By Hutchinson CC Sports Information
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (BlueDragonSports.com) – For the second-straight regular-season meeting, the Hutchinson Community College football team and Iowa Western will meet in a No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown.
The No. 2-ranked Blue Dragons (1-0) face off against No. 2 and two-time defending NJCAA national champion Iowa Western (1-0) at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Titan Stadium in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Only twice in the 10-game series between the Blue Dragons and Reivers have both teams not been ranked (2015, 2017). This match-up will be the fourth-consecutive game where Hutchinson and Iowa Western meet with both teams ranked in the Top 3 of the NJCAA national rankings and it’s the fifth meeting overall in a matchup of Top 5 opponents, the fourth consecutive time for that occurrence.
BLUE DRAGON FOOTBALL
No. 2 Hutchinson (1-0) at No. 1 Iowa Western (1-0)
When: Saturday, September 7
Where: Titan Field, Council Bluffs, IA
Kickoff: 1 p.m.
Radio: KHUT-FM (102.9); KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5), 12:30 p.m. (Sean Boston – PBP; Daren Dunn – Color)
Video: Blue Dragon Sports Network, 12:30 p.m.
X: @bluedragonsport
CLICK FOR BLUE DRAGON GAME NOTES (PDF Format)
This will also be Hutchinson’s fourth time playing in a No. 1 vs. No. 2 game. The Blue Dragons are 2-1 in those games. Last season, the then-No. 1 Blue Dragons rallied from two double-figure first-half deficits by scoring 28 unanswered points to earn a 42-28 victory over No. 2 Iowa Western at Gowans Stadium.
The Blue Dragons won their third-straight season opener on August 29 as Waymond Jordan Jr. rushed for 179 of Hutchinson’s 365 rushing yards in a 42-10 victory over New Mexico Military at Gowans Stadium. The Blue Dragons amassed 502 total yards against the Broncos and earned a decisive victory despite going a minus 2 in turnover ratio.
Hutchinson’s defense held New Mexico Military, one of the top passing teams in the NJCAA in 2023 to just 165 yards through the air with one interception.
Iowa Western needed overtime on the road to defeat Georgia Military in its season opener last Saturday. The Reivers won 42-41 and had to made an overtime stop on a two-point conversion to secure the victory. The Reivers rolled up 539 yards total offense as quarterback Hunter Dekkers threw for 396 yards and a touchdown. Iowa Western rushed for four touchdowns against Georgia Military.
The Blue Dragons are 39-4 under fifth-year head coach Drew Dallas. The Dragons are 17-3 under Dallas in nationally ranked matchups and 13-3 in battles of Top 10 programs.
Saturday is the first in what could be three games of Hutchinson’s next four in which opponents could be ranked. This week Iowa Central, Hutchinson’s opponent next week at Gowans Stadium, is No. 8. After Ellsworth on September 28, Dodge City comes to Gowans on October 5 currently ranked No. 15.
