By DAREN DUNN
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. -- Anwar Lewis came into Saturday's matchup with Dodge City (1-6) with two streaks intact: four straight games with 100-plus rushing yards and five straight games with a touchdown.
The Conquistadors held Lewis to just 29 rushing yards. He did get a touchdown late to extend that streak to six games.
Despite 29 yards from Lewis (seven in the first half), Hutchinson (4-3) went up 28-0 early behind a strong first quarter from Dylan Laible.
"It was great to see progress being made," coach Drew Dallas said. Despite the 20-7 victory last week at Highland, Dallas didn't see the improvement he saw Saturday in Dodge City.
Dallas credited the Conquistador defense for limiting Lewis.
Laible ended the first quarter with four touchdown passes on 7 of 9 throwing for 187 yards. He threw for 215 yards in the first half alone. The Conquistador defense came into the game giving up 215 passing yards on average per game.
Laible's first TD came from 11 yards out when he hit Cortez Braham in the corner of the end zone to cap a 5-play, 38-yard drive that took just 1:50 0ff the clock.
Laible then connected with Micah Woods on an intermediate throw that Woods turned into a 57-yard touchdown to put Hutchinson up 14-0 with less than seven minutes gone.
With 4:21 left in the first quarter, Laible found Braham again, this time from 15 yards away. Laible capped off his great first quarter of play with a 39-yard TD pass to Rykem Laney, who entered the contest with 49 receiving yards on the year.
Hutchinson had a comfortable 28-0 lead heading into the second quarter when Dodge City put together an 8-play, 64-yard drive. The Dragon defense, however, held the Conquistadors to a 28-yard field goal.
Dodge City struck again quickly when Willie Gaines broke free on an 80-yard punt return for six. His longest return of the year had been for 12 yards and Gaines averaged just 4.7 yards per return before the house call.
Hutchinson took a 28-10 lead into halftime.
Laible got his fifth passing touchdown of the day when he connected with Malik Benson for 81 yards. Benson finished the day with 187 receiving yards on five receptions.
Laible finished with 363 passing yards. He was 16 of 24 with five touchdowns.
Anwar Lewis started to hit a groove in the fourth quarter when he put together 20 strong yards on a drive he finished off with a 2-yard TD. Hutchinson went up 42-17 with 12:33 left and started substituting offensively.
Dodge City got a 9-yard touchdown run from Tyler Curtis to close out the third quarter. Curtis finished with 77 yards rushing on 18 carries.
C.J. Hall led the Conquistador rushing attack with 114 yards. Dodge City finished with 209 rushing yards, but only 83 passing yards.
Quarterback Rashad McKee went 13 for 22 for 83 yards. He was sacked twice and threw an interception at the goal line to Juwon Gaston.
Daisean Cash only completed one of his three passes, but it was for a touchdown to Marcello Bussey for 14 yards.
The sixth passing touchdown tied a program record for the Blue Dragons. It was the sixth time in history Hutchinson finished with six passing scores.
FINAL: Hutchinson 49 Dodge City 17
Hutchinson has next week off before conference playoffs in two weeks. The final week of the season will determine final standings for the playoff run. If Hutchinson can get a top-4 seed, the Dragons would host the opening-round game.
"We talked about building positive momentum," Dallas said, "and we definitely did that."
"We're excited (about) what we have to look forward to," Dallas said about the playoffs.
Micah Woods caught three passes for 76 yards and a touchdown.
Cortez Braham caught three passes, two for touchdowns, and finished with 60 yards.
Tim Byrd Jr. led the Dragon rushing attack with 34 yards.
On a beautiful day for special teams, Alfonso Deleon averaged 50.6 yards per punt. He had a better average on the day than Corry Wilhoit (44.6 yards per punt) -- the nation's leader.