BACK AT NO. 1; DRAGONS TAKE ON NO. 12 IOWA CENTRAL
Hutchinson CC Sports Information
The Hutchinson Community College football team plays its 22nd nationally ranked opponent in head coach Drew Dallas' tenure as the No. 1-ranked Blue Dragons play host to the No. 12-ranked Iowa Central Tritons on Saturday.
Kickoff is scheduled for Noon at Hutchinson's Gowans Stadium. Saturday's game is "Salt City Day" with the Blue Dragons.
BLUE DRAGON FOOTBALL
No. 1 Hutchinson (2-0) vs. No. 12 Iowa Central (1-1)
Salt City Day
When: Saturday, September 14, 2024
Where: Gowans Stadium, Hutchinson, KS
Kickoff: Noon
Radio: KHUT-FM (102.9), 11:30 a.m. – Sean Boston (PBP), Rob Dreher (Analyst)
Video: Blue Dragon Sports Network, 11:30 p.m. - Sean Boston (PBP), Rob Dreher (Analyst)
X: @bluedragonsport
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For the fourth season of Dallas' five as head coach, the Blue Dragons (2-0) have ascended to the No. 1 spot in the NJCAA Division I National rankings. The Dragons switched spots this week with Iowa Western after a 38-37 Hutchinson victory last Saturday in Council Bluffs, Iowa in the second-straight No. 1 vs. No. 2 battle in that series' history.
With the latest No. 1 ranking, the Blue Dragons have been ranked No. 1 in 30 of the 56 polls released during the Dallas era. The Dragons have been ranked in the NJCAA Top 3 in 31 consecutive polls and have been ranked in 36 straight polls, the third-longest run in program history.
Hutchinson got 175 rushing yards and a touchdown from back-to-back KJCCC Offensive Player of the Week winner Waymond Jordan Jr. Quarterback Samari Collier had 245 total yards (156 passing, 89 rushing) with three total touchdowns against Iowa Western as the Blue Dragons amassed 455 total yards with no turnovers in the victory.
The Blue Dragons and Tritons meet for the third-straight season as ranked opponents. When the teams met in 2022 at Gowans, Cole Segraves booted a 39-yard walk-off field goal in overtime to lead No. 2 Hutchinson over No. 7 Iowa Central 31-28. Last year, defensive back Ryan Nolan tied a Blue Dragon single-game record with three interceptions as No. 1 Hutchinson defeated No. 5 Iowa Central 27-2.
The Tritons (1-1) rolled to a season-opening 56-7 victory over Community Christian (Mich.) College on opening weekend. Iowa Central was then stunned in its home opener last week by then-No. 13 Highland 14-13. Both teams did not score in the second half.
The Tritons bring a stingy defense into Saturday's contest with the Blue Dragons. Iowa Central is allowing only 10.5 points and 195.0 total yards per game this season.
The Blue Dragons counter with offensive averages of 40.0 points and 478.5 yards per game. Hutchinson ranks No. 3 in rushing offense 309.5 yards per game with Jordan leading the nation individually in rushing with 373 yards.
Saturday's game opens a stretch of three-straight home games for the Blue Dragons. After the first of two bye weeks next weekend, the Blue Dragons play host to Ellsworth on September 28 and Dodge City on October 5.