NO. 3 BLUE DRAGONS ROUT ELLSWORTH IN FIRST ROAD TRIP

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

IOWA FALLS, Iowa – Backed by 329 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns, the No. 3-ranked Hutchinson Community College football team rolled to a 70-7 victory over the Ellsworth Panthers on Saturday at Cadet Stadium.

The Blue Dragons extend their winning streak to eight games and improved to 2-0. Ellsworth dropped to 0-2. The Blue Dragons play host to No. 9 Iowa Central next Saturday at Gowans Stadium.

Hutchinson posted series highs of 70 points scored and a 63-point margin of victory over Ellsworth. The Dragons also won a series-best fourth-straight game over Ellsworth.

Freshman running back Rontavious Richmond highlighted Hutchinson's dominant ground attack, rushing for 158 yards on only eight carries and two touchdowns, additionally scoring on a 15-yard receiving score in the first quarter.

The Blue Dragons also got rushing touchdowns from Jaheim Simmons, Ed Williams III and Tre Bess III. Backup quarterback Collin Shields scored his first career rushing touchdown from 1-yard out in the fourth quarter.

Starting quarterback Dylan Laible moved into second place on the all-time career passing list and also one passing touchdown away from tying for Hutchinson's career touchdown pass record with his career 49th scoring pass. Laible was 11 for 21 for 150 yards and a touchdown. Laible now has 4,071 yards.

Six different receivers caught passes for the Blue Dragons led by five catches for 64 yards from Marcello Bussey. Malik Benson had two receptions for 44 yards. Richmond had two catches for 14 yards and a touchdown.

The Blue Dragons racked up 495 total yards (329 rushing, 166 passing).

Defensively, the Blue Dragons gave up their first points this season, but still had a strong performance after last week's shutout of No. 13 Navarro.

Hutchinson forced three turnovers, all interceptions, including a 49-yard interception for touchdown by Ja'Maric Morris. Javar Strong and Dasheen Jackson also had interceptions.

The Blue Dragon defense held Ellsworth to a negative-44 rushing yards. Linebacker R.J. Evans and defensive end Nikko Taylor, who each had three tackles for loss. Hutchinson held Ellsworth quarterback Joshua Bauer as he completed 17 of his 44 pass attempts and was sacked seven times.

The defense totaled 15 tackles for loss, totaling 75 yards.

The Blue Dragon special teams also added a pair of touchdowns.

Redshirt freshman returner Darby Roper, scored his first collegiate touchdown on a 32-yard punt return for Hutchinson's first score of the game.

Special teams also scored the final touchdown when Blake Durham's blocked punt was recovered in the end zone by Jakari Foster.

The Blue Dragons led 14-0 with 5:42 to play in the opening quarter after Roper's punt return for a touchdown and Richmond's 15-yard TD reception from Laible. Ellsworth struck for a big play when Darrius Jackson caught a 54-yard touchdown pass from Bauer to cut the Hutchinson lead to 14-7 with 57 seconds left in the first period.

The Dragons struck for three touchdowns in the second quarter. Jaheim Simmons capped a six-play, 60-yard drive with a 1-yard plunge with 14:18 to play in the period. Richmond then gashed Ellsworth for a 64-yard touchdown run with 11:26 left. Just 19 seconds later, Morris returned an interception 49 yards to give the Dragons a 35-7 lead with 11:07 remaining in the second quarter.

Richmond stung the Panthers again in the third quarter with a 75-yard touchdown run to cap a one-play scoring drive. Hutchinson led 42-7 with 11:25 remaining in the third quarter.

The Dragons had a 28-point fourth quarter. Tre Bess had a 16-yard touchdown run. Ed Williams had a 3-yard touchdown run. Shields had a 1-yard quarterback sneak. The Dragons rounded out the scoring with Foster's recovery of the blocked punt in the end zone.

GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons are now 7-4 all-time against Ellsworth, including 4-2 in Iowa Falls. … Ja'Maric Morris now has two interceptions in the first two games of the season. … The Blue Dragons have scored 70 points in the first half of their first two games. … Head coach Drew Dallas is now alone in sixth place on the Blue Dragon career coaching wins' list with 19. …