By Hutchinson CC Sports Information
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (BlueDragonSports.com) – Opening week saw one Top 5 team fall, which meant the Hutchinson Community College football team is preparing for another No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup with Iowa Western on Saturday in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
The Blue Dragons moved up one spot to No. 2 on Tuesday after Hutchinson opened the 2024 season with a 42-10 victory over New Mexico Military last Thursday at Gowans Stadium. Hutchinson’s win combined with former No. 2 East Mississippi’s loss to then No. 10 Mississippi Gulf Coast last Thursday prompted the Blue Dragon move.
CLICK FOR THIS WEEK’S NJCAA DIVISION I FOOTBALL RANKINGS
Iowa Western had its own issues at No. 11 Georgia Military. The Reivers survived a 42-41 overtime bid to Georgia Military, which missed overtime two-point try while going for the victory.
Saturday’s game marks the second-straight regular-season matchup that the Blue Dragons and Reivers meet as a 1 vs. 2 matchup and third-straight season (four overall meetings) they clash as Top 5 teams.
Last season, the Blue Dragons trailed Iowa Western 13-0 and 21-7 in the first half. The Dragons rallied with 28 unanswered points to defeat the Reivers 42-28 at Gowans Stadium.
Hutchinson has now been ranked in 35 consecutive NJCAA rankings. That is the third-longest consecutive run in the national poll in program history. The Blue Dragons were ranked in 45-straight polls from 2010 to 2013 and in 38 consecutive polls from 2018 to 2021.
The Top 5 has Iowa Western, Hutchinson, Kilgore, Snow and Trinity Valley.
Three KJCCC teams remain within the Top 15. Highland (1-0) is at No. 13 and Dodge City (1-0) is at No. 15. Garden City and Butler are receiving votes.
