🏈 Dragons dominate semifinal, set up championship rematch with Reivers

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HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Top-ranked Hutchinson Community College delivered a dominant performance Saturday night, shutting out No. 4 Northwest Mississippi 27-0 in the NJCAA Division I Football National Semifinal at Gowans Stadium to earn a return trip to the national championship game.

The shutout was Hutchinson’s third of the season and marked the first time Northwest Mississippi had been blanked since Oct. 16, 2014 — a span of 109 games.

With the win, the Blue Dragons (11-0) advance to face No. 2 Iowa Western on Wednesday, Dec. 17, in Canyon, Texas. It will be Hutchinson’s second straight appearance and fourth overall, and a rematch of last year’s championship game — a 28-23 Blue Dragon victory. Iowa Western defeated No. 3 Tyler, 41-29, on Friday to reach its fifth consecutive title game.

Hutchinson set the tone from the opening drive, marching 75 yards in 11 plays before Hutchinson native Kade Smith capped it with a 5-yard touchdown run at the 10:11 mark. The Dragons struck twice more in the second quarter, first with a short-field 5-yard touchdown pass from Christian Johnson to Bobby Shaw III, then with Johnson’s 10-yard scoring run to make it 21-0 with 8:26 left in the half.

Alejandro de la Poza drilled a 44-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter, pushing the lead to 24-0, and added a 20-yard kick midway through the fourth to finish the scoring.

Johnson paced the offense with 223 passing yards on 18 of 26 attempts and 103 rushing yards with a touchdown. Shaw caught three passes for 69 yards and a score, while Derrick Salley Jr. added seven receptions for 84 yards. Hutchinson outgained the Rangers 371-220 and held the ball for nearly 39 minutes.

The Blue Dragon defense was overwhelming throughout, allowing just 40 rushing yards, forcing two fumbles, recording three sacks and consistently winning field position. Northwest quarterback Neko Fann completed 17 of 31 passes for 180 yards but was pressured all night.

Hutchinson will face Iowa Western at 7 p.m. on Dec. 17 at Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium in Canyon, Texas, seeking the third national championship in program history.