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By Steve Carpenter
HCC Sports Information Director
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Hutchinson Community College
head football coach Rion Rhoades could feel it on Saturday as his Blue
Dragon football team opened fall camp for the 2009 season at Gowans Stadium.
Rhoades could feel that the
excitement and momentum generated from last season’s 7-4 campaign that ended
up in the 2008 Region VI championship game has carried over to the opening
of 2009.
“It’s definitely carried
over and what it’s done, it’s raised the expectations here,” Rhoades said.
“There’s a lot higher expectations than there were last year at this time.
That’s a good sign. We have lofty goals for our team and we are working hard
to try and reach them.”
The Blue Dragons open the
season ranked No. 13 in the preseason NJCAA football poll and are picked to
finish second in the Jayhawk Conference. It’s the first preseason national
ranking since 2005 and the league prediction is the highest it’s been since
1996.
Saturday’s opening practice
on the Gowans Stadium FieldTurf lasted right at three hours in helmets and
shoulder pads. The HCC coaches have more returning sophomores than in either
of Rhoades’ first two seasons at Hutchinson.
“I thought it went good,”
Rhoades said. “It was just good to see these guys in gear and do some
drills. We haven’t had a chance to see them that way yet.
“We are off to a good start.
We can’t tell a whole lot yet, but when we get into day 4 or day 5, we will
be able to see a little more about who can make plays. I like the guys that
we have.”
The Blue Dragons made a
five-win improvement in 2008. HCC made a late-season run that saw the
Dragons win 4 of 5, going to Fort Scott in the Region VI Semifinals and
winning 30-17 and carrying a fourth-quarter lead against Butler in the
regional championship game at Cessna Stadium before falling 29-14.
The Blue Dragons have six
starters and 11 lettermen on offense returning.
First-team All-American Gage
McKinnis, who was one of the top kick returners in the nation last season.
Now fully healthy, he will be utilized on offense more this season,
according to Rhoades.
Also back is back is
running back Chris Clay, who ran for 629 yards and 10 touchdowns in backing
up 2008 Jayhawk Offensive Player of the Year LaDarrian Page.
The Blue Dragons return
three starting offensive linemen in guard Mike Powell, center Chase Hartman
and tackle Calin Archer. Powell and Hartman earned postseason league honors.
“We are always trying to
take steps forward,” McKinnis said. “Right now we are coming together as a
team and becoming a family. If we can accomplish that, the sky’s the limit.”
Defensively, HCC returns
five starters and 11 lettermen from a defense that was second in the Jayhawk
in total defense.
Defensive end Adam Davis
will lead a deep and talented defensive line. Davis had 14.5 quarterback
sacks last season, the sixth most in HCC single-season history. The Dragons
will still have to replace NJCAA National Defensive Player of the Year
Eugene Kinlaw.
HCC lost all three starting
linebackers, but has three starters returning in the secondary led by safety
Matthew Pearson, who had four interceptions last season. Starting
cornerbacks Thad Williams and Kendall Davis also return.
“Everybody looks like they
are pretty focused,” Pearson said. “There’s a lot of competition out here.
We are all excited for this season. We have more talent this year and we
have more starters back. I can’t wait for the first game.”
The Blue Dragons open the
2009 season on the road, traveling to Northeastern Oklahoma A&M on Aug. 29
in Miami, Okla. The home opener will be Sept. 12 against Highland.
FIRST PRACTICE
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