|
By Steve Carpenter
HCC Sports Information Director
Friday, August 28, 2009
There is a true excitement
in the air for Hutchinson Community College football in 2009.
Not since the mid-1990s have
the Blue Dragons been considered a contender in the Jayhawk Conference and
Region VI. HCC comes off a 7-4 campaign in 2008 that saw it advance to the
Region VI championship game for the first time since 1995.
The Blue Dragons open the
season ranked No. 13 in the preseason NJCAA Poll. The last time that
Hutchinson was ranked in the preseason poll came in 2005 when the Blue
Dragons started that season ranked No. 16.
Jayhawk Conference coaches
have picked Hutchinson to finish second in the preseason poll released in
late July.
Clearly others are
considering the Blue Dragons as a legitimate contender for the league and
region title in 2009. Now they have to go on the field and prove it.
Hutchinson opens the season
on Saturday night against Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in a 7 p.m. kickoff at
Miami, OK.
The Blue Dragons have 10
starters (4 offense, 4 defense, 2 special teams) back from 2008. HCC has 21
total lettermen returning from last year’s turnaround group.
“This is the first time that
I have a sophomore class that I recruited coming back,” HCC head coach Rion
Rhoades said. “We are very excited about this season.”
The Blue Dragons made a
five-win improvement last season, earning signature victories over
Coffeyville, at Garden City and an electrifying 30-17 victory over Fort
Scott at Fort Scott in the Region VI semifinals. The Blue Dragons produced
three first-team NJCAA All-Americans and 12 All-Jayhawk Conference
performers. The Blue Dragons also finished 19th in the final NJCAA poll.
The 2008 Blue Dragons saw
dramatic improvements on both sides of the ball.
Offensively, HCC had the
best running game in the Jayhawk Conference and was eighth-best in the NJCAA
last season at 208.8 yards per game. HCC nearly doubled its scoring
averaging in 2008, producing 25.5 points per game.
The 2008 Blue Dragons
produced the Jayhawk Conference’s Offensive Player of the Year in LaDarrian
Page, who had the fourth-best single-season rushing performance in team
history with 1,340 yards, the first 1,000-yard rusher at Hutchinson since
Leonard Brice in 2003.
Defensively, the 2008 Blue
Dragons ranked third in the Jayhawk Conference in total scoring defense
(18.4 points per game) and second in total defense (251.4 yards per game)
The Blue Dragons shut out
Garden City, a top-10 nationally ranked offensive team last season, for the
first time in 25 years.
Defensive tackle Eugene
Kinlaw was honored as both the Jayhawk Conference and the NJCAA National
Defensive Player of the Year.
The 2009 Blue Dragons must
fill the void of Page, Kinlaw and 14 others who moved on to four-year
programs, including eight with Division I-A programs. So how might things
look in 2009 for HCC?
OFFENSIVE BREAKDOWN
Quarterback
– For the third-straight season, the Blue Dragons go into a season without a
returning starter at quarterback. In fact, none of the quarterbacks who come
to fall camp have taken a collegiate snap.
Stability at the quarterback
position is a must for the Blue Dragons in 2009. HCC hasn’t had a 1,500-yard
passer or a QB with more than six touchdown passes since Greg Meinzer in
2005.
“Every quarterback we have
in camp will compete for the starting job,” Rhoades said. “We have a
talented group of signal callers coming into camp.”
Freshman Angelo Pease (5-11,
212, Cairo, GA), who is a dual signee with Kansas State, will get the
starting nod from the coaches. Pease is a dual run-pass threat who threw and
ran for 1,000-yards each in both his junior and senior seasons. Pease scored
21 rushing touchdowns and passes for 34 touchdowns in high school.
Freshman C.J. Madison (5-11,
212, Howard, KS) will be the back-up quarterback.
Running back
– Yes, the Blue Dragons lost the 2008 Jayhawk Conference Player of the Year,
but the cupboard is far from bare.
Sophomore running back Chris
Clay (5-9, 162, Cuthbert, GA) is poised to take over the starting spot. Clay
saw plenty of playing time in 2008, rushing for 629 yards on 139 attempts
(4.5 yards per carry) and a team high-tying 10 touchdowns. Clay had three
100-yard games, including a season-high 138 yards and one touchdown against
Fort Scott in the Blue Dragons’ Region VI semifinals last season.
Clay came to HCC as the
eighth all-time leading prep rusher in the state of Georgia.
“Chris is a great back, but
we will have some great guys competing with him,” Rhoades said. “We have
several other tailbacks who have shown a lot of promise.”
HCC has a stable of
fleet-footed tailbacks with sophomore Trezz Tillman (5-7, 159, Wichita, KS),
Troy University transfer Chris Anderson (5-10, 193, Lauderdale Lakes, FL)
and freshman Romero Cotton (5-0, 200, Hutchinson).
There will be a new starter
at fullback in 2009. Freshman Tyler Kohlman (6-0, 263, Wichita, KS) is being
looked on as a possible starter. Also, freshmen Cody Spencer (5-11, 226,
Baxter Springs KS) and Cordell Reed (5-7, 161, Wichita, KS) and returning
sophomore Jacob Yoder (5-11, 226, Hillsboro, KS) will all be in the mix.
Offensive line
– The offensive line has a strong nucleus to build around with three
starters returning, two of whom earned All-Jayhawk Conference honors.
Guard Michael Powell (6-3,
285, LaCrosse, Kan.) was a second-team All-Jayhawk Conference performer last
season. Center Chase Hartman (5-10, 250, Hutchinson) was an all-conference
honorable mention center. Tackle Calin Archer (6-2 289, Andale, Kan.) is the
other returning starter.
