DRAGONS FORCE 7 TAKEAWAYS IN HUGE WIN OVER BUSTERS
Hutchinson CC Sports Information
GARDEN CITY – Jalik Thomas and Ja'Maric Morris had two interceptions each as part of a school-record-tying five interceptions to cap a tremendous defensive effort by the No. 1-ranked Hutchinson Community College Football team on Saturday at Garden City.
The Blue Dragons had seven total takeaways and held the Broncbusters to negative rushing yards in a 65-7 Jayhawk Conference victory at Broncbuster Stadium.
Hutchinson extended the third-longest winning streak in program history to 13 games and improved to 7-0 overall and 4-0 in the Jayhawk Conference. The Broncbusters fell to 3-5 and 3-2 in the KJCCC. The Blue Dragons play host to the Highland Scotties at 7 p.m. next Saturday at Gowans Stadium.
Thomas and Morris became the first Blue Dragons to have two or more interceptions in one game since Marquise Gilbert had two interceptions against Independence on May 2, 2021. Thomas had a 38-yard interception for a touchdown with 2:25 remaining in the third quarter. Morris had his second Pick-Six of the season, returning a Garden City pass 75 yards for a touchdown with 11:33 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Along with a Jermaine Hamilton-Jordan interception in the fourth quarter, the Blue Dragons posted a five-interception game for the third time in program history, matching a 2001 game against Dodge City and a 2017 game against Rezolution Prep in 2017. Saturday was also the first game the Blue Dragons have returns two interceptions for touchdowns since September 17, 2011 against Highland at Gowans Stadium.
The Blue Dragons had a tremendous overall defensive game, holding Garden City to 176 total yards, including a minus-3 yards rushing. That's the second time this season – Ellsworth was held to a minus-40 yards rushing – to hold an opponent to negative rushing yards.
The Dragons produced 34 points off the seven Garden City turnovers.
Hutchinson had 414 total yards, getting 272 yards through the air and 142 yards on the ground.
Blue Dragon sophomore quarterback Dylan Laible became the first Hutchinson quarterback to surpass the career 5,000-yard mark, going 15 of 26 for 198 yards and three touchdowns. Back-up quarterback Collin Shields was 4 of 5 for 74 yards and a touchdown.
Sophomore running back Dylan Kedzior posted his third-straight 100-yard rushing game, going for 146 yards on 17 carries with a touchdown.
Treymon Echols had career highs of four catches, 102 yards and two touchdowns. Malik Benson had four receptions with 56 yards and a score. Sophomore Marcello Bussey had four catches for 50 yards and a score.
Blue Dragon kicker Cole Segraves was 3 of 4 on field going, hitting from 21, 32 and 38 yards.
The Blue Dragons led 17-0 after one quarter. Hutchinson took its first drive of the game 72 yards in eight plays and scored on a Bussey 17-yard touchdown pass with 10:45 to play in the period.
After a punt on the second possession, the Blue Dragons scored points on their next four drives.
A Morris interception set the Dragons up on a short field. Laible capped the 27-yard march with a 1-yard touchdown run. Segraves then kicked a 21-yard field goal with 5 second remaining for a 17-0 Dragon lead.
The Dragons had 10 points in the second quarter with a 32-yard Segraves field goal and a 40-yard Benson touchdown catch and run. Garden City scored with 1:04 to play in the second period after Travis Dixson scored from 1-yard out to cut the Dragon lead to 27-7 at halftime.
Hutchinson outscored Garden City 38-0 in the second half.
Echols caught a 29-yard touchdown pass from Laible to start the third quarter. Kedzior then rumbled for a 36-yard touchdown run with 3:29 to play and Thomas had his Pick-Six with 2:25 left in the third quarter to give the Dragons a 48-7 lead.
Echols started the fourth quarter with a 64-yard touchdown pass from fields. The Dragons then capped the scoring with Morriss 75-yard interception for a touchdown and Segraves 38-yard field goal with 6:43 to go in the game.
GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons are now 42-40 all-time against Garden City and have won four games in a row over the Broncbusters. … The 65 points scored against Garden City was the second most in series history and the third time the Dragons broke 60 points against the Busters. … Dylan Laible now has 5,118 career passing yards. He also moved past Robert Coates into second place in career completions with 305. … Malik Benson ties Antonio Johnson and Kyle Roberts for sixth in career receptions with 76 catches.