Graphic courtesy of Blue Dragon Sports Information
In the 93rd year of Hutchinson Community College football, the Blue Dragons scored 99 points, breaking the school record of 91 set in 2017 against Rezolution Prep.
The Blue Dragons (4-0) defeated Ellsworth 99-0 and tied an NJCAA Division I record for most points in a game. The Panthers, who lost to HutchCC 72-7 during the 2023 season, fell to 0-5.
Hutchinson now owns three of the five highest single-game scoring records in NJCAA Division I history. In 2011, HutchCC scored 90 points against Highland CC (90-7). The 99-point scoring margin is also a school record.
HutchCC nearly had 105 points on a Pick-6 with 20 seconds left in the game. However the Blue Dragon defender stepped out of bounds. HutchCC’s offense went into victory formation and took a knee to run out the clock.
The Blue Dragons scored 24 points in the first quarter, 35 in the second quart, 14 in the third quarter and 26 in the fourth quarter.
“The scoreboard kept turning,” said HutchCC football coach Drew Dallas during his radio postgame interview. “We try not to get caught up on what’s going on with the scoreboard. Today we eliminated the explosive plays and got some turnovers.
“We were coming off a bye week and wanted to get sharp and lean on the running game. We wanted to start fast and not look back. Everyone who needed to play played and got quality and meaningful reps (repetitions).”
It took 8 seconds into HutchCC’s first possession to start the onslaught.
Sophomore quarterback Samari Collier blew through the middle of the Ellsworth defense for a 58-yard touchdown run the first time he touched the football.
Nestus Burger kicked the extra point and the Blue Dragons led 7-0 with 12:40 left in the first quarter.
The Blue Dragons needed three plays to score their second touchdown on an 18-yard run by Waymond Jordan Jr. at the 11:05 mark. Jordan set up the TD with a 23-yard run. Burger kicked his second extra point for a 14-0 lead.
Hutchinson punted on its next series but Ellsworth fumbled. HutchCC recovered the fumble at the Ellsworth 21-yard line.
Burger kicked a 40-yard field goal with 7:41 left in the first quarter to push the Blue Dragons’ lead to 17-0.
HutchCC defensive back David Jester, a transfer from the University of Akron, intercepted an Ellsworth pass and ran it back for a 20-yard Pick-6. Burger kicked the extra point to increase the Blue Dragons’ lead to 24-0 with 2:31 left in the first quarter. That was the score at the end of frame.
After getting a quarterback sack to hold the Panthers on fourth down, Jordan broke loose for a 53-yard touchdown run on the next play. Burger’s PAT kick made the score 31-0 in favor of the Blue Dragons with 13:17 left in the second quarter.
The Blue Dragons intercepted a pass and ran it into the end zone, but a holding penalty nullified the touchdown. After Collier missed on a pass to Tre Brown, Collier hit Brown for a 35-yard touchdown pass.
Burger again booted the extra point an HutchCC led 38-0 with 12:07 in the second quarter.
After getting the ball back on another punt, Hutchinson scored again on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Collier to Benson Prosper, who transferred to HutchCC from Highland Community College. Burger’s PAT kick extended the HutchCC lead to 45-0 with 9:12 left in the first half.
Christian Johnson replaced Collier at quarterback midway through the second quarter. He threw a short pass to Prosper who turned it into a 46-yard touchdown pass. Burger again kicked the PAT and HutchCC led with 5:34 left in the first half.
Jordan scored on a 34-yard run and the PAT kick was good for a 59-0 HutchCC lead with 2:48 left in the first half and that was the halftime score.
The 59 points in the second-highest halftime scoring output in HutchCC history.
Jordan opened the scoring with 13:23 left in the third quarter with a 25-yard touchdown run. It was his fourth touchdown of the game. Blaise Hoover’s PAT kick for a 66-0 HutchCC lead.
HutchCC’s Michael Graham got a 62-yard Pick-6 to increase the Blue Dragons’ lead to 73-0 with 9:35 left in the third quarter. Hoover again kicked the extra point. That was the score at the end of the third quarter.
Hutchinson increased its lead to 79-0 on a 28-yard touchdown pass from Johnson to Titus Petteway with 10:13 left in the game. Blaise Hoover missed the extra point.
Johnson added a 3-yard touchdown run with 8:32 left in the game. HutchCC again missed the extra point and the score was 85-0.
Petteway added a 38-yard touchdown run and Burger kicked the extra point to set the record.
Then HutchCC added a 45-yard touchdown run from Julius Bolden and an extra point from Blaise Hoover to reach the 99-point mark.
The Blue Dragons rolled up 591 yards in total offense (469 rushing and 122 passing) despite Ellsworth leading plays 83-57. The Panthers gained just 100 yards in total offense (71 passing and 289 rushing).
