By DAREN DUNN
Hutch Post
WICHITA, Kan. â No. 8 Hutchinson won the first-ever football game held in Riverfront Stadium Sunday afternoon.
The baseball stadium, home of the Wind Surge, was converted into a football field for the first KJCCC championship game since 2013.
The Dragons trailed early after a pair of Garden City field goals.
Jason Hernandez made good from 29 and 42.
With 1:46 left in the first quarter, Dylan Laible hit Malik Benson on an 82-yard bomb.
No. 11 Garden City would answer on a reverse that wide receiver David Elder threw to quarterback Rhett Ricedorff. The 10-yard score put the Broncbusters back up 13-7.
Hutchinson came back with a nine-yard TD pass from Laible to Micah Woods.
That score was part of 35 unanswered points put up by the Blue Dragons.
Dylan Kedzior blocked a punt that was recovered by Jalik Thomas. Anwar Lewis took the next play five yards for the score.
A 60-yard pass from Laible to Benson set up a score to Tye Edwards after a defensive pass interference on 3rd and 10 from the 11. Edwards put Hutchinson up 28-13 on the two-yard run.
A Garden City muffed punt late in the second quarter led to a crazy exchange over the waning moments of the first half.
Hutchinson recovered the ball and looked poised to score again. Laible was intercepted, though, by Dwayne Harris. The interception was returned into Dragon territory.
Ricedorff then had his pass intercepted by Deshon Singleton to close out the half.
A Davion Westmoreland interception to begin the third quarter led to a 20-yard TD run by Lewis.
Ricedorff was intercepted again by Emmanuel Mann. That turnover was turned into six when Laible hit Cortez Braham on a 40-yard strike.
Facing a 4th down and 5 late, Garden City got back on the board after Devion Hodges scampered 22 yards to the end zone.
His two-point conversion failed.
Lewis ran for his third touchdown of the day with 6:27 left.
FINAL: Hutchinson 49 Garden City 19
Ricedorff finished 19 of 52 for 229 yards with 4 interceptions.
Hodges rushed for 53 yards and a TD.
Laible threw three touchdowns on 12 of 26 passing for 314 yards.
Lewis rushed for 72 yards and three scores.
Edwards ran for 61 yards and one TD.
Benson had five receptions for 194 yards and one TD.
Braham caught three passes for 70 yards and a touchdown.
Martavius French led the Dragon defense with seven tackles.
Cameron Johnson had seven tackles for Garden City.