Broncbusters upset bid falls short in Hutch

Hutchinson, KS-Zeriah Beason made his rounds through the PAC 12 before ever arriving in Hutchinson.

The former Oregon State Beaver and Washington State Cougar receiver caught two touchdown passes including a 29-yard game-clinching score late in the fourth quarter as No. 1 Hutchinson escaped with a 27-18 victory over Garden City Saturday afternoon at Gowans Stadium. The Blue Dragons, which won their 23^rdstraight regular-season game, improved to 7-0 and 4-0 in the Jayhawk. The Broncbusters meantime dropped to 3-5 and 2-3 in conference play. 

Beason, who played in 20 games over two seasons in Corvallis, bailed out the 2022 national runner-up when he snagged a 29-yard touchdown pass over the head of Jamal Hood with just over five minutes to play in the game as the Blue Dragons beat the Broncbusters for a fourth consecutive time.  

But despite being heavy underdogs, Garden City nearly pulled off an improbable upset.  

Trailing 20-0 late in the second quarter, outside linebacker Daniel Martin intercepted Illinois transfer Samari Collier at the Garden City 8. The Broncbusters then marched 92 yards in eight plays, which included an 18-yard completion from Jalen Daniels to Arizona and UNLV bounce back, Alexander Lines on third-and-4. Five plays later, Daniels converted another third down, this time hitting Keyshawn Buckley for a 47-yard touchdown to pull the Broncbusters within 20-6 at the half.  

"We hung in there all game, so, credit our guys," Head Coach, Tom Minnick said.  

In the third quarter, the top-ranked Blue Dragons were on the move again, driving all the way to the Garden City 24. But after Oran Singleton reeled in Colier's line-drive pass inside the Broncbuster 10, Gyriece Goodman, who finished with a team-best seven tackles, stripped the former Akron Zips receiver, and Hood recovered for Garden City at the 6. It was one of three red zone turnovers for Drew Dallas's team, which was held without a first down for the rest of the period. 

"Our defense kept us in this game all day," Minnick explained. "They gave us a chance."

Garden City pulled closer in the fourth quarter when Daniels, who picked himself off the turf after back-to-back brutal hits that resulted in roughing-the-passer penalties, engineered an 11-play, 63-yard drive. On fourth-and-6 from the Hutchinson 19, the freshman's pass to Demond Demas was incomplete. But La'Modrick Spencer was flagged for pass interreference giving the visitors a fresh set of downs. Four plays later, Daniels rolled right before throwing a dart to Lines for a two-yard touchdown. Braxton Frey though missed the extra point, and Garden City trailed 20-12 with 10 minutes remaining.  

"This was probably Jalen's most complete game," Minnick said. "He saw the field really well." 

Once the Blue Dragons were forced to punt on their ensuing possession, Rudy Vargas sent an errant snap over the head of Stefaan Forbes head, and Hood recovered near the Hutchinson 10. That eventually led to Daniels' third touchdown pass of the day: a 28-yard lob that Clemson transfer, Ajou Ajou plucked out of the sky to make it 20-18. But on the two-point conversion attempt, Daniels pass to Fred Davis was incomplete, and Garden City was down 20-18 with 7:20 to go.  

Garden City never crossed midfield again. 

Daniels finished 20-of-39 for 219 yards, three touchdowns and two picks for Garden City, which hasn't beaten Hutchinson at Gowans Stadium since 2018. Davis finished with 23 carries for 58 yards, and Demas had four catches for 55. 

Collier was 11-of-19 for 199 yards, two touchdowns and two picks for Hutchinson, which is now in position to start 8-0 for just the eighth time in program history. The freshman quarterback also ran for two first-quarter touchdowns that put the Blue Dragons up 14-0. That was followed by his second-period touchdown pass to Beason where the sophomore receiver made a circus one-handed catch to put the Blue Dragons up, 20-0 with 9:30 remaining in the half. 

The Blue Dragon defense harassed Daniels all day to the tune of seven sacks and 13 pressures.