By Rebecca Carney
Co-Sports Editor
The No. 4-ranked Hutchinson Community College football team completed its best start to a season since 2014 with a dominant defensive performance Saturday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Coffeyville.
The Blue Dragons overcame offensive season lows in first downs and passing, to defeat Coffeyville 24-14.
The win also came without coach Rion Rhoades, who was serving a one-game suspension after being ejected the week before.
The Blue Dragons have won five consecutive games, and now sit 7-1. The Blue Dragons remain unbeaten in the Jayhawk Conference at 5-0.
Hutchinson’s defense had a season-high nine quarterback sacks and two interceptions, with one returned for a touchdown.
Monty Montgomery had four tackles and three quarterback sacks. He also intercepted a Coffeyville pass and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown.
Dezmon Jackson’s first touch of the game went for a 90-yard touchdown. Jackson’s run tied three others for the second-longest run from scrimmage in Blue-Dragon history.
Freshman quarterback Mason Schucker had a rough night, going 10 of 22 passing for a season- low 88 yards and an interception.
The Blue Dragons travel to Dodge City next Saturday with a 1 p.m. kickoff time.
Women’s cross country – The No. 6-ranked Hutchinson Community College women’s cross country team captured another win of the season with three runners placing in the top 10 at the Fort Hays State Open.
This is the Blue Dragons second team championship this season.
The Blue Dragons scored 51 points, with freshmen Lisayo Ewoi and Gabby Collins, and sophomore Sarah Patterson placing in the Top 10.
The HutchCC women’s cross country team is off for two weeks before competing in the Region 6 Championships in Winfield.
Men’s cross country – The No. 10-ranked men’s cross country team had its three-race winning streak snapped by two points. The men’s team finished second overall at Fort Hays State.
The Blue Dragons were edged out by Jayhawk Conference and Region 6 rival Colby, 55-57.
Freshman Andrew Kibet also lost his three-race winning streak, placing second to Cloud County runner, Dennis Kiptoo.
The HutchCC men’s team will compete in the Region 6 Championships on October 27.
Soccer – The Hutchinson Community College women’s soccer team had its ninth straight shutout of the season, in a 2-0 Jayhawk West victory on Saturday over Dodge City.
The Blue Dragons improve to 11-2-1 overall and 9-2-1 in Jayhawk West play.
It didn’t take long for HutchCC to get on the board when freshman Sydney Blackwell scored her seventh of the season.
Sophomore Brailey Moeder gave the Blue Dragons an insurance goal when she found the back of the net for her 10th goal of the year.
The Blue Dragons will play host to Pratt at 6 p.m. on Wednesday night for Sophomore Night at the Salthawk Sports Complex.
Volleyball – The volleyball team traveled to West Plains, Missouri, to play a series of matches at the Grizzly Invitational at the West Plains Civic Center.
Sophomore libero Raychel Reed became the fourth Dragon in program history to reach 1,000 career digs during the weekend. The Blue Dragons dropped three of the four matches, but every loss went at least four sets.
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