IOWA FALLS, Iowa — No. 5 Hutchinson (1-0) rolled to a 41-16 victory over Ellsworth (0-1) after dropping 20 points in the first quarter.

After trailing 7-0 early, the Blue Dragons put up 27 unanswered points.

The beginning of the game didn’t go quite as planned.

Quarterback Mark Wright started for the Dragons against his former team. Wright played six games for Ellsworth last season.

His first pass was picked off and taken back for a pick-six. Wright was looking for a quick receiver screen, but instead found Omunique Wilkerson of Ellsworth. Wilkerson scampered 15 yards to the end zone to give the Panthers the early lead.

Wright followed up his first interception of the year with his first TD.

Wright hit Karim Brown on a 24-yard strike. Sebastian Garcia’s extra point was blocked.

Wright followed up his touchdown pass with more of the same. He hit Mitchell Tinsley on a 66-yard bomb.

Wright threw for 260 yards in the first half alone.

Isaiah Todd answered the Ellsworth pick-six with one of his own. He intercepted A.J. Payne and took the ball 55 yards for the score.

Mark Wright added to his stellar night with a 2-yard touchdown run that capped off a 99-yard drive. The drive started with a near safety after an Ellsworth punt put Hutchinson an inch from the goal line. A 61-yard pass from Mark Wright moved the Dragons into Panther territory. The 7-play drive took 2:23 off the clock.

Yannie Scott got Ellsworth on the board offensively with a 25-yard scramble. It was the first offensive touchdown for Ellsworth against the Dragons in nearly six quarters.

At the break, Hutchinson held a 27-13 advantage.

The Dragons scored late in the third quarter on a Kendall Cross 1-yard run. The run was part of a 15-play, 67-yard drive that took 8 minutes and 23 seconds. Mark Wright kept the drive alive on 3rd and 17 when he rushed for 19 yards to the Ellsworth 1.

Wright finished with 271 yards passing and 47 yards on the ground. He was Hutchinson’s leading rusher. He threw two touchdowns and ran for another. Erin Collins, who ran for three touchdowns against the Panthers last year, only managed 35 yards on eight carries.

Ellsworth got on the board again in the fourth. Logan Ward barely put enough on the ball to connect on a 26-yard field goal.

Shariff Brown also spent some time at quarterback for the Blue Dragons. He scored from 1 yard out with only a minute left in the contest. His TD sealed the 41-16 victory.

The Dragons have now won a record 12 straight games on opening day.

Hutchinson will face Independence on Aug. 31 at home in Gowans Stadium.