Hutchinson CC Sports Information

The end of the 2018 regular season is upon us.

After a heart-stopping 24-21 loss to No. 4 Garden City last week, the now-No. 8 Hutchinson Community College football team looks to regroup and forge ahead to push toward a 10-win season today as the Iowa Central Tritons come to Gowans Stadium for a Noon kickoff.

Saturday's game will be broadcast live on Blue Dragon flagship station KHUT-FM (102.9) beginning at 11:30 a.m. with Countdown to Kickoff. Rusty Hilst (play-by-play), Rob Dreher (analysis) and Randy McKay (sidelines) will call the action. The game will also be videostreamed on the Blue Dragon Sports Network with the link available at 11:50 a.m.

While a shot at the national championship game is all but lost, the Blue Dragons still have Jayhawk Conference title hopes. Should No. 14 Butler win today at No. 2 Garden City, the Blue Dragons, Grizzlies and Broncbusters would share the 2018 KJCCC crown.

How rare would a 10-win season be? There have been only six in Blue Dragon history (NJCAA teams can only play 12 games in a season). A victory today and subsequent Salt City Bowl victory would secure No. 7. The Salt City Bowl is December 1 at Gowans Stadium.

In order to get win No. 9, though, the Blue Dragons will face a much-improved Iowa Central team, now 6-4 and bowl eligible. The Tritons have won four games in a row, including a 43-9 win over Fort Scott last Saturday.

First-year Triton head coach Jesse Montalto has had plenty success at Gowans Stadium against the Blue Dragons. In two trips to Gowans as the head coach at Ellsworth Community College, Montalto orchestrated a pair of wins over Hutchinson.

Despite the loss last week, several big things happened for the Blue Dragons.

Dezmon Jackson's 97-yard touchdown run was the longest play from scrimmage in school history. He also became the first Blue Dragon back since 2012 to rush for 1,000 yards in a season.

Monty Montgomery had 24 tackles, tying a 23-year single-game record.

The Blue Dragons and Tritons meet for the sixth time in series history, the fourth at Gowans Stadium. Hutchinson is 5-0 all-time against Iowa Central, including a 2012 Salt City Bowl victory.