DRAGONS TRAVEL TO GARDEN CITY SATURDAY
Hutchinson CC Sports Information
The Hutchinson Community College football team looks to secure a spot in the NJCAA National Football Playoffs with a road trip to play the Garden City Broncbusters on Saturday in the 2024 regular-season finale.
The No. 2-ranked Blue Dragons (8-1, 4-1 KJCCC) and Broncbusters (1-9, 1-4 KJCCC) will square at 11 a.m. at Broncbuster Stadium.
Hutchinson enters the final week of the regular season tied for No. 2 in the latest NJCAA Division I Football Rankings with Georgia Military (10-1), which has already completed its season. Both teams have 135 poll points.
BLUE DRAGON FOOTBALL
No. 2 Hutchinson (8-1, 4-1) at Garden City (1-9, 1-4)
When: Saturday, November 16, 2024
Where: Broncbuster Stadium, Garden City
Kickoff: 11:00 a.m.
Radio: KHUT-FM (102.9), 10:30 a.m. - Sean Boston (PBP); Rob Dreher (Analyst)
Video: Blue Dragon Sports Network, 10:30 a.m.
X: @bluedragonsport
CLICK FOR FULL BLUE DRAGON GAME NOTES (PDF Format)
A victory would lock up a spot in the national playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons under head coach Drew Dallas. If the Blue Dragons could secure the outright No. 2 spot in the final regular-season poll, they would play host to a national semifinal at Gowans Stadium on the first weekend of December. If the Dragons slip to No. 3, they would be on the road for the semifinals.
The Blue Dragons got back into the win column last Saturday as Waymond Jordan Jr. rushed for a career-high 213 yards on 24 carries and three touchdowns to lead Hutchinson to a 44-0 victory over Highland at Gowans Stadium. The Blue Dragons surpassed the 500-yard mark for total offense, while the Hutchinson defense posted its third shutout of the season, allowing only 136 total yards and just eight first downs..
Garden City enters play on Saturday after falling in a wild 49-45 battle against Iowa Central. There was a combined 839 total yards, 42 first downs and three lead changes in the game. Garden City running back Dejuan Lacey rushed for 193 yards and two touchdowns, while Tyler Nelson added 144 yards as Garden City rushed for 361 yards against the Tritons.
Two of the best overall rushing attacks will do battle on Saturday.
The Blue Dragons are No. 3 in the NJCAA in rushing at 260.2 yards per game. The Dragons 5.9 yards per carry is sixth in the nation and their 33 rushing touchdowns are third in the NJCAA. Jordan is the nation's leading individual rusher with 1,199 yards and an average of 133.2 yards per game with 17 touchdowns.
Lacy lead's Garden City's NJCAA-leading rushing offense, which averages 293.5 yards per game. Lacy ranks fourth in the NJCAA in individual rushing with 1,073 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns.
Both Hutchinson's Jordan and Garden City's Lacy have been NJCAA National Offensive Players of the Week this season.
How do each team's rushing defenses match up? The Blue Dragons are No. 4 in the NJCAA in rushing defense at 83.2 rushing yards allowed. Garden City ranks 17th in rushing defense, allowing 119.4 yards per game.