Anwar Lewis moves up career rushing list in Hutchinson Blue Dragons' win over Highland

HIGHLAND – Anwar Lewis' name is starting to float around the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference. 

Why? His quick feet and speed has him moving up the Blue Dragons football career rushing list, which he did in Saturday's 20-7 win over the Highland Scotties in Highland. The win also snaps a three-game losing skid at Porter Family Stadium.

Lewis rushed for 174 of the 180 net total rushing yards for the Blue Dragons. He also, and finally, found the endzone in the fourth quarter to the put the game out of reach for the Scotties on a 38-yard run to the promise land. Lewis alone accounted for more than half of the team's total yards: 317 yards.

"Kudos to him," Blue Dragons head football coach Drew Dallas said. "He's a tough runner. I felt like he was close on a lot of runs all day long and then at the end got the spring going. Another good one by him."

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Lewis moves from 19th to 13th on the Blue Dragons career-rushing list and marked the fourth game in a row he ran for over 100 yards in a game, which is the most since 2018. With the win, the Blue Dragons are now 3-3 on the year and in conference play heading into the final regular season game of the year at Dodge City next Saturday.

"Any time you come up to Highland, Kan. and get a win, it's good," Dallas said. "I mean, that's a tough place to come play, and I've been on other ends of it. I've seen other scores with worse outcomes. So, for us to come in on a long road trip and get a win, it's exciting."

Not like last season

Last season – earlier in the spring  – the Blue Dragons routed the Scotties 77-7, a game that included a pick-six and blocked punt that resulted in a touchdown. 

Saturday was a completely different result, in addition to the fixed punting unit on the Highland side. Although the Blue Dragons scored quickly and early with a seven-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Dylan Laible to Russell Wikley, the Scotties forced two punts and a turnover-on-downs to get the Blue Dragons offense off the field. The Blue Dragons scored before the half ended with an eight-yard pass to Malik Benson.

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Both scoring drives in the first half used 10 plays, but the two punts and turnover-on-downs combined for 10 plays. 

Despite that, the Blue Dragons defense managed to enjoy their time on the field, literally. To start, the Scotties punted the ball five straight times and threw two interceptions, which were both picked off by Blue Dragons defensive back Deshon Singleton. As a whole, the defense played well, Dallas said.

"I think with the exception of that long pass play that was broken at the end, we really made them earn it all the way down the field," Dallas said. "We had a couple stops in the red zone. I'd like to see (our guys) get off (the field) on third down on a couple times in some third-and-long situations, and Highland was able to convert due to a penalty or just a big play. Other than than, shoot, they played really well and pressured the quarterback all night long."

Dodge City

Last season, it was all Blue Dragons in the last meeting of the year where Hutch routed Dodge City 70-14 in the home finale and officially won the Jayhawk conference title. Now, the Blue Dragons are fighting for KJCCC playoff positioning and possibly hosting a playoff game. 

As of Saturday at 6 p.m., the Blue Dragons sit in fifth place in the conference behind Garden City, who will play Butler Saturday, Oct. 30. A lot will need to happen for the Blue Dragons to host a playoff game.

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First, another road test awaits, and there is a lot of football left to be played.

"I think really after next week, you control your own destiny as far as how long you're playing," Dallas said. "Another quality opponent from here in the Jayhawk conference, and we're going to have to play well to go out and get a win."