BURGER’S OT WALK-OFF FG CAPS WILD BLUE DRAGON COMEBACK

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

Trailing Iowa Central by 14 points with 6:19 remaining in the fourth quarter, the No. 1-ranked Hutchinson Community College Football Team put together a dramatic late comeback against the Tritons on Saturday afternoon at Gowans Stadium.

Sophomore kicker Nestus Burger hit a walk-off 36-yard field goal to complete the comeback as Hutchinson rallied for a 33-30 victory over No. 12 Iowa Central.

The Blue Dragons are 3-0 heading into their first of two bye weeks. Hutchinson plays host to Ellsworth at Noon on Saturday, September 28 at Gowans Stadium. The Tritons fell to 1-2.

The Blue Dragons completed their first fourth-quarter comeback when trailing by 10 or more points since October 19, 2013 when Hutchinson trailed Fort Scott 29-14 early in the fourth quarter. The Blue Dragons scored 35 unanswered points to defeat the Greyhounds 63-39.

Iowa Central, on Saturday, took a 30-16 lead over Hutchinson with 6:19 to go in the fourth quarter after Triton defensive back Kadarius Williams' 53-yard interception return for a touchdown.

The Blue Dragon comeback started right away with a 73-yard, eight-play drive that was capped by Samari Collier's 2-yard touchdown pass to Tre Brown with 4:26 to play. The Blue Dragons trailed 30-23.

The Dragons then forced a Triton punt after a three-and-out possession and took over the ball at the Iowa Central 40 with 3:09 to play. Hutchinson needed seven plays and tied the game on Collier's 15-yard touchdown pass to Derrick Salley Jr. with 1:19 to play. Burger's extra point tied the game at 30-30.

Iowa Central drove to the Blue Dragon 34 on its final regulation possession, but the clock ran out, sending the Blue Dragons to their ninth overtime all-time and second-straight overtime against Iowa Central at Gowans Stadium – Cole Segraves kicked a game-winning 39-yard field goal in 2022 in a 31-28 Hutchinson victory.

The Tritons had the first possession of overtime and was forced into a 38-yard Nolan Gustafson field-goal attempt that missed wide left. The Blue Dragons got only six yards on its first overtime possession. Burger nailed his game-winning 36-yarder to complete the comeback.

Collier had his first career 300-yard passing game with career highs of 23 completions in 40 attempts for 300 yards with three touchdowns. Collier had a career-high 389 total yards after rushing 14 times for a game-high 89 yards.

The Blue Dragons out-gained the Tritons 434-325, getting 300 yards passing and 134 yards on the ground.

Running back Waymond Jordan Jr. was limited to 44 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown. Titus Petteway had 18 yards on six carries and two receptions for 42 yards.

Benson Prosper had a season-high 80 receiving yards on six catches. Brown had four catches for 83 yards and Salley had three receptions for 42 yards and his second two-touchdown game of the season.

Defensively, safety LaModrick Spencer had career single-game highs of 12 tackles and five tackles for loss for 15 yards.

The Blue Dragons took a 6-0 lead on their third offensive possession of the game when Salley caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from Collier to cap a six-play, 75-yard scoring drive. The PAT snap was mishandled and the Dragons led 6-0 with 1:46 to play in the first quarter.

Iowa Central took advantage of special teams mistakes in the second quarter. A mishandled punt snap set the Tritons up at the Dragon 1 and Anthony Hall pounded the ball in to give the Tritons a 7-6 lead with 3:13 to go in the second quarter. A short punt on Hutchinson's next possession set Iowa Central up in plus territory. Cyncir Bowers' 2-yard touchdown capped a 46-yard drive and the Tritons led 14-6 with 18 seconds to play in the second quarter.

The Blue Dragons took their opening drive of the third quarter 66 yards in nine plays, but the drive stalled and Burger connected on a 35-yard field goal to cut the Dragon deficit to 14-9 with 10:12 to play in the third quarter. Iowa Central immediately answered with a 64-yard, five play drive and led 21-9 after a Hall 1-yard run with 8:11 to go in the quarter.

The Blue Dragons pulled within 21-16 when Jordan's 2-yard touchdown run finished off a nine-play, 66-yard scoring march with 4:21 to play in the third quarter.

Iowa Central took a 24-16 lead when Gustafson hit a 31-yard field goal with 6:41 to play. Two plays after that kickoff, the Tritons got their pick-six, but missed the extra point attempt for a 30-16 lead with 6:19 remaining in the final quarter.

GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons are now 5-4 overall in overtime games and have won three overtime games in a row. … The Blue Dragons are now 19-3 against nationally ranked opponents in the Drew Dallas era. … The Blue Dragons are now 5-4 in games under Dallas when trailing at halftime. … The Blue Dragons are now 9-1 all-time against Iowa Central, 5-1 at Gowans Stadium and 2-0 against the Tritons in overtime. … Hutchinson's last 300-yard passing game was Dylan Laible throwing for 310 against Hinds in the 2021 Salt City Bowl. … The Blue Dragons had a season-high five quarterback sacks. … Derrick Salley Jr. has five catches for the season, four have been for touchdowns.