KEDZIOR POWERS NO. 2 DRAGONS OVER NO. 9 BUTLER

Dylan Kedzior makes this incredible 4-yard touchdown catch and rushes for 230 yards and three more scores as No. 2 Hutchinson defeated No. 9 Butler 27-19 on Saturday night at Gowans Stadium. (Andrew Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)

October 1, 2022

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

Sophomore running back Dylan Kedzior shined, and he shined bright in one of the biggest rivalries in the Jayhawk Conference.

Kedzior rushed for 230 yards and scored four total touchdowns to lead the No. 2-ranked Hutchinson Community College football team to a 27-19 win over the ninth-ranked Butler Grizzlies Saturday at Gowans Stadium.

The Blue Dragons improve to 5-0 overall and is the lone-remaining undefeated team in the KJCCC at 2-0. Butler falls to 3-2 overall and 3-1 in the league. Hutchinson travels to Dodge City next Saturday for a 1 p.m. kickoff in a Jayhawk Conference matchup with the Conquistadors.

Kedzior's 200-yard rushing night was the first by a Blue Dragon since Anwar Lewis last season on Sept. 25, 2021 against Fort Scott. Kedzior has scored the last five touchdowns for the Blue Dragons dating back to last Saturday's win over Coffeyville and scored the go-ahead touchdown with 1:17 left in regulation.

After Butler kicker Carson Arndt nailed two field goals to put the Grizzlies up 6-0 early, Kedzior grounded and pounded the Blue Dragons offense to its first score of the night on a 23-yard touchdown run with 13:18 to go in the first half.

After Butler responded immediately with a six-play scoring drive, Kedzior pummeled his way back into the end zone, this time through the air as quarterback Dylan Laible hit Kedzior in the corner of the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown. That tied the game 13-13 with 6:39 in the second quarter.

Kedzior's night was far from over.

After holding Butler to a third field goal with 3:13 to go in the first half, the Blue Dragons drove down the field and capped off the drive with a 17-yard rushing touchdown from Kedzior to put Hutchinson ahead at the break 20-16.

Kedzior, the reigning Jayhawk Conference Offensive Player of the Week, pounded in his fourth score of the night with 5:09 in the third quarter on a 7-yard touchdown run.

Kedzior's performance led the Dragons to a 292 rushing yards. The Blue Dragons offense totaled 516 total yards, including 30 first downs, which is tied for eighth most in Blue Dragon history with three other games – two in 2012 and the other in 2013. Butler had 423 total yards.

Laible finished 17 of 27 for 224 passing yards and one touchdown. Laible moves within three yards of surpassing Luke Barnes as the Blue Dragon career passing yardage leader with 4,704 yards.

Sophomore receiver Micah Woods recorded his first 100-yard receiving game, finishing with four catches for 107 yards. Woods is the second receiver this season to have a 100-yard receiving game, the other being Malik Benson, who reached that feat in Week 1. Benson had five catches for 63 yards, including an 18-yard reception.

Sophomore linebacker Terry Kirksey led the defense in tackles with 10, which is his third game in double-figure tackles this season. Sophomore defensive end Nikko Taylor recorded a career-high nine tackles, which included two sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss.

With Butler driving with under a minute to go in regulation trying to tie the game, sophomore linebacker Ja'Mez Drummer forced a Grizzly fumble, which was recovered by sophomore Rodney Green Jr. and sealed the game.

GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons earned win No. 50 all-time over Butler and lead the series 50-48-1 with next meeting being the 100th all-time matchup. … The Blue Dragons are 3-0 against ranked opponents at Gowans Stadium this year. … As head coach of the Blue Dragons, Drew Dallas is now 10-1 against ranked opponents and 8-1 against top 10 teams. The Blue Dragons extend its winning streak to 11 dating back to last season, which is now third all-time (46 games in 1947 and 14 games in 1970).