HUTCHINSON, Kan. â No. 1 Hutchinson Community College capped an unbeaten regular season with a 27-14 win over No. 14 Garden City on Saturday afternoon at Gowans Stadium, securing the Jayhawk Conference title and finishing 10-0 overall and 6-0 in league play.
The victory extended Hutchinsonâs winning streak to 14 games dating back to last season, tying the third-longest streak in program history. It also marked the programâs seventh straight win over a ranked opponent, the eleventh 10-win season all time and the fourth consecutive year with double-digit victories. Hutchinson also claimed its 13th outright KJCCC title, the fifth under head coach Drew Dallas.
Kade Smith opened the scoring with a 2-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Alejandro de la Poza added a 24-yard field goal late in the second to give the Blue Dragons a 10-0 halftime lead. Hutchinson stretched the margin to 17-0 early in the third when Christian Johnson found Eddie McLaughlin for a 29-yard touchdown.
Garden City answered with a 38-yard touchdown pass from Paco Mitchell to Cenard Bennett, but Hutchinson responded with another short touchdown run from Smith to restore a three-score lead. Mitchell added a 2-yard keeper early in the fourth, but the Broncbusters got no closer. De la Poza drilled a 29-yard field goal with 5:16 left to finish the scoring.
Johnson threw for 237 yards on 17 of 30 passing and added a team-high 77 rushing yards. Smith scored twice on the ground. The Blue Dragonsâ defense held Garden City to 210 total yards, collecting seven sacks and forcing three fumbles.
Hutchinson will now await the final NJCAA rankings, which will be released Monday. The top four teams in the final poll advance to the national semifinals. As the current No. 1 team, the Blue Dragons are in line to host a national semifinal at Gowans Stadium on either Friday, Dec. 5 or Saturday, Dec. 6. Their opponent and date will be announced Monday.