By Marissa VanWingen
In the 2025 installment between Ellsworth Community College and No. 1 Hutchinson Community College, the visitors scored 21 points in the opening stanza and cruised to a 50-0 win at Cadet Field.
The second stanza was the best by the Panther defense, holding Hutchinson to just one score, a 29-yard pass midway through the quarter. That made the difference a manageable 28-0 at halftime.
The visitors then put up 10 points in the third quarter, including a 39-yard field goal and a fumble recovery in the end zone.
The Blue Dragons scored one of three rushing touchdowns in the game in the fourth before recording a team safety after a bad snap of a punt and then a field goal to reach the final. ECC has struggled all season with defenses being able to score.
The undefeated Blue Dragons have been stout on defense and on average have allowed just 68 rushing yards and 13 points by their opponents while putting up nearly 50 per game. They held ECC s offense to negative yards the entire contest. Quarterback Landen Mickelson was 7-13 for 54 yards and an interception. The ground game could not find their footing all contest. Tyvon Cade had 10 carries for 25 yards and Mickelson had eight carries for negative 50 yards. It was a season-high sacks by Hutchinson, getting to the Panther signal caller nine times and recording 16 tackles for loss.
ECC could not move the sticks, recording just four first downs during the contest and punting the ball nine times.
The Panthers have a bye this weekend and then host Dodge City Community College on Oct. 18 for Homecoming.
For more photos from the game, visit: https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.timescitizen.com%2fgallery%2f&c=E,1,N4WdQ6gsi_4ORdIb5SjsXU0byEsC9TxzIwHagzx_-e6zJFd1Tw_SdML37o_99-3A7YW2OMBIcevrHGszx_t6A_wmLxkLEE4R4HqYM9S-h3zgRTc,&typo=1
50 0
Saturday at Iowa Falls
HCC: 21| 7| 10| 12 50
ECC: 0| 0| 0| 0 0
ECC Stats:
Passing: Landen Mickelson 7-13 54 yds, INT.
Rushing: Tyvon Cade 10-25 yds; Mickelson 8-(-50) yds.
Receiving: Nolan Perrien 2-20 yds; Donte Ferrell 2-13 yds.
Tackles: Jamir Brown 10; Nevin Poppy 9; Vsani Scott 4; RJ Dent 3; Dorius Smith 3.
