BLUE DRAGON FOOTBALL |
No. 2 Hutchinson (2-0) vs. No. 7 Iowa Central (2-0) |
| When: Saturday, September 10, 2022 Where: Gowans Stadium, Hutchinson, KS Kickoff: 1 p.m. Tickets: $12 reserved; $10 general admission Radio: KHUT-FM (102.9), KWBW-AM (1450), 12:30 p.m. with Countdown to Kickoff (Glen Grunwald, PBP; Rob Dreher, color) Video: Blue Dragon Sports Network, 12:30 p.m. Twitter: @Bluedragonsport CLICK FOR BLUE DRAGON GAME NOTES (PDF Format) |
Hutchinson CC Sports Information
For the second time in as many homes games, the Hutchinson Community College football team plays host to a nationally ranked opponent.
This time it is a Top 10 national matchup as the No. 2-ranked Blue Dragons (2-0) square off against the No. 7-ranked Iowa Central Tritons (2-0) in a 1 p.m. kickoff at Gowans Stadium.
Both teams are off to strong starts entering play on Saturday - the Blue Dragons defeated then-No. 13 Navarro 42-0 and won at Ellsworth 70-7. The Tritons defeated then-No. 7 Independence 34-17 and then-No. 10 Garden City 40-21.
Both teams are riding significant win streaks heading to the game. The Blue Dragons have reeled off eight victories in a row dating back to last season. The Tritons have won five-consecutive games, also dating back to last season.
Under head coach Drew Dallas, the Blue Dragons have done very well against nationally ranked competition, going 8-1 against teams in the NJCAA Top 15 and 5-1 against teams ranked in the Top 10.
The Blue Dragons and Tritons meet for the eighth time all-time and for the first time since 2019. The Dragons own a 6-1 all-time record over Iowa Central. Hutchinson won the last meeting 56-0 at Fort Dodge in 2019.
Offensively over the first two games of 2022, the Blue Dragons have gotten things done a couple of different ways, striking through the air against Navarro and getting the ground game cranked up against Ellsworth.
Quarterback Dylan Laible threw for 278 yards and five touchdowns against Navarro. Last week, running back Rontavious Richmond ran for 158 yards and two touchdowns to lead a 317-yard rush attack against Ellsworth.
The Blue Dragon defense has been strong over the first two weeks of the season, allowing only one touchdown in eight quarters. Hutchinson is allowing just 31.5 rushing yards and 166 passing yards per game in the opening two weeks.
The Dragons have forced seven takeaways and have racked up 10 quarterback sacks.
Iowa Central comes into Saturday's contest averaging 37.0 points and 374.5 total yards (139.0 rushing, 235.5 passing) per game. Defensively, the Tritons are allowing 19.0 points and 355.0 total yards (91.0 rushing, 264.0 passing) per game.