadium.
GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons lose for just the third time in 34 all-time meetings against Highland. The Dragons are 12-3 at Highland. … The 19-point margin of defeat was the worst for Hutchinson against Highland. … Highland is only the second team this season to pass for 300 yards against HCC. … The Blue Dragons were 4 of 18 on third down and 2 of 6 on fourth down against the Scotties.