DRAGONS GO BACK TO WORK TO FACE ELLSWORTH

Derrick Salley Jr. and the No. 1-ranked Blue Dragons play host to the Ellsworth Panthers at noon Saturday in Gowans Stadium.

September 27, 2024

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

After two-straight nail-biting victories and a bye week, the No. 1-ranked Hutchinson Community College football team returns to work Saturday to face the Ellsworth Panthers in the final non-conference game of the season.

The Blue Dragons (3-0) and Panthers (0-4) will kick off at Noon at Gowans Stadium. Saturday's game is "Celebrate Dragon Champions Day." All 2023-24 Blue Dragon champions will be honored at halftime.

Saturday's game is the middle game of three-straight home games for the Blue Dragons.

BLUE DRAGON FOOTBALL
No. 1 Hutchinson (3-0) vs. Ellsworth (0-4)
When: Saturday, September 28, 2024
Where: Gowans Stadium
Kickoff: 12:00 p.m.
Radio: KHUT-FM (102.9); KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5), 11:30 a.m. - Sean Boston (PBP), Rob Dreher (Color)
Video: Blue Dragon Sports Network, 11:30 a.m. - Sean Boston (PBP), Rob Dreher (Color)
X: @bluedragonsport
CLICK FOR FULL BLUE DRAGON GAME NOTES (PDF Format)

The homestand opened with a 33-30 overtime victory over No. 12 Iowa Central on September 14. The Blue Dragons trailed 30-16 with 6:19 remaining in the first quarter. Quarterback Samari Collier threw touchdown passes of 15 yards to Tre Brown with 4:26 left in the fourth quarter and 15 yards to Derrick Salley Jr. with 1:19 to play in regulation to tie the game at 30.

After Iowa Central missed a field-goal attempts in their overtime possession, Nestus Burger nailed a 36-yard game-winner to complete the first Hutchinson comeback of a 10-point or more deficit in the fourth quarter since October 19, 2013 against Fort Scott.

Collier had his first career 300-yard passing, completing 23 of 40 passes for 300 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 89 yards.

The Blue Dragons are now 2-0 against ranked opponents this season.

Ellsworth will play its second No. 1-ranked team this season. The Panthers opened with Division III No. 1 College of DuPage and suffered a 48-13 loss. Since then, Ellsworth has gone 0-3 against Jayhawk Conference opponents, falling to Butler (66-0), Highland (21-0) and Garden City (69-3).

The Blue Dragons have won five-straight games over Ellsworth, including decisive wins of 70-7 in 2020 at Iowa Falls and 72-7 last year at Gowans.

Entering play on Saturday, the Blue Dragons rank third in the Jayhawk Conference in scoring at 37.7 points per game and leads the KJCCC in total offense at 463.7 yards per game. The Blue Dragons rank No. 2 in the league in rushing at 251.0 yards per game.

Running back Waymond Jordan Jr. continues to lead the KJCCC in individual rushing 132.7 yards per game on the ground. Coming off his big game against Iowa Central, Collier is now second in the league at 184.0 yards per game. Receiver Benson Prosper is third in the KJCCC in receiving yards at 55.7 yards per game. Safety La'Modrick Spencer is second in average tackles at 8.0 per game.

The Blue Dragons will close out the three-game homestand by opening KJCCC play next Saturday against Dodge City at Gowans Stadium.