BLUE DRAGONS EARN HUGE WIN AT BUTLER

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

EL DORADO – The Hutchinson Community College football team put on an impressive defensive display Saturday in a battle of two of the three remaining teams left unbeaten in Jayhawk Conference league play Saturday at BG Products Stadium.

The Blue Dragons defense limited Butler to no points, 78 yards and only four first downs through the first three quarters and built up a 27-point lead. From there, No. 7 Hutchinson finished off a 27-13 victory over No. 12 Butler.

Hutchinson wins its third-straight game to improve to 5-1 overall and 3-0 in the Jayhawk Conference. Garden City is the other unbeaten team in the KJCCC. Butler falls to 3-2 and 3-1.

Hutchinson posted its first win of 10 points or more against the Grizzlies since 1997.

The Dragons defeat Butler for the second time in the last five years and it was Hutch head coach Rion Rhoades' second win over the rival Grizzlies. Rhoades won his 85th game on the Blue Dragon sidelines Saturday night.

Hutchinson's defense was dominant through three quarters on Saturday against the Grizzlies.

Through the first two quarters, Butler had just 29 total yards, a negative-5 rushing yards and only two first downs as Hutch built a 17-0 lead by halftime. For the game, the Dragons allowed 189 total yards and limited one of the best rushing teams in the KJCCC to 5 rushing yards on 23 carries. This was the third-straight game and the fifth time in six games that Hutch's defense held an opponent to less than 50 rushing yards.

Hutch held Butler to 1 of 15 on third down. Butler's first 10 possessions all ended with a punt.

Defensive lineman Clarence Hicks had five total tackles, four tackles for loss, two tackles and had three of Hutch's 12 quarterback hurries to lead the Blue Dragons. Kelvin Clemmons had three of Hutch's seven deflected passes.

Offensively, the Dragons had 416 total yards with 175 yards on the ground.

Freshman received Khalil McClain became the first Blue Dragon receiver in 17 games with a 100-yard receiving game. McClain caught six passes for 111 yards and a touchdown. Blue Dragon quarterback Mason Schucker was 19 of 33 passing for 241 yards and a pair of touchdown passes.

Sophomore Dezmon Jackson ran for 108 yards on 18 carries with a touchdown.

After a scoreless opening quarter, the Blue Dragons scored 17 points in the second quarter.

Hutch's first scoring drive was highlighted with three McClain catches that totaled 59 yards. Jackson capped off the six-play, 66-yard march with a 3-yard touchdown with 13:13 to play in the first half.

Hutch scored on its next two possessions in the second quarter as well. Schucker found a wide-open Leroy Watson for a 25-yard touchdown pass with 9:37 to play for a 14-0 lead. Hutch then got a Sebastian Garcia 30-yard field goal with 3:58 remaining to make it 17-0 at halftime.

The Blue Dragons opened the second half with a three-play, 91-yard scoring drive that was finished off with McClain's 38-yard strike from Schucker with 12:06 to go in the third quarter for a 24-0 lead.

Garcia kicked a 34-yard field goal 11:54 to go in the fourth to cap a run of 27 unanswered points by the Dragons.

Butler added two fourth-quarter touchdowns, but Hutch recovered both Grizzly onside kickoffs to finish off the Grizzlies.

Hutchinson will play host to Highland at Noon Saturday at Gowans Stadium. Highland is 4-1 after a 21-18 road win at Iowa Central on Saturday and will likely be ranked in the new NJCAA rankings when they are released on Tuesday.

GAME NOTES – The victory is the 200th all-time road victory in Blue Dragon football history (200-207-11). … The Blue Dragons are 2-1 vs. ranked teams this season and 21-28 in the Rion Rhoades' era. In the 23 games against ranked opponents before Rhoades arrived in 2007, the Dragons were 1-22. … Leroy Watson is the eighth different receiver this season to have a touchdown reception. … The Dragons are now 46-48-1 all-time against Butler, 24-28 in El Dorado.