By SEAN BOSTON
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — With the coaching staff intact after a national title run and a roster heavy on returners at the right spots, No. 1 Hutchinson Community College heads to Roswell this week seeking a clean, businesslike opener against New Mexico Military Institute. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. Saturday from Colt Field on the NMMI campus.
The game will be broadcasted on the flagship station for Blue Dragon football and basketball, Country 102.9 KHUT-FM with Countdown to Kickoff starting at 12:30 p.m.
“We’re where we need to be,” head coach Drew Dallas said. “Every day gets a little cleaner. Now it’s time to gauge where we’re at against another opponent.”
Dallas expects a charged, on-campus military-school atmosphere and a natural-grass surface reminiscent of last November’s trip to Georgia Military. “It’ll be a rowdy environment with the cadets right on top of you,” he said. “Handling our emotions and the little things, penalties, ball security, quarterback-center exchange, that’s how you escape Week 1 with a win when both teams are unveiling new wrinkles.”
Dallas named Christian Johnson the starting quarterback and praised his command of the system. “He’s taken that next step,” Dallas said. “He can make every throw and make plays with his feet. His experience gives us stability early.”
Offensive Coordinator Tony Koehling called this “as much experience as we’ve had, top to bottom,” and said Johnson’s third year should expand what the Dragons can do at the line of scrimmage. “With Christian being a third-year guy, it helps the offensive line, too,” Koehling said. “We can put a little more on the quarterback’s back with in-game adjustments.”
Dallas also emphasized Hudson Ferralez as a priority No. 2 who will see meaningful early reps. “Hudson will be a big part of what we do,” he said. “We want to bring him along the way we did with Christian last year.”
The run game shifts from a feature back to a committee after the graduation of Waymond Jordan Jr., who's now the starting tailback at Southern California, Dallas pointed to Rashaud Hurt and Titus Petteway among a “good host” of backs. “Early in the year you work through rotations with live tackling,” he said. “Who protects the ball? Who gets yards after contact? Those answers come under the lights.”
On the perimeter, returning playmakers Derrick Salley Jr., L.T. Robinson and Kordell Gouldsby headline the receivers. Dallas said Gouldsby’s leap from return ace to complete receiver has been noticeable: “We’ve known what he can do with the ball in his hands; now he’s a real receiver threat.” Tight end is deep and diverse with Cole Coonrod, Jabari Harris and Kaiden Seamster, giving the staff personnel flexibility.
“The identity may tweak week to week,” Koehling said. “We’ll stay true to our principles, but we’ll do what this group does best.”
Koehling’s biggest early read: the interior is ahead of schedule, tackles are talented but new. “We’re really strong inside at center and both guards, experience and depth, and we can rotate,” he said. At tackle, transfers Gus Thuston and Leon Brigham “fit right away,” while 6-foot-9 Jacob Hawks (Washburn Rural) is a massive, high-ceiling freshman who “might be one of the biggest recruits to come out of here if it clicks.”
The line has “really gotten good” at gap-scheme concepts. “Our counters and power, they understand how to run it versus a lot of fronts,” Koehling said. Simplicity is the philosophy: “I try to keep it universal so they can play fast.”
Defensive Coordinator Matt Wallerstedt said the unit is “executing at a high level” with a second offseason in the scheme. “We’ve got good depth; we can keep guys fresh,” he said. “This D-line can be special.”
Inside, K.J. Henson has paired his pass-rush with improved run fits; Jeffrey Manns II can play both three-tech and nose; TaVeon Robinson has matured from raw to explosive; newcomers Jacob Griffin and Elijah Jackson add heft. “They’ve grown up,” Wallerstedt said. “We can line-change up front and still affect the passer.”
Linebacker is deeper than last fall. Brady Whitman and freshman Jack Sells are battling at Mike; Tyler Lassiter (Garden City transfer) brings throwback physicality as he returns from a foot issue; Teegan Haines (McPherson HS, Garden City CC), Chris Robinson (Oklahoma State) and Amir Hill (moved down from safety) round out a long, athletic room. “We’ll grade and rotate,” Wallerstedt said, noting last year’s successful week-to-week combinations.
On the back end, boundary-corner-turned-safety DJ Jester and M.J. Graham “quarterback” the coverages. Corners Rayshawn Reynolds Jr. and Earl Parker had strong springs; MJ Harrell swings between field corner and nickel; transfer Da'Mun Allen is in the boundary mix; Johnathan Boyd and Bryce Summerall give nickel length and explosiveness. “We’re roughly three-deep across five DB spots,” Wallerstedt said.
The emphasis now is emotional control. “We’ve got better chemistry and leadership,” he said. “Last year, when things wobbled, it could snowball. A guy like DJ Jester has flipped, now he’s the one steadying the group. The test is simple: if we get scored on the first drive, do we play 60 level-headed minutes?”
Dallas called hidden-yardage “a big reason we won tight games” last year, and co-Special Teams Coordinator Andy Krause expects that to remain a weekly advantage even with new specialists.
Placekicker Alejandro De La Poza (Mallorca, Spain/Sunrise Christian) brings accuracy, height and upside. The punting room is headlined by Denzel Moore, “NFL-looking hang and turnover; he can punt with either foot,” Krause said, with Max Flowers and Sam Rayborn providing depth as Rayborn plays into shape. Long snapper is an open competition between veteran Dalton Rokey and freshman Austin Cornett; Krause praised Rokey’s accuracy and Cornett’s speed and physicality.
In the return game, Gouldsby remains the focal point. “We coach special teams like offense and defense,” Krause said. “Field position and momentum, we want that advantage every week.”
Dallas is in Year 6 as head coach and credits administrative support and community buy-in for the program’s stability. “Our families love Hutchinson,” he said. “Consistency with the staff makes everything run more efficiently and trickles down to the players.”
Wallerstedt said an intact defensive staff accelerated the spring install. “Last year everyone was swimming,” he said. “This year, coaches and veterans taught it together. It’s been smooth.”
Koehling echoed the fit. “Coach Dallas recruited me here,” he said. “We see the game the same way. It’s a good place to work, and a good place for players to grow.”
No new uniforms for the Blue Dragons in 2025, but “same look, maybe new combos,” Dallas said. The program’s core remains unchanged: play fast, be clean, lean on depth and win the field-position battle.
“Just another opportunity to showcase who we want to be,” Dallas said. “We’ll adjust to what we see and let our experience show up in the critical moments.”