SEAN BOSTON
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The National Junior College Athletic Association released its preseason Top 15 football poll on Monday afternoon, and the Hutchinson Community College Blue Dragons come in at No. 2.
HutchCC comes in just behind Iowa Western, who beat the Blue Dragons last December in the national championship game in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Blue Dragons will play the Reivers in the regular season finale on Nov. 11 at Gowans Stadium.
The Blue Dragons are one of four Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference teams ranked in the initial poll. Coffeyville is No. 7, Garden City No. 9, and Butler No. 12.
Hutchinson will open the season this Saturday in Corsicana, Texas against No. 11 Navarro College. The game will be broadcasted on Country 102.9-FM, the radio home for Blue Dragon athletics. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. with Papa Johns Countdown to Kickoff beginning at 6:30 p.m.
This marks the fifth consecutive year that the Blue Dragons have started a season ranked in the Top 5 of the national rankings. The Blue Dragons started the 2022 season ranked No. 3 and in 2021, they were preseason No. 1. In 2020-21 they were picked No. 1 and went wire-to-wire to win the national championship. The 2019 Blue Dragons were picked No. 5.
NJCAA DI Football Preseason Poll
1. Iowa Western (10 1st Place votes)
2. Hutchinson
3. Northwest Mississippi
4. Snow College
5. Kilgore College
6. Jones College
7. Coffeyville
8. East Mississippi
9. Garden City
10. Iowa Central
11. Navarro
12. Butler
13. Georgia Military
14. Lackawanna College
15. Trinity Valley