HUTCHINSON, KANSAS -- Hutchinson CC showed the Ellsworth Panthers why they are the top-ranked team in NJCAA DI football Saturday as the Blue Dragons routed the Panthers, 72-7.  Hutchinson ran up a 37-0 halftime lead and added their final 3 scores after ECC notched their only TD, on a 1-yard run by QB Brycen Davis.

It was a game in which the Panthers couldn't get anything going on offense and couldn't stop the ground attack of Hutch.  ECC lost 3 fumbles, was 0-for-11 on 3rd down, managed just 52 yards of total offense and punted 9 times.  The Panthers did have 105 passing yards, but lost 53 yards on the ground and suffered 7 sacks.  Meanwhile, HCC rushed for 441 yards and 8 TDs.  

Ellsworth's scoring drive started at the end of the 3rd period when Davis picked up 11 yards.  He then hooked up with Alex Clue on a 68-yard pass-and-run play inside the home team's 5-yard line.  Davis punched in the TD from a yard out and Alex Budina added the PAT.

Davis was 3-4 passing for 88 yards.  Dominic McCarren caught 3 passes for 27 yards.  Rayshon Kennedy topped ECC with his 9 tackles, Sean Martin had 8 and Wyatt Hollingsworth 7.  Mykell Sutton forced a fumble for the Panthers.

ECC will return home in search of its 1st victory when it takes on Community Christian College from Detroit, Michigan next Saturday.