That group, along with
departed offensive linemen Jamar Bass and Nate Newland, helped produce one
of the most prolific rushing attacks in Blue Dragon history.
“It will be hard to replace
Jamar Bass and Nate Newland,” Rhoades said of his offensive line. “There are
a number of redshirts and freshmen offensive linemen that will battle for
playing time.”
Several freshmen, including
2009 Shrine Bowl participant David Tuley will battle for significant playing
time.
Tight end
– The Blue Dragon coaching staff will be looking for a new starter at tight
end to replace Dustin Weissbeck.
Among the candidates will be
a defensive transplant, returning sophomore Kevin Jerrick (6-1, 257, Belle
Plaine, Kan.). He was a defensive end last season.
Redshirt freshman Danny
Weigel (6-1, 234, Kansas City, Kan.) had a solid spring and incoming
freshman Matt Weis (6-3, 252, Hoxie, KS) will also vie for playing time at
tight end.
Receiver
– For the first time in the Rhoades era, the receiving corps has returning
experience and are considered a true team strength in 2009.
The Blue Dragons return a
top-notch receiver Gage McKinnis (5-9, 178, Hutchinson). Sophomore Jonathan
Wright wasn’t certified this season because of injury.
McKinnis was a first-team
NJCAA All-American as a return specialist. As a receiver, McKinnis caught 13
balls for 152 yards and a touchdown.
The Blue Dragon receiving
corps will be bolstered by the addition of Fort Hays State transfer Ethan
Ungles (5-10, 168, Andale, KS) and freshman Cas Spangler (5-8, 156, Beloit,
KS).
“We have a lot of good
speed and athleticism at the wide receiver spot,” Rhoades said.
DEFENSIVE BREAKDOWN
Defensive line
– Clearly the defensive line has a huge hole to fill with the loss of a
National Defensive Player of the Year in Kinlaw. But it is also possibility
the deepest position group with nine linemen who have already been offered
by Division I-A programs.
“We should be very physical,
strong and fast on the defensive line,” Rhoades said.
Returning sophomore
defensive end Adam Davis (6-1, 249, Folkston, Ga.) is the team’s leading
returning tackler. Davis was an all-Jayhawk Conference honorable mention
performer after a freshman season where he led the Blue Dragons in
quarterback sacks (14.5 - sixth most in HCC single-season history). Davis
had 58 total tackles, including 28 tackles for loss, seven quarterback
hurries, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Also returning on the
defensive line are: defensive tackle Darrell Zellars (6-2, 285, Anderson,
S.C.), defensive end Gavin Loehr (6-2, 232, Wichita) and freshman tackle
Albert Markham (6-2, 292, Hutchinson).
Linebacker
– The linebacking unit took a late hit when 2008 leading tackler Jacob
Lattimer signed late with Iowa State. That leaves no starting linebackers
returning for the Blue Dragons in 2009.
Still the prospects are
promising with redshirt freshman Chip Hester (5-11, 225, Myrtle Beach, S.C.)
and Missouri Western transfer Matt Fairchild (5-10, 194, Andale, Kan.)
stepping up in spring practices.
“We will be much faster and
more physical at linebacker this season,” Rhoades said. “We are pleased with
the progress of Chip Hester and Matt Fairchild in the spring.”
Secondary
– Three starters return from a very good, hard-hitting defensive secondary
in 2008.
Matthew Pearson (5-11, 189,
Wichita) had a stellar freshman season at strong safety. He had 50 tackles,
33 solos with a team-high four interceptions and 10 passes defensed in 2008.
Pearson was clocked in the spring at 4.36 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
HCC returns both starting
cornerbacks in Kendall Davis (5-8, 156, Wichita) and Thad Williams (5-9,
174, Adel, Ga.). Davis, who ran a 4.29 40-yard time in the spring, had 23
tackles with two interceptions and four passes broken up. Williams had 45
tackles with an interception and nine passes defensed.
Also, returning sophomore
safety Sam Norris (5-11, 189, Humboldt, Kan.) had a strong spring.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker
– Returning sophomore Kelly Roberts (6-1, 205, Hutchinson) returns after a
solid freshman season. Also, freshman Jeremy Linn (6-3, 176, Abilene, KS)
will be on the 55-man roster
Roberts connected on 7 of 13
field goal attempts with a long of 44 yards. He was 27 of 33 on extra-point
tries and scored 50 points, which was third-best on the team.
On kickoffs, Roberts
averages right at 60 yards and had five touchbacks.
Punter
– The Blue Dragon coaches will have to replace starter Clinton Stein.
Schuyler Watson (5-10, 185, Arkansas City, KS) was as second-team
All-Jayhawk Conference punter in 2006 for Independence. He averaged right at
43 yards per kick last season. Jacob Yoder was HCC’s back-up punter in 2008.
Return specialist
– McKinnis is a proven commodity returning kicks for the Blue Dragons.
Last season, McKinnis
averaged 33.8 yards per kickoff return on 14 returns with two touchdowns,
including a long of 97 yards. As a punt returner, McKinnis average 14.1
yards on 27 returns.
SCHEDULE
The opening portion of the
2009 schedule is a strange one for the Blue Dragons and it will be critical
for HCC to navigate.
After opening with NEO on
Saturday, the Dragons have their bye week in Week 2. Hutch will then have
its home opener against Highland on Sept. 12. That’s the only home game in
September for Hutchinson.
After Highland, it’s
back-to-back road games at Dodge City and at Fort Scott before coming home
to face defending NJCAA national champion Butler on Oct. 3. HCC will have
three home games in October.
If the Blue Dragons win six
games and become bowl eligible, they will play host to the inaugural Central
Bank/Salt City Bowl on Dec. 5 at Gowans Stadium. |
