‘Red Storm’ forecasted for Saturday at Gowans Stadium

By Adam Kolb / Co-Sports Editor

The Hutchinson Community College Blue Dragons football team will take on the Butler Grizzlies in what could be a preview of the state championship. The game, which is being dubbed, the “Red Storm Game,” will be played on Saturday, September 28, at noon, at Gowans Stadium.

The Blue Dragons are currently 4-0 overall, 2-0 in the Jayhawk conference, and ranked No. 1 overall coming off a bye week. The Grizzlies are 5-0 overall, 3-0 in conference play, and they take the No. 2 spot in the rankings.

When the two top teams go head-to-head, there can be a lot of hype and a lot of distractions building up to the game. According to Blue Dragons Head Coach Rion Rhoades, the team really isn’t thinking about the magnitude of this event.

“We’re treating it just like every other game,” Rhoades said. “We’re going to prepare like we always do.”

Obviously, being the No. 1 team in the nation, the Blue Dragons have had a lot of success this season, and “preparing like we always do” would seem like the way to go.

The offense is averaging 33.3 points per game, while the defense is only giving up 17.8. The team is also dominating on both sides of the ball. The offense is averaging 406.8 yards per game, while the defense is only allowing 246.3 yards per game. Comparing those stats to Butler’s 35 points per game, while its defense is only allowing 11.4 points, it’s no surprise that this game will be one to remember.

The Head Coach is taking a more relaxed approach to this game, and according to quarterback Mark Wright, he feels the same way. “It’s exciting, but we’re taking it one game at a time,” Wright said. The quarterback has completed 61.5% of his passes, has thrown for seven touchdowns, and is looking to have a big game on Saturday.

Students, faculty, and Hutch residents planning to attend the game are asked to wear red to support the Blue Dragon’s in the “Red Storm Game.” Reserved ticket prices are $8, while general admission is $6. Students with student ID get in for free.

The importance of this game is huge. Not only to the team but to the school as well. This game has serious championship implications and has the possibility to be very important in HutchCC’s football history. This is one you don’t want to miss.

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