STEVE CARPENTER
HutchCC Sports Information
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Jerry Moran, Kansas’ senior U.S. Senator, in conjunction with fellow Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, introduced a resolution earlier this summer to recognize the Hutchinson Community College football team for winning the 2020-21 NJCAA National Championship.
Moran came to Hutchinson on Friday to meet the national champions and present framed copies of the resolution to Blue Dragon head coach Drew Dallas, NJCAA Championship Game MVP Tye Edwards, Blue Dragon Athletic Director Josh Gooch and Hutchinson Community College president, Dr. Carter File.
The ceremony took place in the Gallery Theatre in Stringer Fine Art Center. Also in attendance was the entire Blue Dragon coaching staff, all the returning players who were on the 2020-21 roster and the Hutchinson Community College Board of Trustees.
“It’s such a pleasure to be in Hutchinson to recognize a winning football team and to what that means to the college, the community and to the state of Kansas,” Moran said. “We were able to successfully to get the United States Senate to pass a resolution to congratulate and commend the team, the athletic leadership and the college leadership here in Hutchinson.”
In Dallas’ first season as head coach, the 2020-21 Blue Dragons ran the table to capture the program’s eighth Jayhawk Conference championship and produce only the third undefeated regular season in team history at 7-0.
Ranked No. 1 in the preseason poll, the Blue Dragons maintained that lofty ranking and earned a spot in the NJCAA Championship Game to face No. 2 Snow College.
Hutchinson trailed 14-0 and 21-10 before rallying in the final 18 minutes of the game to defeat Snow 29-27 for the first football national championship in Blue Dragon history. Edwards was named the game’s Most Valuable Player rushing for 130 yards and two touchdowns.
Then on July 20, the United States Senate passed Senator Moran’s resolution commending and congratulating the Blue Dragons for winning the national championship.
“I asked if we could get a resolution drafted to honor and recognize the accomplishment,” Moran said. “I worked my may around the Senate floor and talked to my colleagues about getting this done. Ultimately this resolution passed unanimously.”
The Blue Dragons begin defense of that title on Saturday, September 4 in Coffeyville.