CAPTION: HutchCC football coach Drew Dallas. CREDIT HUTCHCC SPORTS INFORMATION
By John Mesh
The Hutchinson Community College football team hit the field Thursday morning for the first practice of the 2024 season.
The Blue Dragons, guided by fifth-year coach Drew Dallas, is the preseason favorite to win the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference title and the No. 1 team in the country by JCGridiron, finished 10-1 last season.
HutchCC won the Jayhawk Conference in 2023 and lost to East Mississippi in the NJCAA National Semifinals.
“It’s good to be back out here No. 1,” Dallas said on Blue Dragon Sports social media sites. “We put a lot of work into it this offseason, throughout the summer, so just getting back out, getting on the turf, kind of going at that next level of tempo and scheme and those kind of things has been really fun with this group of guys.
“(I was) very pleased with where we’re at after Day 1. I thought our guys were attentive, there was a lot of attention to detail, there was great effort and great attitudes. I think it’s a starting point and it’s going to be fun to watch them continue to progress as we go.”
HutchCC will open the season on Thursday, Aug. 29, at home against New Mexico Military Institute.
The 2024 Blue Dragons return nine overall starters and 18 overall letter winners back from last year’s team.
Offensively, 2023 KJCCC Co-Offensive Player of the Year, quarterback Samari Collier returns after racking up 1,851 total yards and 20 total touchdowns last season.
Offensive lineman Ashton Jackson and tight end/H-back Jared Napoli are the other returning offensive starters.
Defensively, the front seven took major hits from graduation and placement, but Dallas said a talented incoming freshman class and transfer class will bolster those position groups.
Defensive back Demonte Gaston leads five starters back from a defense that led the KJCCC in scoring, total and rushing defense.
The Blue Dragons have a solid kicker returning in Nestus Burger, who broke a school record last year with a 50-yard field goal on his very first field goal attempt.
HutchCC women’s soccer team has first practice
Hutchinson Community College Blue Dragon women’s soccer coach Sammy Lane said the first practice of the fall 2024 season went well on Thursday.
Entering his 20th season as head coach of the Blue Dragons, Lane spoke highly of his group in an interview on Blue Dragon Sports.
“Overall you know I was pleased,” Lane said. “I thought there was a lot of quality out there. You know you have to kind of keep things kind of in perspective, but I do think we’ve got a lot of pieces compared to the last three or four years.
“We have more depth in spots and we’re looking for starting spots. That bodes well for us. We’ve got 12 freshmen that are new, but I’m really positive. (There is) real positivity from the sophomores as well. It was a very very positive first day.”
The Blue Dragons open their season against NOC-Enid at home at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22.