No. 11 Tritons hang tough with top-rated Hutchinson
Trending
The 11th-ranked Iowa Central football team gave No. 1 Hutchinson their toughest fight of the season on Saturday inside Dodger Stadium.
The Tritons (6-4 overall) were unable to hand the Blue Dragons (11-0) their first loss, though, eventually falling by a final score of 26-10.
Iowa Central held the Blue Dragons to their second-lowest scoring output in a game this year, and had the smallest margin of defeat at 16 points.
Both teams scored on their third possession of the contest. With a short field, the Blue Dragons reached the four-yard line before being stopped. Parker Grizell got Hutchinson on the board with a 21-yard field goal.
Iowa Central struck next with their biggest play of the game. Quadrick Jones broke through the right side of the Blue Dragon defense and sprinted 88 yards for the only Iowa Central touchdown.
"That was a great run and early when we were still in it," ICCC head coach Colby Kratch said. "We needed to build on that, but were unable to keep the momentum going."
Starting quarterback Gabe McWilliams went down with a shoulder injury after five offensive plays for the Tritons, which left Kratch’s squad scrambling.
"That changed everything," Kratch said. "We prepared all week and then he goes down, which really hurt our rhythm – especially given we were already without our starting tight end (due to injury).
"I was proud of our resilience for fighting the entire way, though."
Nick Cyrus came on in relief of McWilliams, and the Blue Dragons were able to come up with a defensive gameplan to calm the waters.
Hutchinson went on a scoring spree in the second quarter. Quarterback Randy Phillips connected with roommate Rashad Shaw on a 23-yard strike, and later in the period, JB Price scored from 15 yards out.
The Blue Dragons finished the half recording a safety for a 19-7 lead.
"It's tough to play a team like Hutchinson when you're not consistent," Kratch said. "We missed assignments. We're built to play physical and fast, but when you commit mental errors, you have to be able to make up for it. That’s not easy when you’re facing an opponent like this."
Iowa Central allowed only seven points in the second half, as Phillips hit Jeremiah Looney from 27 yards out.
The final score of the game came with 3:57 left, when Iowa Central's Ashton Lutz kicked a season-long 43-yard field goal.
"We were a little behind the eight ball (recruiting wise) this season after I got hired in February," Kratch said. "That's no excuse, but we were able to get guys in here that competed and played hard.
"I'm not into moral victories, but this team finished this game playing the best team in the country tough."
The Iowa Central defense held the Blue Dragons to 109 yards on the ground. Phillips threw for 219 yards.
Offensively, the Tritons had 128 yards on the ground and 68 through the year. Jones had eight totes for 110 yards.
Iowa Central now plays the waiting game, as bowl assignments will be handed out on Tuesday.