Blue Dragons Enter Bye Week, Yet to face Conference Opponent

By Ben Short

Staff Writer

The Hutchinson Blue Dragons football team has opened the season with some impressive wins, but still have yet to play a Jayhawk Conference game, the only team in the conference yet to do so.

After beating Navarro, Texas, and then Iowa teams Ellsworth and Iowa Central, the second-ranked Blue Dragons are 3-0 overall. This week is a bye week, and then they will travel to Coffeyville to play the first conference game of the year, a week before October.

“100% we will be prepared,” said running back Jaheim Simmons. “We take it one game at a time, focusing on the details, watching film like crazy, studying the opponent … we will be good. We practice hard so on game day, it’s easy, even when we don’t have success. We know how to handle it, keep playing, and cheer for your brothers.”

The Blue Dragons have continued their success from last year by blowing out Navarro and Ellsworth, and then winning in overtime against Iowa Central, 31-28.

Despite not playing a conference opponent yet, Simmons said he doesn’t believe it changes much going into conference play.

“I don’t think it changes football,” Simmons said. “At the end of the day, I just feel it’s about what team is more focused and more prepared”.

The Blue Dragons took home hardware last year, winning the Jayhawk Conference championship against Garden City, a season after going undefeated and winning the national championship.

“Yes, I feel like there’s a target on our back, but we got all types of weapons, down to special teams so you better hit every target or we will upset you because you never know who is going to pop off at any time,” Simmons said.

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