2003 Valley of the Sun Bowl

Turnovers costly as Blue Dragons drop Valley of the Sun Bowl to Glendale

No. 10 Glendale 41, No. 13 Hutchinson 17
December 6, 2003
Hanhilla Stadium, Glendale, AZ

Glendale took advantage of one of HCC’s poorest performances of the 2003 season and rolled to a 41-17 victory.

For starters, it didn't help Hutchinson that it turned the ball over five times. Hutchinson, the Jayhawk Conference leader in takeaways, saw Glendale score 21 points off turnovers.

Glendale's defense also harassed Hutchinson quarterback Robert Coates, who not only helped carry his team during the season but also had the carry with him the heavy loss of his dad passing away during the season. Coates was sacked five times.

Hutchinson's defense also suffered a loss when it leading tackler Todd Foster injured his left ankle toward the end of the first quarter. Foster remained on the sidelines the remainder of the game on crutches.

Despite its problems, an opportunistic Hutchinson team took advantage of the few breaks it had in the first half to stay within reach.

Trailing 14-0 in the second quarter, defensive back Charles Morgan recovered a fumble and returned it for a 41-yard sideline touchdown run. After a Glendale field goal, it looked like Hutchinson would go into halftime trailing only by seven points after a 32-yard field goal by Ryan Lowe.

Lowe's field goal was set up by Hutchinson's longest play from scrimmage, a 70-yard pass play from Coates to Kyle Roberts on a third-and-15 play.

But Glendale quickly regained the momentum for good when Darren Williams found Gary Snyder on a 49-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass as time expired in the first half.

Led by Ramel McIntosh's powerful runs through the middle, Glendale took control of the game in the second half. Hutchinson's lone second half score came when Travontay King caught a 26-yard touchdown pass with 2:30 left.