The stage at Gowans Stadium is set.
Kickoff is high noon Saturday.
The No. 1 Hutchinson Community College Blue Dragons, the defending NJCAA Division I champions, will host No. 2 Iowa Western.
Hutchinson defeated Iowa Western twice during the 2024 season. In Week 2 on Sept. 7, 2024, HutchCC defeated the Reivers 38-37. Then in the NJCAA championship game on Dec, 18, 2024, HutchCC rallied behind backup quarterback Christian Johnson to beat the Reivers 28-23.
The Blue Dragons have a 6-5 series lead against the Reivers, including three straight wins. Hutchinson has played in three of the last six national title games. The Reivers have played in four straight title games.
Johnson, who was the MVP of the 2024 title game, was named the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Offensive Player of the Week for Week 1 of the 2025 season. This is his first KJCCC Player of the Week award.
Johnson led the Blue Dragons to a 76-8 victory over New Mexico Military Institute last Saturday in Roswell, N.M., with five touchdown passes (62, 14, 18, 22 and 24 yards).
Johnson, who played just one series in the third quarter, completed 14-of-18 passes for a career-high 237 yards. He also rushed for 42 yards on 6 carries. The Blue Dragons rolled up 545 yards of total offense against New Mexico Military.
