RICHARDSON RETURNS SPARK NO. 1 DRAGONS TO WIN IN KJCCC OPENER

Tre Richardson scoots up the middle for the first of his two punt-returns for touchdowns in the No. 1 Blue Dragons' 37-7 KJCCC victory over Coffeyville on Saturday at Gowans Stadium. (Andrew Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)

September 23, 2023

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

Freshman Tre Richardson had two punt returns for touchdowns and accounted for 196 all-purpose yards to power the No. 1-ranked Hutchinson Community College football team to a 37-7 victory over Coffeyville in the Blue Dragons' 2023 Jayhawk Conference opener on Saturday at Gowans Stadium.

The Blue Dragons were the last KJCCC team to play a conference game this season. Hutchinson is now 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the KJCCC. Coffeyville is now 0-4 overall and 0-4 in league play.

Hutchinson travels to No. 12 Butler next Saturday.

Richardson returned a first-quarter punt 63 yards for a touchdown to give the Blue Dragons' a 17-0 lead. He helped close out the Dragon scoring with a 70-yard zig-zag down the right sideline for a 37-7 lead with 7:28 to play in the fourth quarter.

Richardson is the first Blue Dragon to have two punt-return touchdowns in a game since Adrian Cross on October 3, 2016 against the Kansas Wesleyan Junior Varsity.

Richardson accounted for 133 yards on two punt returns and had two kickoff returns for 54 yards and had 196 all-purpose yards against the Red Ravens, his second game this season of 190 or more all-purpose yards.

The Blue Dragon defense didn't allow a point for the second-straight game, forcing three takeaways – interceptions by Korbyn Green and Demonte Gaston and a Daniel Brown fumble recovery. The Dragons totaled six quarterback sacks and 10 tackles for loss.

K'Von Sherman had a career-high nine tackles. Nylen Jones had seven tackles and Brown had six tackles, including his fifth quarterback sack of the season.

Offensively, the Blue Dragons had 278 total yards, rushing for 167 and passing for 111 yards. The Blue Dragons had to overcome three lost fumbles.

Quarterback Samari Collier completed 8 of 14 passes for 121 yards with a touchdown. He also rushed for 41 yards and five carries and a 34-yard touchdown in the first quarter.

Receiver Zeriah Beason had three receptions for 76 yards. Oran Singleton had four catches for 24 yards and a touchdown.

Brandon Epton was Hutchinson's leading rusher with 55 yards on 16 carries. Tyrell Reed had nine carries for 50 yards and a score.

The defense set up the Blue Dragons' first score of the game. After a Dragon turnover on their first drive, Green interception a Raven pass and returned it to the Coffeyville 19. A post-possession penalty moved the ball back to the 34. One play later, Collier weaved his way through the Ravens for a 34-yard touchdown run and a 7-0 lead with 8:56 to play in the first quarter.

Brown recovered a fumble at the Raven 14 on the next Coffeyville possession. The Dragons had to settle for a 30-yard Cole Segraves field goal for a 10-0 lead with 5:39 to play in the first quarter.

Coffeyville got one first down on its next drive, but was forced to punt. Richardson then returned that punt 63 yards for a touchdown and a 17-0 lead with 2:52 to go in the opening quarter.

The Red Ravens got on the board when Cyler Christmas turned a Blue Dragon fumble 18 yards for a touchdown, cutting the Dragon lead to 17-7 with 14:21 to play in the second quarter.

The Blue Dragons answered two possessions later when they marched 53 yards in seven plays, which was capped by a Reed's 9-yard touchdown run for a 24-7 lead with 6:21 to play in the first half.

After a scoreless third quarter, the Dragons scored 13 points in the final 15 minutes. Collier connected with Singleton for a 6-yard touchdown pass for a 31-7 lead with 9:20 to go. After forcing a Raven punt on their next possession, Richardson returned a Coffeyville punt 70 yards for his second return touchdown of the game and third of the season.

GAME NOTES – The last time the Blue Dragons had two returns for touchdowns in a single game was Oct. 19, 2019 against Dodge City when Mitchell Tinsley had a 76-yard punt return and Darious Cleveland had a 61-yard kickoff return. … The Dragons are 33-56-4 all-time vs. Coffeyville, 21-22-2 in games at home and 16-16 now in KJCCC opening games. … The Blue Dragons start a season 4-0 for the 11th time in program history. … Cole Segraves now has 18 career field goals, second most in program history. … Segraves' seven points vs. Coffeyville gives him 122 career points. He moves past Jamison Palmer (1997-98) into 13th on the career scoring list.