(Council Bluffs, IA) The Iowa Western Reivers are preparing for the NJCAA Division 1 national title game against the Hutchinson Community College Blue Dragons. This will be the second time these two programs will face off this season after Hutchinson won the previous matchup in Council Bluffs 38-37 on Sept. 7th.
These two teams rank 1 and 2 in total offense this season and each has a nomination for player of the year. The Reivers are led by standout quarterback Hunter Dekkers. The former starting quarterback for Iowa State has thrown over 3,400 yards and 30 touchdowns this season. The Reivers average just under 39 points a game and 443 yards of total offense a game and sit at 11-1 on the season with the only loss coming to the Blue Dragons in Week 2. Iowa Western has two finalists for the Player of the Year award in Dekkers and redshirt freshman Fresh Walters.
The Blue Dragons are led by star running back Waymond Jordan Jr, another finalist for the Player of the Year award. Jordan has rushed for over 1500 yards this season as well as hitting paydirt 20 times on the ground this season. Jordan, who leads the country in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, is the focal point of the Blue Dragons offense that averages 46.6 points per game and 478 yards per game.
These two teams rank 1 and 2 in total offense as they both look to win the National Title. This has been a familiar matchup in recent seasons and the all-time series is split evenly at 5-5. Hutchinson has beaten Iowa Western in four of the last five matchups with the Reiver’s only win coming in the 2022 National Title. The matchup between the Reivers and the Blue Dragons has featured a top-5 matchup in the previous four games.
The game will be aired nationally on ESPNU and ESPN+ tomorrow December 18th starting at 7:30 CST.
