🏈 Blue Dragons seek back-to-back titles behind balanced, battle-tested foundation

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Community College entered the 2025 football season with the confidence of a defending national champion and the weight of a preseason No. 1 ranking. Twelve games later, the Blue Dragons have met every challenge, earning a return trip to Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium for Wednesday’s NJCAA Division I Football Championship game against a familiar opponent in Iowa Western.

For head coach Drew Dallas, who is leading the program into its fourth title-game appearance in six seasons, the moment still carries the same electricity as his first.

“It’s always an exciting day, and just the opportunity to come out and compete for our ultimate goal that we set out to do at the beginning of the year is really fun,” Dallas said.

Hutchinson began the year with a symbolic detour, stopping in Canyon during a Week 1 trip to New Mexico for a brief practice inside the venue that would ultimately determine its fate.

“It was a pretty cool deal to start the season off where you want to end the season,” Dallas said. “The timing of that trip was perfect to set the tone for what we wanted to accomplish. Being back here is special, but we know that is not the ultimate goal. We want to take care of business and win it.”

The Blue Dragons arrive with momentum after a 27-0 semifinal victory over Northwest Mississippi, their third shutout of the season. The defense allowed few explosive plays, dominated third down, and controlled field position, which Dallas described as the natural result of consistent execution.

“When you are good at extending drives, getting off the field on third down and playing great special teams, time of possession comes naturally,” Dallas said. “It is a great stat to look back on and say we are doing a lot of things really well.”

Offensive coordinator Tony Koehling has witnessed every layer of the Hutchinson-Iowa Western rivalry, having coached for both programs before joining the Blue Dragons in 2023. He said the continued success of each school stems from stability and culture.

“Both programs are run at an elite level,” Koehling said. “They recruit some of the best players in the country because of the continued success. I think it is a testament to the coaching staffs and how both places are able to rebuild and recreate the culture every year.”

The centerpiece of Hutchinson’s offense is sophomore quarterback Christian Johnson, who returned after taking snaps in last year’s national championship. Koehling called Johnson one of the best competitors to come through the program.

“Christian is an elite player,” Koehling said. “He learns from mistakes and just continues to get better week in and week out. One of his best games was this past week, and I think he has really done a good job understanding when to lean on Derrick Salley Jr. and when to spread the ball to guys like LT Robinson Jr., Bobby Shaw III and Eddie McLaughlin.”

Hutchinson’s rushing attack has evolved through a committee system that features different skill sets at running back. Koehling said the group has made steady progress despite the challenge of replacing last year’s All-American Waymond Jordan Jr.

“The rushing attack has done what we needed it to do,” Koehling said. “Iowa Western is always so good against the run, and last year they made some adjustments that affected us. It will be interesting to see how we attack them Wednesday because controlling the game on the ground also helps our defense.”

Koehling said Hutchinson’s offensive line, a unit he personally coaches, has improved significantly since the teams met in Week 2.

“I think our group is a lot better now,” he said. “We have a deep group with guys like Dylan Nolan-Cook, Rashad Smith and Mason Thrush. They just need to play really hard. Iowa Western has one of the top defensive lines in the country, and they always make it tough.”

Defensive coordinator Matt Wallerstedt is back in the title game for the second consecutive year and said the character of this roster has driven the unit’s performance from spring ball through December.

“We have really good players, a great staff and a strong culture,” Wallerstedt said. “This group is full of football guys with no issues off the field. They hold each other accountable and love playing together.”

That cohesion showed in the semifinal shutout, when Hutchinson’s speed overwhelmed Northwest Mississippi.

“We are playing so fast that if we make mistakes, we overlap them,” Wallerstedt said. “We are not getting caught in those mistakes because guys are playing with effort and overlapping mistakes.”

The Blue Dragons’ defensive depth has been a defining factor. The line rotates freely, linebackers stay fresh, and the secondary rarely breaks down.

“When you have depth, especially on the defensive line, you can keep guys fresh,” Wallerstedt said. “We have been nicked up, but we have not lost many key guys, which has been crucial.”

Wallerstedt highlighted the emergence of linebacker Teegan Haynes, whom he calls “T-Blade,” along with Jack Sells and a fully healthy Chris Robinson. All three have helped maintain a fast, physical identity at the second level.

Iowa Western’s offense presents one of Hutchinson’s steepest tests. Quarterback Malachi Marshall’s dual-threat ability, combined with a wide range of formations and pre-snap motion, forces defenders to play disciplined, detailed football.

“They are always a lot of smoke and mirrors,” Wallerstedt said. “They challenge your rules and force you to keep your eyes where they are supposed to be. We are going to have to run to the football, get 11 hats in the frame and tackle whoever has the ball.”

To win, Wallerstedt said Hutchinson must eliminate explosive plays and maintain composure.

“We have to play assignment sound, limit explosive plays, be good in the red zone and win the turnover battle,” he said. “Just play through adversity, keep talking, keep listening and play electric and together.”

Wednesday’s matchup marks the fourth time in 15 months that Hutchinson and Iowa Western have met, and Koehling said the familiarity creates a chess match that continues from year to year.

“When you know each other so well, you have to make adjustments and show things they have not seen,” Koehling said. “But the biggest thing is getting our best players the ball and sticking to our identity.”

Dallas echoed that theme, saying both coaching staffs excel in preparation and in-game adjustments.

“These games are always evenly matched and usually come down to a few plays,” Dallas said. “We want to prepare our guys for a four-quarter battle and be ready to adjust to whatever they show.”

For the Blue Dragons, the roadmap is clear. Play their brand of football. Stay steady. Execute. And finish.

“At the end of the day, if you cannot get up to compete for a national championship, you probably should not be on the field,” Dallas said.