Mar 23, 2021

🏈 Blue Dragon Football are No. 1 in NJCAA Preseason Poll

Posted Mar 23, 2021 3:48 AM

By STEVE CARPENTER -Hutchinson CC Sports Information

New Hutchinson Community College football coach Drew Dallas has been waiting for more than a year to coach his first game.

When the Blue Dragons and Coffeyville finally meet Friday night at Gowans Stadium, Dallas’ first game will be as the head coach of the preseason No. 1 team in the NJCAA Football Rankings.

Released on Monday, the Blue Dragons were atop the 2021 national rankings for the first time in program history.

This is only the second time in team history the Blue Dragons are No. 1 in the national rankings. Hutchinson spent five weeks at No. 1 in the 2019 season, a year where the Dragons finished 10-2 and ranked No. 3 in the final NJCAA poll.

Hutchinson, Iowa Western, Lackawanna, Kilgore and Garden City make up the Top 5. The Blue Dragons and Reivers won’t play this season with the shorted eight-game season because of Coronavirus protocols.  Hutchinson and Garden City were tied in the Jayhawk Conference preseason coaches’ poll.

Hutchinson secured three of the six first-place votes. Iowa Western, Lackawanna and Butler each received one first-place vote.

Butler is No. 7 and Independence is No. 9 in the preseason rankings. Coffeyville was receiving votes.

The Blue Dragons open the new season on Friday against the Red Ravens at 7 p.m. at Gowans Stadium. Game 2 will take place on Saturday, April 3 at Butler.

NJCAA PRESEASON FOOTBALL RANKINGS

                                                                        Points           1st-place votes

1. Hutchinson Community College          111                3

2. Iowa Western Community College      108                1

3. Lackawanna College                                   107                1

4. Kilgore College                                              84                 0

5. Garden City Community College           82                 0

6. Iowa Central Community College        82                 0

7. Butler Community College - KS           76                 1

8. Navarro College                                          75                  0

9. Independence Community College   67                  0

10. Snow College                                            50                  0

Receiving Votes: New Mexico Military, ASA Miami, Trinity Valley, Coffeyville