2017 SALT CITY BOWL
Hutchinson (7-4) vs. Eastern Arizona (7-4)
When: Saturday, December 2, 2017
Where: Gowans Stadium, Hutchinson
Kickoff: 1 p.m.
Admission: $8 (General Admission only)
Live radio: KHUT-FM (102.9); KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5), 12:30 p.m.
Live video: Blue Dragon Sports Network, 12:50 p.m.
Twitter: @bluedragonsport
[ By STEVE CARPENTER ]
[ BLUE DRAGON SPORTS INFORMATION ]
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The 2017 season comes to a close on Saturday when the Hutchinson Community College football team battles the Eastern Arizona Gila Monsters in the ninth annual Salt City Bowl at Gowans Stadium.
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on Blue Dragon flagship station KHUT-FM (102.9) and sister stations KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5). The veteran broadcast team of Rusty Hilst (play-by-play), Rob Dreher (analysis) and Randy McKay (sidelines) will call the action. The broadcast begins at 12:30 p.m. with Countdown to Kickoff.
The game will be videostreamed on the Blue Dragon Sports Network (www.bluedragonsports.com) about 12:50 p.m.
The Blue Dragons make their 20th overall bowl appearance in program history and are riding a seven-game bowl winning streak that dates back to the 2004 Heart of Texas Bowl. Saturday will be Hutchinson’s seventh Salt City Bowl appearance. The Blue Dragons are 6-0 in the Salt City Bowl and 11-6-2 all-time in bowl games.
Eastern Arizona will play in its fifth all-time bowl. EAC will make its third Salt City Bowl appearance and second in a row. Last year, Eastern Arizona made a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback to defeat Butler 39-38 and improve its postseason record to 2-2.
Saturday’s meeting will be the second Salt City Bowl matchup between the Blue Dragons and Gila Monsters. Hutch and Eastern Arizona met in the second Salt City Bowl in 2010. The Dragons won the game 42-21. Current Oakland Raider Cordarrelle Patterson was that game’s offensive Most Valuable Player recording 165 all-purpose yards.
Both Hutchinson and Eastern Arizona are 7-4 entering Saturday’s game and both teams are coming off tough road wins in the final week of the 2017 regular season.
The Blue Dragons defeated Dodge City 27-6 on November 11 to snap a three-game losing streak. Receiver/return specialist Marcus Edwards had 186 return yards and a 44-yard punt return for a touchdown, the second of two special teams touchdowns against the Conquistadors.
Eastern Arizona’s 22-13 win at Glendale on Nov. 11 was the Gila Monsters’ second straight win and 5th in the last 6 games. EAC ran for 382 yards led by Wilber Cooper’s 178 rushing yards. Quaderius Clemmon added 144 rush yards.
Running the football is a huge component for both Salt City Bowl teams.
Eastern is the No. 2 rushing team in the nation at 299.4 yards per game. The Blue Dragons led the Jayhawk Conference in rushing defense and ranks 12th in the nation at 89.9 rush yards allowed.
Hutch is averaging 176.9 rush yards per game.
AUDIO GUIDE
Daren Dunn of Eagle Sports caught up with Eastern Arizona’s John O’Meara.
:28 – It’s your third Salt City Bowl, does your preparation change any?
1:04 – Does your decision making change in the final game of the season?
1:23 – Who gets the credit for your strong run game?
1:42 – Do you have confidence in your air game?
2:24 – How do you gain an edge when both teams are so similar?
3:10 – How has your team dealt with the penalty department lately?
3:34 – What’s your confidence level like?