By Amanda Carney
Co-Sports Editor
With 18 seconds left Saturday in the biggest game in the season for Hutchinson Community College football team, jaws were dropped.
The Blue Dragons had a chance to win a Jayhawk Conference championship on its home field, Gowans Stadium, against No. 2 Garden City. But Garden City’s Charles West’s 6-yard reception with put Garden City up 24-21, leading the Busters to a victory over No. 4 Hutchinson. The Blue Dragons fell to 6-2 and 6-1 in the Jayhawk Conference.
Sophomore running back Dezmon Jackson had an outstanding performance, breaking the school record for the longest run from scrimmage with a 97-yard touchdown run, giving the Dragons a 14-7 lead early in the third quarter.
Jackson becomes the first Blue Dragon to rush for 1,000 yards since 2012 when Terrell Lane did. Jackson currently has 1,050 yards. Jackson also has had two runs for more than 90 yards, four runs better than and 80 yards and 11 runs better than 20 yards all this season.
Jackson’s 18-yard touchdown gave the Blue Dragons lead 21-17 with 9:30 left to play.
Hutchison’s Clarence Hicks then had a quarterback sack with 6:24 left to play, but Garden City had the ball with 4:11 left.
The Blue Dragons held Garden City’s nation-leading rushing offense to 150 yards.
HutchCC quarterback Mason Schucker completed 12 of 21 passes for 158 yards. Jaylen Erwin had four catches, a season high with 109 yards.
Linebacker Money Montgomery had the third most tackles by a Blue Dragon in one game with 21 tackles, with one forced fumble. Jahmard Morgan had 13 tackles and Jamykal Neal had a career-high 10 tackles.
The Blue Dragon with end their regular season at home on Saturday against Iowa Central, kickoff at noon.
Volleyball – The Hutchinson Community College volleyball team pulled off a win in the semifinals of the Region 6 Tournament in Liberal, a four-set 15-25, 25-21, 25-19, 25-20 win over Colby on Sunday at the Green House in Liberal.
In the championship match the Blue Dragons were defeated by top seed Seward County 25-19, 25-22, 25-22, ending the Blue Dragons’ season. The Saints will advance to the NJCAA Division 1 National Championship later this month in Hutchinson.
Colby dominated the first set in game one 25-15. The Blue Dragons followed with 25-21 lead, winning the last three matches.
Seward County won all three matches in game two for the Blue Dragons, finishing their season.
Women’s basketball – The No. 13-ranked Hutchinson Community College women’s basketball team opened the season by crushing its opponent, the Bethany College junior varsity, 107-32 on Thursday at the Sports Arena.
The Blue Dragons shot almost 54 percent overall and managed 26 steals.
Freshman Milan Schimmel had a 19 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals. Sophomore Jada Mickens had 17 points. Sophomore Dejanae Roebuck had 14 points and four steals.
Freshman Abby Ogle had 12 points, seven rebounds, five assists and five steals. Sophomore Tia Bradshaw had nine points, four steals and three assists. Tijuana Kimbro and freshman Makayla Vannet, had eight points.
Men’s basketball – James Rojas scored 22 points, and Fred Odihiambo added 13 points and nine rebounds as the Blue Dragons pounded Northern Oklahoma College-Enid 109-68 on Tuesday in Enid, Oklahoma.
Chris Giles addd 16 points, while DJ Mitchell scored 19 points off the bench. The Blue Dragons improved to 3-0 with the win.
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