HUTCHINSON, Kan. — No. 1 Hutchinson (2-0) dominated Ellsworth (0-2) Saturday at Gowans Stadium.
The Dragon defense held the Panthers to negative 25 total yards in the first half and only 52 total yards for the game on 50 plays.
"They step up in whatever role they're put in," head coach Drew Dallas said of his defense. "It was great to see it (stingy defense) in week two, saw it in week one as well, you don't want that to be a blip on the radar."
Drew Dallas post game interview from the 72-7 win over Ellsworth CC.
The Dragons gave up two field goals in week one at Navarro and only surrendered one touchdown Saturday after third- and fourth-stringers gave up a 68-yard Ellsworth pitch-and-catch from Brycen Davis to Alex Clue. Davis finished the quick three-play drive with a one-yard QB sneak for the score.
That touchdown 15 seconds into the fourth quarter were the only points surrendered by Hutchinson.
Otherwise, the Blue Dragons reeled off 51 points to begin the contest.
Jake Parker got his first start of the season while week-one starter Samari Collier nursed an injury.
Parker finished 11 of 18 with 84 yards and a touchdown. He even scored with his legs on a 23-yard run to cap the Dragon scoring at 72.
Hutchinson has outscored Ellsworth 142-14 in the last two meetings.
The Dragons scored nine times on the ground.
Ed Williams III started the scoring with a seven-yard touchdown run halfway through the first quarter.
Brandon Epton Jr. punched it in from five yards out with just 15 seconds left in frame one. Williams III finished the day with 55 rushing yards, while Epton Jr. notched 50.
The ground game showed extreme depth as Tyrell Reed and Amaris Shaw each ran for more 130-plus yards.
Reed found the end zone thrice (26, 69 and 20) and racked up 171 yards (19 yards per carry).
Shaw found pay dirt twice (15 and 53) and gained 139 yards on a team-high 16 carries (8.7 yards per carry).