By DAREN DUNN
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — No. 1 Hutchinson's defense scored before the offense ever had to take a snap.
Independence quarterback Greg Jones dropped back on the first third down of the game and Rodney Green Jr. knocked the ball loose.
The ball hit the turf and was reluctantly picked up by Ja'Mez Drummer, who stopped — thinking the ball was ruled incomplete.
Officials let the play finish as Drummer kicked it into gear for a scoop-six.
Independence challenged the ruling, since Jones had the ball behind his head, ready to throw, when the ball came out. Coach Jason Martin was hoping for an incomplete pass ruling, but officials confirmed the call.
The early 7-0 lead was just the beginning of Hutchinson's rout of a very good Pirate team.
The Pirates (3-5, 2-3) have a losing record on the year, but all of the losses have been close and against top-tier teams (Iowa Central, Butler, Iowa Western, Garden City and Hutchinson).
Coach Dallas said the focus was to "Get off the field on third down." Indy went 0 for 11 on third down conversions. "They didn't convert all day," Dallas said. The Pirates also went for it on fourth down and did not convert against the Dragon D.
The defense pitched a shutout for the second time this season and has allowed just 10.1 points per game this year.
Hutchinson held the Pirates to 58 total yards.
Once the Dragon offense got on the field, it played at a high level, too.
Quarterback Dylan Laible threw for 150 yards on 9 of 17 completions for two touchdowns.
Malik Benson, the nation's top recruit, caught both of Laible's TD passes. Both scores came in the first quarter after Drummer's 20-yard scoop-and-score.
Laible's 9-yard pass to Benson capped an 8-play, 62-yard drive that took just 3:31 off the clock. The Dragons turned around and scored on a 51-second drive that needed just four plays to cover 58 yards.
That 4-yard pass to Benson came compliments of a Stephen Matina fumble recovery.
In the blink of an eye, an Indy defense that had surrendered just 18.7 points per game going into Saturday's matchup, found itself down 24-0 after one quarter.
Cole Segraves added field goals from 33 and 28 yards away. He should have been kicking for one after a Dylan Kedzior touchdown in the second quarter, but that run was called back for a holding penalty.
It was not the only Kedzior TD called back. Later in the game, his 72-yard dash to the end zone was also nullified by a holding penalty.
Hutchinson (9-0, 6-0) had seven penalties for 80 yards, while Indy racked up 15 penalties for 149. Three Pirates were booted from the contest for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Despite the nullified runs, Kedzior finished with 88 yards rushing and a touchdown from two yards out just before halftime.
Defensive end Nikko Taylor forced Jones to throw away a pass from the end zone while he was still in the pocket. That safety and the Kedzior run put Hutchinson up 36-0 at the break.
Tre Bess got some good touches at RB and made the most of a 42-yard scamper to the end zone in the third quarter. Bess averaged eight yards per carry on eight touches.
Ed Williams III also ran for a touchdown. His seven-yard run was the final score of the game with 7:40 left. His carry capped a 9-play, 44-yard drive that took 4:31 off the clock.
FINAL: Hutchinson 53 Independence 0
Next week's matchup against Iowa Western was potentially a No. 1 vs. No. 2 contest. However, No. 2 Iowa Western (8-1) lost to No. 8 Coffeyville Saturday night 23-7.
Iowa Western will certainly drop a few spots in Monday's poll.
The top four teams in the final poll will enter a playoff to determine the teams headed to Arkansas for the national championship in December.
Hutchinson has now won the last three KJCCC titles.
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