SEAN BOSTON
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The No. 1-ranked Hutchinson Community College football team overcame a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to down No. 12 Iowa Central, 33-30, in overtime on Saturday at Gowans Stadium.
Sophomore kicker Nestus Burger drilled a 36-yard field goal to give the Blue Dragons the win. This came after Iowa Central missed a 38-yard field goal wide left.
"There's a lot less pressure on your back going out there, knowing you only need three points," head coach Drew Dallas said. "You go out there and operate knowing you have a kicker like Nestus that has a strong leg, going into the wind."
Saturday marked the first overtime game for HutchCC since the Blue Dragons upended Iowa Central on Sept. 10, 2022, at Gowans Stadium, 31-28, a game that was won on a walk-off field goal by Cole Seagraves.
Hutchinson (3-0) trailed 30-16 with 6:19 remaining in the fourth quarter after quarterback Samari Collier threw an interception that was taken back for an Iowa Central (1-2) touchdown.
The Blue Dragons then orchestrated two touchdown drives within a three-minute span to tie the game and send it to overtime.
"Our backs were against the wall," Dallas said. "There really wasn't another option if we wanted to go out and win the game, you've got to spread the ball out and have the two-minute tempo. Proud of the way the guys handled it at the end. Our goal every week is to go 1-0 each week, doesn't matter how we did it."
Collier found Tre Brown on a 15-yard touchdown to cap an eight-play, 73-yard drive in just under two minutes to pull Hutch within 30-23 with 4:26 left.
After the Blue Dragons forced a Triton punt, Collier found Derrick Salley Jr. for a 15-yard touchdown pass with 1:19 left to tie the game at 30 apiece. The Salley Jr. touchdown capped a seven-play, 55-yard drive.
The Blue Dragons only had two leads in the game, 6-0, in the opening quarter, and the 33-30 final score.
Collier finished the game 23-of-40 passing for 300 yards and three touchdowns, while adding a team-high 89 yards rushing. The 300 yards passing is a new career-high for Collier.
Hutchinson is now 9-1 all-time against Iowa Central and 2-0 in overtime games under Dallas. The Blue Dragons are now 5-4 all-time in overtime games played.
The Blue Dragons are off until Sept. 28, when they will host Ellsworth (0-3) at Gowans Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.