Hutchinson was flagged for 110 yards in penalties and Ellsworth 59.
The Blue Dragons outgained the Panthers in return yards 201-112.
Ellsworth led in time of possession 37 minutes to 23.
Johnson completed 4-of-7 passes for 72 yards and Collier was 4-of-8 for 50. Collier had 2 touchdown passes and Johnson 1.
Jordan rushed for 171 yards on 9 carries and scored 4 touchdowns. Bolden had 8- yards rushing on 8 carries with 1 touchdown. Petteway had 4 rushes for 67 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Collier had the 1 carry for a 58-yard touchdown. Johnson had 2 carries for 39 yards and 1 touchdown.
Daeshaun Carter added 36 yards on 9 carries. Walter Samuel had 4 carries for 14 yards.
Prosper caught 2 passes for 54 yards and 2 touchdowns. Brown caught 1 pass for a 35-yard touchdown. Six Dragons caught 1 pass apiece.
Brady Whitman led the HutchCC defense in tackles with 8. Jester and Jeffrey Manns each had 6.The Blue Dragons recorded 7 sacks, 17 TFLs (tackles for loss), 4 interceptions and 1 fumble recovery.
Ellsworth quarterback Shane Helmick completed 6-of-20 passes for 32 yards. Punter Gabe Ricketts completed a 20-yard pass on a fake punt. Kellen Cockrell completed 3-of-9 passes for 19 yards.
Calvin Swinney led the Panthers in rushing with 41 yards on 28 carries.
Ellsworth’s defense was led in tackles by Nehemiah Reed and Stephen Dorsey with 5 each. The Panthers had 5 TFLs.
The Blue Dragons host Dodge City Community College at noon next Saturday (Oct. 5). It will be “Educators Day” at Gowans Stadium.
Ellsworth has a bye week next week and plays at Dodge City on Oct. 12.
Dodge City came back from a 21-0 first-quarter deficit to defeat Iowa Central 25-24 Saturday at Dodge City. The Conquistadors scored the game-winning points on a 19-yard touchdown pass from Gavin Parker to Ahmir Culmer with 1:02 left in the game.
The Conqs improved to 3-2 and the Tritons fell to 1-4. On Sept. 14, HutchCC defeated Iowa Central 33-30 in overtime on Burger’s 36-yard walk-off field goal.
“After playing New Mexico Military and three Iowa schools to start the season, we’re going to play to our first conference (Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference) game to start October,” Dallas said. “They (Dodge City) are starting to play well. We know we will get their best shot. We expect the best from them.”
HutchCC women’s soccer team pitches 1-0 shutout at Garden City
The 17th-ranked Hutchinson Community College Blue Dragon women’s soccer team pitched a 1-0 shutout against Garden City 1-0 Saturday at Broncbuster Stadium in Garden City.
The score was tied 0-0 at halftime.
HutchCC took a 1-0 lead in the second half (at the 56:19 mark) on a goal by Haley Rogers off an assist by Kaitlyn Edwards.
HutchCC goalkeeper Marina Lopez made 4 saves on 4 Garden City shots on goal. Garden City goalkeeper Leydaly Enriquez had 3 saves on 4 shots on goal. The Blue Dragons outshot the Broncbusters 6-5.
Hutchinson improved its record to 5-2-3 (3-2-3 in Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference play). Garden City fell to 3-8-1 (0-8-1 KJCCC).
The Blue Dragons host Seward County Community College at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Salthawk Sports Complex.
HutchCC plays a 2 p.m. match next Saturday against Dodge City Community College at Dodge City’s Memorial Stadium.
HutchCC volleyball falls to No. 5 Barton
The Hutchinson Community College volleyball team lost to No. 5 Barton Saturday night at the Hutchinson Sports Arena 25-17, 25-12, 25-17.
Hutchinson fell to 12-11 overall (3-3 Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference).
Barton improved to 20-1 overall (7-0 KJCCC).
Hutchinson hosts Colby Community College at 6 p.m. Wednesday and plays at Dodge City Community College at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 9.
The Blue Dragons compete in the Cardinal Classic Oct. 11-12 at Sechrist Fieldhouse in Park Hills, Mo. HutchCC plays Indian Hills, Vincennes University, Missouri State University-West Plains and Mineral Area College.
Barton hosts Cloud County Community College at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday and plays at Butler Community College at 6 p.m. on Oct. 7.
HutchCC men’s cross country 9th, women 13th at Arkansas meet
The No. 7 Hutchinson Blue Dragon women’s cross country team and No. 9 Blue Dragon men competed in the Chili Pepper Festival today at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark.
The Blue Dragon men’s cross country team participated in the McDonnell Memorial 8K (8,000 meters) and placed ninth with 270 points.
