DRAGONS FACE NO. 11 DODGE CITY SATURDAY AT GOWANS

The No. 1-ranked Blue Dragons play host to No. 11 Dodge City at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Gowans Stadium. (Billy Watson/Blue Dragon Sports Information)
The No. 1-ranked Blue Dragons play host to No. 11 Dodge City at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Gowans Stadium. (Billy Watson/Blue Dragon Sports Information)

BLUE DRAGON FOOTBALL

No. 1 Hutchinson (5-0, 2-0 KJCCC) vs.
No. 11 Dodge City (3-2, 3-0 KJCCC)

When: Saturday, October 7, 2023
Where: Gowans Stadium, Hutchinson, KS
Kickoff: 1 p.m.
Radio: KHUT-FM (102.9); KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5), 12:30 p.m. – Glen Grunwald (PBP), Rob Dreher (color), Sean Boston (sidelines)
Video: Blue Dragon Sports Network, 12:30 p.m.
Twitter: @bluedragonsport
CLICK FOR FULL GAME NOTES (PDF Format)

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

The NJCAA top-ranked Hutchinson Community College football team returns to Gowans Stadium Saturday afternoon to take on its fourth nationally ranked opponent of the season.

The No. 1 Blue Dragons (5-0, 2-0 KJCCC) play host to the No. 11-ranked Dodge City Conquistadors (3-2, 3-0) in a battle of the top two teams in the Jayhawk Conference football standings. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

The game will be broadcast live on Blue Dragon flagship station KHUT-FM (102.9) and on sister stations KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5) beginning at 12:30 p.m. with Countdown to Kickoff. The game will be streamed live on the Blue Dragon Sports Network at 12:30 p.m.

According to records, Saturday's meeting will be the first between Hutchinson and Dodge City as ranked opponents. The closest that has occurred in the series' 92-game history was 2015 when the Blue Dragons were No. 8 and Dodge City was receiving votes.

The Blue Dragons are 3-0 against ranked competition in 2023 after a 43-16 victory over No. 10 Butler last Saturday in El Dorado. The Dragons rushed for 354 yards with three players reaching 100 or more yards on the ground. Tyrell Reed Jr. led the way with 117 yards and three touchdowns. Samari Collier rushed for 103 yards and Brandon Epton had 100 yards. Both Collier and Epton scored touchdowns.

Dodge City comes off an impressive 33-10 victory over Garden City last Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Conquistador running back Jalen Smith rushed for 122 yards as Dodge City amassed 308 total yards in their first victory over the Broncbusters since 2015.

Saturday's game features two of the top defenses in the nation. The Blue Dragons lead the Jayhawk Conference and are No. 2 in the NJCAA in scoring defense at 5.7 points per game. The Dragons are sixth in the NJCAA in total defense at 213.2 yards per game allowed. Dodge City ranks sixth in scoring defense at 15.2 points allowed and 13th in the NJCAA in total defense at 263.2 yards per game allowed.

The Blue Dragons bid for their seventh-straight victory in the series over Dodge City and their seventh 6-0 start to a season in program history.