By DAREN DUNN
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The 12th Salt City Bowl started with No. 5 Hutchinson and No. 8 Hinds matching each other play for play.
The Dragons looked to put another game away early when Cortez Braham scored on the third play from scrimmage. Dylan Laible connected with Braham for the 33-yard score.
Hinds quickly matched the TD with a three-play drive of its own that only spanned 21 yards after an Anwar Lewis fumble. Jaiden Burns caught the 21-yard pass from Ruben Lee after Hinds failed to move the ball the first two plays.
Tye Edwards went into action after Lewis went down with an injury. Edwards broke off an 85-yard run that ended at the one yard line. He reached paydirt on the next play to put Hutchinson up 14-7.
Hinds' running back Jeffrey Pittman matched that score with a 48-yard angry run of his own.
After quick scores from both teams on the game's first 28 points (drives of 3, 3, 3 and 2 plays, respectively), Hutchinson orchestrated a nine-play, 68-yard drive that ended with a Jaheim Simmons three-yard run.
Hinds answered with an eight-play, 67-yard drive that was capped on a Pittman 29-yard run.
Before the first quarter ended, Laible hit Malik Benson for a 63-yard TD.
Hinds quickly returned the favor on an 85-yard TD pass from Lee to Tabashi Thomas.
With the scored tied at 28, Hutchinson went on a 31-point run.
It started with a 39-yard field goal from C.J. Moya, his longest of the season.
The Dragons seemed poised to take a three-point lead into halftime, but Drew Dallas took a timeout with two seconds left and his team 56 yards from the end zone.
Laible scrambled around and took a shot as he heaved the ball as far as he could. The ball bounced off a Dragon receiver and was nearly picked before Benson swooped in to catch the touchdown.
Hutchinson took the 10-point lead into the half and scored all 14 points of the third quarter.
Dylan Kedzior provided a spark in the backfield with a 56-yard run.
Edwards found the end zone again, this time from six yards out.
Laible scored his first career rushing touchdown on a one-yard sneak in the fourth quarter.
After being tied at 28, Hutchinson dropped 31 straight to take a 59-28 advantage.
With 4:22 remaining, Hinds got on the board again when Lee hit Kaleb Mosley from eight yards away.
Daisean Cash came in at quarterback in relief of Laible and hit Marcello Bussey on a free play from 35 yards away. Hinds jumped offside and Bussey was pushed out of bounds before coming back in to catch the score. The offside penalty was declined and the score stood.
FINAL: Hutchinson 66 Hinds 34
Benson set the single-season record for receiving yards with 1,229. He had seven catches for 198 yards and two scores Saturday. He was named the Salt City Bowl Offensive MVP.
Nadame Tucker was named the Salt City Bowl Defensive MVP with seven tackles, 1.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss.
Edwards finished with 210 rushing yards.
Laible threw for 310 yards and three TDs.
Pittman led Hinds with 195 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Hutchinson finishes the season 9-2, Hinds 8-4.