DRAGONS TOP HIGHLAND, CLINCH KJCCC CHAMPIONSHIP

Walter Bob Jr. rumbles downfield after a second-quarter interception that helped set up the Blue Dragons' first touchdown in a 31-7 win over Highland on Saturday at Gowans Stadium. (Andrew Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)
Walter Bob Jr. rumbles downfield after a second-quarter interception that helped set up the Blue Dragons' first touchdown in a 31-7 win over Highland on Saturday at Gowans Stadium. (Andrew Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)
October 29, 2022

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

For the 10th time in the program's 90-year history, the Hutchinson Community College Football team is the Jayhawk Conference champion.

Playing at home for the first time since October 1, the No. 1-ranked Blue Dragons extended their winning streak to 14 games after a 31-7 Homecoming victory over the Highland Scotties at Gowans Stadium.

Hutchinson's victory, combined with Coffeyville's 19-14 win over Butler on Saturday, means the Blue Dragons clinch the 2022 Jayhawk Conference championship outright. The Blue Dragons are 8-0 overall and 6-0 in the league. The Dragons will play host to Independence at 1 p.m. next Saturday at Gowans Stadium.

The victory also extended the Dragons' winning streak to 14 games. That ties for the second-longest winning streak in program history, matching a 14-game win streak from 1968 to 1970.

With a 12-yard reception early in the second quarter, sophomore receiver Malik Benson broke the program's career receiving yards' record. With 56 receiving yards on six catches Saturday, Benson surpassed two-time All-American Cordarrelle Patterson for the career mark with 1,868 yards in 19 career games.

Defensively, the Blue Dragons produced four takeaways and had a huge stop on fourth down on the final play of the first half.

An interception by Walter Bob Jr. set up the Blue Dragons' first score early in the second quarter as Bob returned the ball 16 yards to the Highland 28. Then leading 14-0, the Dragons came up with stop near their end zone. With Highland at the Dragon 1, Rodney Roane and Javar Strong teamed up to stuff Highland's Kason Jones for a 3-yard loss on third down. Highland called timeout with 1 second remaining and lined up for a 21-yard field goal, but the snap was mishandled and Ja'Mez Drummer tackled holder Grant Sillyman for an 11-yard loss on the final play of the half.

The Blue Dragons amassed a season-low 340 total yards on Saturday. The Dragons had 187 rushing yards and 153 yards through the air.

Tim Byrd Jr. led the Blue Dragons with 110 rushing yards on six carries and one touchdown. Dylan Kedzior had 62 yards rushing on 11 carries with a touchdown.

Quarterback Dylan Laible had a slow start, but completed 14 of 28 passes for 150 yards with a touchdown and interception. Laible was also sacked three times.

Micah Woods finished with five catches for 64 yards and a touchdown reception.

Defensively, linebacker Terry Kirksey had a team-high nine tackles. Strong and Drummer had seven tackles each. Drummer also had 1.5 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery. Jerrell Boykins also had a fumble recovery with Bob and Terrente Hinton intercepting passes.

The Dragon defense gave up 343 passing yards and just 69 yards on the ground.

After a scoreless first quarter – the Dragons had just 20 yards of offense in the period – Bob's interception gave the Dragons great field position at the Highland 28. On Hutchins's ensuing possession, Bensons' record-breaking catch put the ball at the Highland 1. Kedzior finished off the drive with a 1-yard touchdown with 12:09 to play in the second quarter.

The Dragons had another short field after a short Highland punt and took over at the 33 after a 9-yard return by Darby Roper. The Dragons needed eight plays to navigate the distance and took a 14-0 lead on Laible's 1-yard quarterback sneak.

Hutchinson lead 14-0 at halftime.

The Dragons upped the led to 21-0 with a 30-yard touchdown reception from Woods with 2:24 remaining in the third quarter. Cole Segraves made it 24-0 with a 39-yard field goal with 11:13 to play in the fourth period.

Highland spoiled the shutout with a Ja'Vonte Williams 20-yard touchdown reception with 1:24 to play. Byrd covered the entire 75 yards on Hutchinson's next drive with a 68-yard run and a 7-yard touchdown run with 1:03 to play in the game.

GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons are 37-5 all-time against Highland, including 24-0 all-time at Gowans Stadium. … Malik Benson tied Lonnie Crittendon for fifth place on the career receptions list with 81. … The Blue Dragon defense has held five opponents to less than 10 points this season. … Kicker Cole Segraves kicked his ninth field goal of the season, which ties three others – Bob Koch (1972), Wayne Williams (1980) and Sebastian Garcia (2018) – for fifth place on the single-season field goals lost.