NO. 1 DRAGONS FACE DODGE CITY IN FINAL REGULAR-SEASON MATCHUP
BLUE DRAGON FOOTBALL |
No. 1 Hutchinson (6-0, 5-0) vs. Dodge City (1-4, 0-4) |
| When: Sunday, May 16, 2021 Where: Gowans Stadium, Hutchinson, KS Time: 1 p.m. Radio: KHUT-FM (102.9), 12:30 p.m. - Glen Grunwald (PBP); Rob Dreher (Color) Video: Blue Dragon Sports Network, 12:30 p.m. Twitter: @Bluedragonsport CLICK FOR GAME NOTES (PDF Format) |
Blue Dragon Sports Information
The NJCAA No. 1-ranked Hutchinson Community College football team looks to wrap up an undefeated regular season on Sunday when the Dodge City Conquistadors come to Gowans Stadium for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
The Blue Dragons (6-0, 5-0 KJCCC) have already clinched a tie for the 2021 Jayhawk Conference championship. A victory over Dodge City (1-4, 0-4 KJCCC) would be the first outright conference crown since 2014 and seventh in program history.
Only three times in the first 88 seasons have the Blue Dragons finished the regular season undefeated. Hutchinson football also had undefeated regular seasons in 1947, 1948 and 1969.
The Blue Dragons last week had a most dominant performance in a 77-7 victory over the Highland Scotties at Gowans Stadium. Hutchinson needed only 14 plays to score 49 points and led the Scotties 49-0 after one quarter. The Blue Dragon defense, led by Tre Pinkney's four quarterback sacks, tallied 11 total sacks against Highland and held the Scotties to a negative 1-yard total offense. Hutchinson's defense also had a season-high six takeaways, including a 3-yard Emmanuel Mann fumble recovery for a special teams' touchdown.
That win was the 500th in Blue Dragon football history. Hutch is now 500-345-28.
The Blue Dragons are now the No. 3 scoring offense in the NJCAA at 44.0 points per game and are No. 3 in the nation in rushing offense at 265.0 yards per game. Hutchinson ranks No. 3 in the NJCAA in scoring defense at 11.0 points per game allowed. The Dragons are No. 5 in total defense (221.5 ypg) and No. 3 in rushing defense (42.0 ypg).
Dodge City started its season with a 54-0 victory over RPA College in March. Since then, the Conquistadors have dropped four in a row.
The Conquistadors will be playing their third-straight NJCAA Top 10 opponent. Dodge City trailed No. 6 Garden City by three points entering the fourth quarter and lost 34-24 two weeks ago. Last week, No. 6 Independence defeated Dodge City 54-34.
Last season, the Blue Dragons rolled by Dodge City, 85-3 at Gowans Stadium. Sunday's meeting will be the 90th all-time against Hutchinson and Dodge City. The Blue Dragons hold a 49-36-4 all-time record.
Hutchinson has now won eight consecutive games dating back to the 2019 season.