Coffeyville, Kan. - What a start to the season! The Coffeyville Community College Red Raven Football Team opened up their 2021 season with an outstanding 17-10 defeat of the #1 NJCAA ranked and reigning NJCAA National Champions Hutchinson Community College Blue Dragons. The Blue Dragons had won 10 games in a row dating back to the end of the 2019 season including the 2020-21 spring season that saw them go 8-0 and win the 2020 NJCAA Football Championship. The 17-10 victory gives the Ravens an early 1-0 record on the 2021 season with a quality victory over the #1 ranked team in the nation.
The initial start to the game was not exactly how the Ravens had drawn in up. The Ravens received the opening kick-off and on their second play from scrimmage Coffeyville coughed up a fumble that Hutchinson was able to scoop up and race 24 yards for the touchdown. Barely 50 seconds into the game, the Ravens found themselves down 7-0.
However, Coffeyville's defense came to play on the night. The Ravens would not give up a defensive score for the rest of the first half.
The Red Raven offense slowly came to life with a 28-yard field goal by the Red Raven freshman kicker Forrest Taylor at the 4:57 mark of the second quarter to get the Ravens on the board 7-3.
The end of the second quarter saw Coffeyville's offense finally fully come to life when the Red Ravens scored on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Coffeyville sophomore quarterback Jakson Thomson to Raven sophomore wide receiver Cortarious Wilson. With the touchdown, the Red Ravens went into halftime with a 10-7 lead.
The third quarter saw a big momentum play by the Coffeyville special teams as the Ravens blocked a Blue Dragon punt and freshman DB Rian Green snatched up the blocked punt in the end zone for the Red Raven touchdown. Taylor for the Red Ravens converted the extra point and Coffeyville had a 17-7 lead at the 9:17 mark of the third quarter.
The only offensive points scored by Hutchinson in the second half was a 21-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter to pull the score to 17-10 in favor of the Red Ravens. With some nail-biting through the fourth quarter, Coffeyville was able to secure the 17-10 victory.
Even though Hutchinson outgained Coffeyville on the night 365 yards to 278 yards, it was the ferociously hard-hitting Raven defense that seemed to pop up at all the most opportune times. The Red Raven defense caused a total of 7 Hutchinson turnovers on the night (2 interceptions and 5 lost fumbles). Those turnovers were the key to the Red Raven victory.
Statistical leaders for the Red Ravens including quarterback Jakson Thomson who went 11-24 for 140 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. Freshman running back Star Thomas led the Ravens on the ground with 77 yards on 16 attempts. Receiver Cortarious Wilson hauled in 4 passes for 50 yards and a touchdown.
Coffeyville will look to go 2-0 on the season as the Red Ravens will host the Conquistadors of Dodge City in their next game on Saturday, September 11th. The kick-off is set for 7:00 pm in Veterans Memorial Stadium on the 11th.
