Hutchinson blue dragons win central bank Salt City Bowl

 December 5, 2009

By Steve Carpenter, HCC Sports Information Director

BOX SCORE & STATS

Chris Anderson rushed for a game-high 138 yards while Thad Williams and Kendall Davis had two second-half interceptions each as the No. 20 Hutchinson Community College football team closed the 2009 season with a thriller 22-14 victory over New Mexico Military Institute in the inaugural Central Bank/Salt City Bowl on Saturday at Gowans Stadium.

No. 20 Hutchinson (7-4) rallied from a one-point halftime deficit to win for the first time in the Rion Rhoades era.

No. 16 New Mexico Military (7-4) outgained the Blue Dragons 376-341, but four second-half interceptions by quarterback Watson Togiailua - all in HCC territory - were the big plays in the game. Williams, who had his fourth and fifth interceptions of the season, was named defensive MVP with two interceptions and nine tackles.

Anderson helped make a little Blue Dragon history with fellow running back Chris Clay on Saturday. The Blue Dragon running backs both ran for more than 1,000 yards, which is the first time in program history that HCC had two 1,000-yards backs in a season.

Anderson carried the ball 15 times and had 127 of his 138 yards in the second half. He also had a 30-yard touchdown reception on a screen pass in the second quarter and had 198 all-purpose yards in the game. Anderson was named the game's Offensive MVP.

Freshman quarterback Angelo Pease was 9 of 15 passing for 125 yards and two touchdowns. Pease also ran for 55 yards on eight carries and a touchdown.

Trailing 14-13 at halftime, the Dragons took the lead with 1:47 to play in the third quarter when Pease broke containment and ran 35 yards for a touchdown. The Dragons went for two and missed, but lead 19-14.

Sophomore Kelly Roberts gave HCC an eight-point lead on a 32-yard field goal with 1:55 to play for a 22-14 lead. Kendall Davis ended any NMMI rally with his team-high sixth interception of the season and second of the game.

Thad Williams of Hutchinson had two interceptions and nine tackles against NMMI in the first-ever Salt City Bowl on Dec. 5. Photo by Maria Brockman. 















 

Photo: Anthony Williams of NMMI had 129 yards on 29 carries and two touchdowns for the Broncos. Photo by Andrew Carpenter.