Blue Dragon Sports Information

There could be a significant shakeup in the NJCAA Football Rankings after Week 6 and the Hutchinson Community College Football team could be a major part of that shift.

The No. 13-ranked Blue Dragons play host to No. 3 Independence in a Noon Jayhawk Conference kickoff at Gowans Stadium. That game is one of three games in the NJCAA featuring ranked teams squaring off. The others are No. 1 Snow playing host to No. 4 Iowa Western (2 p.m. CT) and No. 12 Monroe playing host to No. 11 Lackawanna (6 p.m. CT).

The Blue Dragons put themselves in position to get back into both the KJCCC and national pictures following an 0-2 start to the season after last week's 24-16 road victory over then-No. 8 Garden City to even their overall and league record to 2-2. Hutchinson returned to the NJCAA national rankings at No. 13.

Running Back Anwar Lewis rushed for 162 yards and had 205 all-purpose yards to lead the Blue Dragons. Quarterback Dylan Laible had a huge final 15 minutes, going 5 of 6 for 124 yards with touchdown passes of 44 yards to Cortez Braham and 23 yards to Micah Woods in a fourth-quarter Hutchinson fourth quarter comeback. Defensively, linebacker Martavius French had a season-high 14 tackles to lead the Blue Dragons defensively.

The Pirates have started the season 5-0 overall and 4-0 in the KJCCC. Two weeks ago, the Pirates were No. 2 in the NJCAA Rankings, but were jumped by Jones College this past week despite a 31-0 victory over Highland and a 26-13 road win at then No. 3-Garden City two weeks ago. The Pirates have won seven games in a row dating back to last season.

Independence boasts the third-best scoring defense and the second-best total defense in the NJCAA to this point in the season. The Pirates are allowing averages of 9.4 points and 161.2 total yards per game. Indy's rush defense ranks third in the NJCAA (45.2 yards per game) and fourth in pass defense (116.0 yards per game). The Pirates have forced 21 takeaways and lead the nation with 22 quarterback sacks.

Saturday's matchup between the Blue Dragon and Pirates will be the 85th overall meeting in a series that dates back to 1930. The Blue Dragons have more wins over Independence than any other opponent. The Dragons lead the overall series 56-23-5.

Last season at Independence, the Blue Dragons earned a huge 42-24 win over No. 7 Independence. Laible replaced an injured C.J. Ogbonna and threw for 268 yards and three touchdowns.