BLUE DRAGONS WIN SEASON OPENER OVER NMMI

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

Waymond Jordan Jr. rushed for a career-high total and the Hutchinson Community College football team rushed for well over 350 yards to win its third-straight season opener and remain undefeated in game played on Thursday night.

The No. 3-ranked Blue Dragons jumped out to a 28-point lead and rolled to a 42-10 victory over New Mexico Military Institute on Thursday night in Gowans Stadium in the 2024 season opener in front of a national television audience on ESPN+.

The 1-0 Blue Dragons now travel to Council Bluffs, Iowa on Saturday, September 7 to take on No. 1-ranked Iowa Western.

The Blue Dragons are now 8-0 all-time playing on Thursday. This was Hutchinson's first Thursday night game since 2019.

After an injury-plagued freshman season where Blue Dragon fans only saw flashes of Jordan's ability, the sophomore running back from Pensacola, Florida had a breakout game against the Broncos on Thursday. Jordan rushed for a career-best 179 yards on 14 carries and two touchdowns. Jordan scored on runs of 26 and 54 yards and averaged 12.8 yards per carry.

Jordan led the Blue Dragons to a 365-yard rushing night against New Mexico Military. The Dragons out-rushed NMMI 365-150.

Overall, the Dragons out-gained the Broncos 502-315.

Titus Petteway rushed for 56 yards on six carries and Walter Samuel had 32 rush yards on six carries.

Blue Dragon quarterbacks combined for three passing touchdowns. Samari Collier was 5 of 19 for 96 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. Collier also rushed for 49 yards on five carries. Christian Johnson was 1 of 3 for 41 yards and a touchdown.

Receiver Derrick Salley Jr. had two receptions, both for touchdowns, with 53 receiving yards. Ja'Cory Thomas had two catches for 74 yards and a 68-yard touchdown strike from Collier.

LaModrick Spencer led the Dragons with nine total tackles. Duke Clayton Jr. and Jace Boswell had eight tackles lead. Avian Rice had the Blue Dragons first interception of the season.

NMMI quarterback Elliott Pasket-Bell completed 19 of 34 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown. He was also the Broncos' leading rusher with 50 yards on eight carries. Kris Harbin had seven catches for 59 yards and a touchdown.

After two early empty possessions, including a turnover, the Blue Dragons offense got going on their third possession of the game. Jordan's 26-yard touchdown run capped a 13-play, 72-yard drive for a 7-0 lead with 7:29 to play in the opening quarter.

The Dragons made it 14-0 on their next possession when a wide-open Thomas caught a 68-yard touchdown strike from Collier with 4:12 to play.

Rice's interception near midfield was returned 24 yards to the NMMI 25 to set up a third-straight scoring drive for Hutchinson. Salley made a dazzling one-handed catch in the back of the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown pass from Collier for a 21-0 lead with 2:16 to play in the first quarter.

The Dragons scored only once in the second quarter. Salley hauled on a 41-yard scoring strike from Johnson with 3:22 remaining to cap a three-play, 80-yard march to boost the Hutchinson lead to 28-0. NMMI followed with its only touchdown drive of the game. The Broncos needed nine plays to cover 75 yards. Harbin caught a 9-yard touchdown pass to cut the Dragon lead to 28-7 at halftime.

The first Hutchinson possession of the third quarter was all Jordan. First, he had a 19-yard carry for a first down to the NMMI 46. Jordan then broke loose for the remaining 54 yards on the next play to score his second touchdown of the game and give the Blue Dragons a 35-7 lead with 14:24 to go in the third quarter.

With most of the fourth quarter being played in rain, the Dragons' only tally of the final quarter was a Johnson 8-yard touchdown run with 9:51 to play. NMMI added a Jack Nelson 26-yard field goal with 4:44 remaining.

GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons are now 56-35-2 in 93 season openers. … The Dragons are 66-24-2 in home openers in program history. … The Dragons are now 4-0 all-time against New Mexico Military. … Hutchinson and NMMI will open the 2025 season with the game played in Roswell, New Mexico. … The Blue Dragons have won 22 of their last 25 season openers. … This was HutchCC's first 300-yard rushing game since rushing for 353 on September 30, 2023 at Butler. … The Blue Dragon defense had just two quarterback sacks, but 11 quarterback pressures.