The HutchCC women finished 13th in the Women Harter’s Habanero 5K (5,000 meters) team standings with 382 points.
The top men’s runner for HutchCC was freshman Dennis Cheruiyot, who placed 14th with a time of 24 minutes, 22.9 seconds (4:54-mile pace).
HutchCC freshman Cornelius Kogo placed 17th with a time of 24:29.2 (4:55 pace). Freshman Titus Kiprotich placed 33rd with a time of 24:54.4 (5:00 pace).
Freshman Kaden Lohrentz placed 141st in 26:27.1 (5:19 pace). Sophomore David Ultreras was 159th in 26:52.4 (5:24 pace).
Sophomore Leo LeGrand was 219th in 28:04.5 (5:38 pace). Freshman Blake Yoder was 258th in 30:39.5 (6:09 pace).
HutchCC freshman Faith Jepchirchir paced the Blue Dragon women’s team with a 21st-place finish and a time of 17:08.1 (5:30 pace). Freshman Lillian Matteo Torrez placed 38th in 17:31.9 (5:38 pace).
Sophomore Jordyn Picolet paced 58h in 17:53.1 (5:45 pace). Sophomores Abigail Grantham and Laura Avila placed 176th and 178th with times of 20:01.9 and 20:03.6 (6:26 and 6:27 paces).
University of Arkansas senior Kirami Yego ran away with the individual men’s title with a time of 20:09.6 (4:37 pace).
The host University of Arkansas ran away with the men’s team title with 26 points. Butler Community College placed sixth with 196 points and Garden City finished 20th with 543 points.
Arkansas junior Mia Cochran clipped sophomore teammate Paityn Noe at the tape to win the women’s race. Both were timed at 15:56.3 (5:07 pace).
Southeastern Conference schools Texas, LSU and Arkansas finished first, second and third with 42, 75 and 88 points.
HutchCC baseball team wins two KC Showcase scrimmages
The Hutchinson Community College baseball team went 2-0 in scrimmages Friday at the Prep Baseball Kansas City Showcase at Creekside Baseball Park-Homefield Baseball Complex in Kansas City, Mo.
The Blue Dragons defeated Crowder College, Neosho, Mo., 5-3, and Jefferson College aka JeffCo, Hillsboro, Mo., 11-1.
HutchCC pitcher Trenton Roehler pitched two innings, allowed no runs and struck out one. His fastball was clocked between 86-88 miles per hour.
Reece Usselman pitched one inning, allowed no runs and struck out two. He also was clocked at 86-88 mph.
Adam Mustow went 3-for-6 at the plate with three RBI, home run, scored two runs and walked twice.
Taber Stokes went 3-for-6, scored four runs, drove in two runs, doubled, tripled and walked.
CJ Reid went 3-for-8, scored two runs, homered and doubled.
The Blue Dragons have played fall scrimmages against Barton Community College, Pratt Community College and Cloud County Community College.
Blue Dragon players participated in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Showcase in Wichita Sept. 20.
HutchCC players will participate in the UCO Showcase Tuesday at Edmond, Okla., and will scrimmage against Carl Albert State College at 2:30 p.m.
HutchCC scrimmages against Friends University Thursday at Wichita.
The Blue Dragons open the spring season March 20 with a doubleheader against Seward County Community College and will host the Saints in a doubleheader March 22.
HutchCC posted a school-record 51-13 mark in 2024 during Brock Nehls’ first season as head coach. The Blue Dragons posted a 7-2 postseason record, placing second in the Region VI Plains District Championship.
Other fall scrimmages scheduled for the HutchCC baseball team:
Oct. 11 — McCook Community College, Kansas Wesleyan University Jamboree, Salina.
Oct. 11 — NOC Enid, Hobart-Detter Field, Hutchinson.
Oct. 15 — at Pratt CC
Oct. 17 — at McPherson College
Oct. 22 — at Washburn University, Topeka
HutchCC softball team to scrimmage against UMKC
The Hutchinson Community College softball team plays a scrimmage Sunday against the Kangaroos of the University of Missouri-Kansas City in Kansas City.
HutchCC already has scrimmaged against Friends University, Baker University and Pittsburg State University on the road this fall.
The Blue Dragons will scrimmage against Benedictine University Oct. 13, Emporia State University Oct. 19, the Kanas Renegades at 6 p.m. Oct. 23 and Washburn University Oct. 31.
The Blue Dragons open the spring season Jan. 31 with a doubleheader at Ottawa University and will host a home tournament Feb. 7-8 at Fun Valley Sports Complex against Nesoho County and Iowa Western.
The HutchCC softball team posted a school-record 47-12 record in 2024, including a 6-3 record in postseason.
The Blue Dragons won the Region VI Tournament title and went 1-2 at the NJCAA Division I Softball World Series.