BLUE DRAGONS LOOK TO SHAKE SLUMP VS. FORT SCOTT

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

It's been a rough couple of weeks for the Hutchinson Community College Football Team.

Hutchinson has dropped back-to-back games to nationally ranked opponents Butler and Independence and look to get back to its winning ways on Saturday as the much-improved Fort Scott Greyhounds come to Gowans Stadium for a Noon kickoff in Hutch's final regular-season home game.

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 Glen Grunwald (sidelines). The broadcast begins at 11:30 a.m. with Countdown to Kickoff.

The game will also be videostreamed on the Blue Dragon Sports Network (www.bluedragonsports.com).

Now 6-3 overall and 3-2 in the Jayhawk Conference, the Blue Dragons remain in the NJCAA Rankings at No. 20. All three Hutch losses this season have come to ranked opponents.

Last week, the Blue Dragons fell 24-19 to No. 6 Independence. The Blue Dragons got a 100-yard rushing game from B.J. Emmons, but the passing game struggled to the tune of only 58 yards.

Back-up quarterback Eric Forrest sparked the Blue Dragons in the third quarter as Hutchinson pulled within 24-19 late in the third period, but the Dragons went 3-and-out in three fourth-quarter possessions.

The Blue Dragons look to re-start their offense, which for most of the season led the Jayhawk Conference in several major categories. Over the last two weeks, Hutch is averaging only 14.5 points and 189 yards per game, just 75 yards through the air and 114 yards on the ground.

After opening the season with decisive losses to Butler, Independence and Iowa Western, the Greyhounds have gone 3-2 since, dropping a heartbreaking 27-21 overtime decision last week at Highland.

Last season, the Blue Dragons won their seventh-straight against Fort Scott with a 42-24 victory at Fort Scott.

Over the final three weeks of the regular season, the Blue Dragons will face the top three passing teams in the Jayhawk Conference. Fort Scott is the second-leading pass offense at 193.8 yards per game. Hutchinson boasts the third-best passing defense at 151.6 yards per game allowed through the air. The Dragons have 30 quarterback sacks this season, but only two in the last three games.

Blue Dragon head coach Rion Rhoades goes after his 80th victory at Hutchinson. Rhoades, who coached at Fort Scott in 2006, is 8-4 against the Greyhounds on the Hutch sideline.