DRAGON DEFENSE STELLAR WITH SHUTOUT OF HIGHLAND
Hutchinson CC Sports Information
HIGHLAND – The nation's No. 1 scoring defense lived up to its ranking on Saturday as the Hutchinson Community College football team's defensive unit out-dueled the Highland Scotties at Porter Family Stadium.
Hutchinson's defense snagged three interceptions and held the Scotties to 131 total yards as No. 1-ranked Hutchinson defeated the Scotties 13-0 Saturday at Porter Family Stadium in Highland. The victory was Hutchison's fifth straight over Highland and snapped the Scotties' five-game win streak in a battle of the nation's two leading defenses.
The Blue Dragons improved to 8-0 for the seventh time in team history and extended their KJCCC winning streak to 13 straight game and 17 straight wins over KJCCC teams which include postseason victories. The Blue Dragons travel to Independence next Saturday. The Scotties fell to 6-4 overall and are 3-3 in the KJCCC.
Offensively, the Blue Dragons had their struggles after turning the ball over the on downs three times, a missed PAT, and a missed field goal along with three turnovers, the Blue Dragon defense stepped up.
With 11:55 to play in the second quarter, linebacker Malik McConico made an athletic drive-stalling interception to set up Hutchinson just inside Highland territory.
Sophomore running back Ed Williams III put the Blue Dragons on the board with 51 seconds remaining in the first half with an 8-yard rushing touchdown run. The PAT was partially blocked and hit the crossbar, giving Hutchinson a 6-0 lead heading in the halftime break.
Ryan Nolan had two interceptions to stop Highland drives – the first on the second play of the second quarter and the second with 9:05 remaining in the first half. This is the second time this season Nolan has had a multi-interception game – he had three interceptions on Sept. 9 at Iowa Central. Saturday's two picks were his fifth and sixth of the year.
The Blue Dragons had the ball on the Highland 1-yard line following a Zeriah Beason 9-yard reception that was marked short of the pylon to end the third quarter. Sophomore running back Brandon Epton Jr. started the fourth quarter by running touched into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown. The PAT was good and Hutchinson led 13-0.
The Blue Dragons had 304 total yards with 201 coming on the ground.
Epton had 62 yards rushing on 15 carries while freshman Tyrell Reed Jr. led with 42 yards on 14 touches. Beason led in receiving with three catches for 37 yards.
Quarterback Samari Collier was 9 of 16 for 1-3 yards with two interceptions.
Hutchinson's defense was stout, allowing Highland to convert 2 of 11 on third down, giving up just six first downs. The Scotties rushed for just 10 yards.
Sophomore defensive lineman Daniel Brown added another sack to his nation-leading 13.5 sacks, and Ian Matthews tallied his first sack of the season. Brown also had three tackles-for-loss.
Sophomore defensive back Jordan Scruggs led the team with seven total tackles, including a tackle-for-loss and one pass breakup. Sophomore linebacker Adrian Owens had six tackles, and redshirt-freshman linebacker K'Von Sherman had five tackles.
GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons tallied win No. 38 all-time against Highland, now leading the series 38-5. Drew Dallas is now 36-3 as head coach of the Blue Dragons, including 14-2 on the road. Hutchinson is 5-0 against Highland under Dallas. Ryan Nolan's two interceptions rank him at the top in the nation in NJCAA Division I in interceptions. The Blue Dragons are fourth in the nation in defensive interceptions with 15.