By DAREN DUNN
Hutch Post
INDEPENDENCE, Kan. — No. 12 Hutchinson's first two plays from scrimmage went for long touchdowns as the Blue Dragons (7-2) quickly went up 21-0 on the No. 5 Pirates (8-2) with 3:51 still left in the first quarter.
Quarterback Dylan Laible hit Malik Benson twice for long scores. The first short reception was taken 87 yards to the house by Benson. The second was a deep shot that went for 76.
"When you start a game off like that, that's awesome," coach Drew Dallas said.
Going back to last week's game against Highland, Benson caught four passes for four touchdowns and 305 yards.
Benson finished the day with five receptions for 197 yards and three scores. Benson scored again late in the third quarter from 12 yards away.
Demariyon Houston caught the third touchdown pass of the day on a 52-yard score. It was another short route that Houston broke for a touchdown off a Cortez Braham block.
Braham caught five passes for 79 yards and a touchdown.
"He can't do it alone," Dallas said of Laible's big day. "He's making great decisions. I'm happy for him. He's continued to grow and develop as the season goes along."
The defense kept the Independence ground game in check from the very start. The Pirates finished the day with seven rushing yards.
Deontay Wilson caught that pass, but dealt with injury for much of Sunday's contest. He finished with two catches for 54 yards. He also had a 71-yard kickoff return.
Tyriq Starks, the backup quarterback who earned a starting role after defeating the Dragons earlier this season, was forced out of the game with an injury. He would return in the second half and finish with 229 yards passing, but three interceptions.
The Dragon defense did not give up any points and forced four turnovers. R.J. Evans had an interception and a fumble recovery. His interception came compliments of Davion Westmoreland's hit on Starks.
"Guys (were) flying around and making tackles all over the place," Dallas said of the defense. "They flew around and created havoc all day."
Evans finished with six tackles while Westmoreland had two sacks. The Dragon defense sacked the quarterback six times.
Jordan Huff and Daquan Wilson also came away with interceptions.
Hutchinson took a 28-0 lead into halftime after Braham caught a back-shoulder throw from Laible with 45 seconds left in the first half.
Hutchinson took time off the clock in the third quarter with an 11-play, 71-yard drive that took 5:18. It finished with a Tye Edwards one-yard run, his first TD of the season.
Anwar Lewis failed to reach the end zone after scoring in seven-straight games. Lewis led the rushing attack with 53 yards.
The Dragons rushed the ball 38 times for only 26 yards.
Meanwhile, the Dragons racked up 365 yards in the air.
FINAL: Hutchinson 42 Independence 0
Hutchinson will be at Riverfront Stadium in Wichita next Sunday to play Garden City for the conference crown.
"I know one thing, we're not checking pads in, we're continuing to play," Dallas said when asked about a new week of game prep.