LAIBLE LIGHTS UP SCOTTIES IN PLAYOFF OPENER

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

Quarterback Dylan Laible tossed a Blue Dragon single-game record seven touchdown passes and the Hutchinson Community College football team posted other gaudy offensive numbers as the Blue Dragons advanced in the Region VI Playoffs.

Three different quarterbacks threw for school records of 485 yards and nine touchdown passes as the Blue Dragons ousted the Highland Scotties 77-0 in the opening round on Sunday at Gowans Stadium.

The third-seeded Blue Dragons (6-2) advance to the Region VI semifinals next Sunday and will travel to Independence. The eighth-ranked and second-seed Pirates defeated Fort Scott 63-2 on Sunday.

Three weeks ago in Highland, the Blue Dragons posted a 20-7 victory over the Scotties. The Dragons, on Sunday, scored their 20th point just 7 minutes, 52 seconds in the game.

For the second-straight game, Laible shredded an opposing defense through the air. Against Highland, Laible threw for a career-highs of 365 yards and a single-game record seven touchdowns. Laible did all that on only 11 completions and 15 attempts over the first 25 minutes of the game.

Laible surpassed Luke Barnes and Elliott Alford – those two quarterbacks threw six touchdown passes twice each – for the Hutchinson single-game touchdown pass record. His 365 yards is the fifth-highest passing total in single-game history.

Now with 32 career touchdown passes, Laible tied Robert Coates for third on the Blue Dragon career list. He's now 10th in career passing yards with 2,593 yards, moving past Tony Phillips, John Rapp and Matt Imel. Laible also jumped into the Blue Dragon single-season charts in passing yards (1,871 yards, sixth) and touchdown passes (21, fourth).

The Blue Dragons continually stung the Scotties with big plays. Seven of Hutchinson's 11 touchdowns were from 20 yards or longer, including five from 40 or more yards.

The Dragons amassed a season-high 659 total yards, the fourth-best single-game performance in program history. The quarterback trio of Laible, Daisean Cash and Collin Shields combined for single-game records of 485 passing yards and nine touchdown passes. The Dragon trio completed 18 of 28 passes combined

Several Blue Dragons receivers were beneficiaries of the quarterbacks' huge passing day. Demayion Houston had career highs of six catches and 97 yards with a touchdown. Rykem Laney had five catches, three for touchdowns, and 82 yards. Cortez Braham had three receptions, all for touchdowns and a career-high 150 yards. Malik Benson had two catches for 142 yards and four touchdowns.

The three receiving touchdowns by both Ferguson and Braham tied eight others for the third-most scoring receptions in single-game history. Braham also moved past Marlon Phillips, Roger Frazier, Terrence Lloyd and Gary Cross into eighth place on the Blue Dragon career receiving yards' list with 1,174 yards.

Anwar Lewis quietly jumped in the Blue Dragon career rushing top 10 with 86 yards on 11 carries. He is now 10th on the career rushing list with 1,478 yards, moving past Brian Rouhlac, Gordon Brown and Tim Vance into 10th place. Lewis also had a 21-yard touchdown run, giving him touchdowns in seven-consecutive games.

Hutchinson's offensive explosion overshadowed a dominant defense that posted its first shutout in 18 games. Highland was limited to 70 total yards (54 rushing, 16 passing). The Blue Dragons had one takeaway and six quarterback sacks – Hutch had 17 quarterback sacks in two games against Highland this season. The Dragons held Highland to 1 of 15 on third down and 0 of 2 on fourth down.

Zy Strong had a career-high eight tackles with three tackles for loss and 1.5 quarterback sacks. The Dragons forced 12 Highland punts.

Hutchinson scored touchdowns on its first five and 9 of its first 10 possessions.

The Blue Dragons led 28-0 after the first quarter. Benson caught a 77-yard touchdown pass from Laible on the Dragons' second offensive play of the game. Lacey caught a 4-yard touchdown pass, Lewis had a 21-yard scoring run and Laney hauled in a 20-yard TD reception for Laible in the opening quarter.

The Dragons scored five second-quarter touchdowns. Houston had a 4-yard touchdown reception. The Dragon defense was credited with a safety on an intentional grounding in the end zone. Braham had touchdown receptions of 42 and 95 yards. Laible then broke the single-game touchdown pass record with a 65-yard touchdown pass to Benson. Cash closed the scoring in the first half with a 13-yard scoring pass to Braham.

The 63 points in the first half tied a Blue Dragon scoring record for a have, set last season against Highland at Gowans Stadium in a 77-7 victory.

The 95-yard Laible-to-Braham touchdown pass is the second longest single passing play and tied for the second-longest play from scrimmage in team history.

Shield collected his first career touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter with a 43-yard pass to Ferguson. Jaheim Simmons closed the scoring with a 6-yard rushing touchdown with 6:51 remaining in the game.

GAME NOTES – The 77 points scored tied a 1950 game against Arkansas City Junior College and the 2020-21 game vs. Highland for seventh most points in single-game history. … The 77-point margin of victory tied for the sixth largest in team history. … The 11 total touchdowns scored tied for seventh in single-game history. … The Blue Dragons are 36-5 all-time vs. Highland, including 23-0 at Gowans Stadium. … The Dragons are now 21-22 all-time in the KJCCC/Region VI Playoffs, including 4-0 vs. Highland. Hutchinson is 12-3 in the quarterfinals, 10-0 at Gowans Stadium. …