Hutchinson routs Rockhurst 55-27

Friday September 4, 2009 7:00 PM
Team (Record)	1^st	2^nd	3^rd	4^th	Total
Rockhurst (9 - 3)	14	0	6	7	27
Hutchinson	21	21	7	6	55

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Source: The Star

Travis Morisse | The Hutchinson News

Alex Aguirre and Rockhurst were held in check by the Hutchinson defense, which allowed just a short gain on this play.

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HUTCHINSON, Kan. | The disappointment was evident in the faces of cornerback Dexter McDonald and linebacker Michael Rose as Rockhurst’s defense trudged off the field.

More than 4 minutes remained in the second quarter of Friday’s game against the Hutchinson Salthawks, but both players already wore blank stares. The scoreboard told the story: Rockhurst had just allowed its sixth touchdown of the night and trailed Hutchinson, the five-time defending Kansas 5A state champion, by 28.

A game that had started as a track meet had become a blowout, and Hutchinson never stopped pouring it on in a 55-27 victory in front of a capacity crowd of more than 5,000 at Gowans Stadium.

“There was a major difference in the aggressiveness out there,” said Rockhurst coach Tony Severino. “Their lines beat us to death up front.”

Indeed. A year ago, Rockhurst overcame Hutchinson’s physical style with some timely big plays in a 28-21 victory that snapped the Salthawks’ 36-game winning streak. But the Hawklets had no answer for Hutchinson’s flexbone offense this time around, as the Salthawks gained 475 rushing yards without ever attempting a pass.

“We wanted to prove Kansas has some pretty good football, too,” said Hutchinson’s all-state fullback, Josh Smith, who gained 149 yards in 15 carries. “And I think we did that.”

Hutchinson didn’t waste any time asserting itself. On the game’s first play from scrimmage, Smith bulled through a Rockhurst lineman, bounced outside, stiffed-armed another defender and sprinted 58 yards for a touchdown.

Rockhurst answered with an 80-yard touchdown catch by receiver Josh Sykes, but Hutchinson marched down the field again, scoring in seven plays. The Hawklets came right back and tied the game at 14-14 as quarterback Frank Arbanas connected with a streaking Cooper Beckett for a 30-yard touchdown on fourth and 14.

Five minutes remained in the first quarter, 28 points were on the board, and the PA announcer wasn’t done announcing the starting lineups.

But it was all Hutchinson from there. From that point, the Salthawks’ defense — led by a towering line that featured at least three players who were 6 feet 1 — swallowed up Rockhurst’s running game (7 first-half rushing yards) and kept the Hawklets’ passing game in check.

Meanwhile, Rockhurst could not keep Hutchinson from running the ball, despite putting nine and sometimes 11 men in the box. Smith scored on a 2-yard run while Deveon Dinwiddie, who gained a team-high 181 yards in 13 carries, scored on an 18-yard run.

“We’d hoped to get them in some third-and-long situations and force them to throw, but we never did that,” Severino said.

Hutchinson went on to score on a 20-yard interception return by defensive lineman Justin Goetz and a 16-yard run by quarterback Cooper Bell (78 yards in six carries). And by halftime, the Salthawks had a 42-14 lead.

Afterward, Severino said that his team — which dropped to 1-1 — had known a physical game was coming. After last year’s game, he said his team got “beat up.”

But this year, they also got beat.

submitted by TEREZ A. PAYLOR - 2009-09-04 23:20:02

Comments - leave comment

wichita says:

Now you know that kansas can play football dont use as a exuse that rockhurst is young hutch was young as rockhurst last year and was playing without there starting nose guard. Kansas football is as good as missouri!!

Posted 157 days ago | Delete
Lloyd says:

as far as i know rockhurst isnt the best team in missouri this year..arent they like number 5 or 6? so this game wont answer who has the best program ..why are kansas football fans so defesive? ive never heard any missouri fans demeaning kansas football...hutch has a great team...derby does too...id like to see more games between kansas teams and missouri teams..it would be good for both states..i do not like poor sportsmanship tho..its just a competition and should be beneficial to all involved... the state line is imaginary..we are all americans and neighbors...and may the better team win and raise the standards..thats what competition is all about

Posted 156 days ago | Delete