Nov 05, 2023

🏈 No. 1 Dragons clinch 4th-straight conference title

Posted Nov 05, 2023 3:59 AM

INDEPENDENCE, Kan. — Samari Collier threw for 236 yards and four touchdowns on just six completions to lead No. 1 Hutchinson (9-0, 6-0) to a decisive 42-8 road victory over Independence (3-6, 1-4) and its fourth-consecutive Jayhawk Conference title. 

ManMan Singleton put the Dragons on the board first when he took a short Collier pass 66 yards to the house. 

Indy looked poised to answer but the Hutchinson defense forced a 28-yard field-goal attempt. Hutchinson blocked the kick and Collier found Zeriah Beason on the next play for a 70-yard bomb.

The third deep ball of the half went to Tre Richardson on a 67-yard reception that put Hutchinson up 24-0 with 2:53 before the break.

Before the first half ended, the Dragons forced a safety and Collier found Beason for a three-yard score with 25 seconds left before intermission. 

The Dragons took a 33-0 advantage into the locker room. 

Neither team scored in the third quarter. 

The Pirates used four quarterbacks Saturday.

Starting quarterback Greg Jones threw four interceptions.

Ryan Nolan, Nylen Jones, Daivon Nelson and Malik McConico all picked off the Pirate quarterback. The Dragon defense notched six sacks. 

Jones finished 15-of-32 for 217 yards. 

Christian Dhue-Reid completed 14-of-29 attempts for 200 yards. He scored the only Pirate touchdown of the day on a 10-yard run in the fourth quarter. 

Jake Parker got reps at quarterback in the fourth quarter and hit Richardson for a 32-yard score. 

Richardson finished with 99 yards on three receptions for two touchdowns. 

Beason caught three passes for 98 yards and two scores. 

The Dragons had just 76 yards on the ground against a stingy Pirate run defense.

The Dragons pushed the Pirates back for negative-3 total yards on the ground. 

The Dragon defense registered two safeties. 

FINAL: Dragons 42 Pirates 8

Hutchinson returns home Saturday, Nov. 11, for the highly-anticipated No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup with Iowa Western. 

The Reivers (10-0, 2-0) held off Coffeyville 20-17 Saturday. 

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