LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — No. 1 Hutchinson (11-0) is set for a rematch with No. 3 Iowa Western (8-2) Wednesday in War Memorial Stadium for the national championship.
VIDEO ABOVE: Dragon head coach Drew Dallas talks about playing in Little Rock for the second time in three seasons.
VIDEO ABOVE: The nation's No. 1 recruit, Malik Benson — Lansing, Kansas, native and Alabama commit, talks about the blessing of being in the championship.
VIDEO ABOVE: KJCCC Offensive Player of the Year, running back Dylan Kedzior, whose game-winning touchdown in Week 4 at Coffeyville set the tone for Hutchinson's current rushing attack (averaging 7.76 yards per carry), talks about his mindset no matter his role.
Iowa Western (the then-No. 4 team in the nation) moved up to No. 3 despite the loss as the No. 2 and No. 3 teams in the nation also fell in the same week.
The Reivers earned a spot in the round-of-four playoff and beat NW Mississippi Dec. 4 in Senatobia, Mississippi.
Meanwhile, the Dragons rematched KJCCC-rival Coffeyville (No. 4) on Dec. 3. Hutchinson gained a slight 10-7 halftime lead before cruising to 38-7 victory.
This is Hutchinson's second trip to the national championship game in three seasons. The Dragons won a program-first title in the spring-shortened season of 2021.
Pollsters left Hutchinson out of the top four playoff one season ago as the Dragons were slapped in the face with a No. 5 final-season ranking one year ago (fall of 2021).
Meanwhile, Iowa Western (last fall's No. 1) played in the national championship last fall, but lost to No. 2 New Mexico Military 31-13.
Because of the pandemic and shortened season of 2020-2021 (championship played in spring of 2021), both teams actually played for a national title one year ago — Hutchinson in the spring and Iowa Western in the fall.
Catch Countdown To Kickoff from War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Arkansas, at 7 p.m. Wednesday on Country 102.9 or KWBW Radio (1450 AM/98.5 FM). *The game will also be broadcast on ESPNU.
Eagle Radio's Glen Grunwald and Daren Dunn will have the call from Little Rock. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. local time.
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