CAPTION: Hutchinson Blue Dragons honored by the NJCAA (from left) are linebacker Ja’Quel Mack, defensive end Marshon Oxley, head coach Drew Dallas, running back Waymond Jordan Jr., quarterback Samari Coillier and offensive lineman Bubba Craig. CREDIT BLUE DRAGON SPORTS/HUTCHCC SPORTS INFORMATION
By John Mesh
Hutchinson Community College football coach Drew Dallas, HutchCC running back Waymond Jordan Jr. and four other Blue Dragon players were honored by the NJCAA Monday.
Dallas, who guided the Hutchinson Blue Dragons to an 11-1 record and the football program’s second national title, was named 2024 NJCAA Division I Coach of the Year.
Dallas has 49 wins, 5 losses, during his five years as Blue Dragon coach.
Under Dallas’ guidance, the Blue Dragons have won four Jayhawk Conference titles and two national titles and four NJCAA Final Four appearances.
Hutchinson’s Waymond Jordan Jr. was named 2024 NJCAA DI Football Offensive Player of the Year.
Jordan Jr. ran for 1,612 yards, 134.3 yards per game and 20 touchdowns this season.
He finished out the 2024 season first in the nation in yards, yards per game, and touchdowns, while also finishing fourth in the nation in yards per rush with 7.4.
Jordan performance earned him the JUCOWeekly Trophy which is presented to The Best JUCO Player in America.
Jordan verbally committed to continuing his career at Big 12 school University of Central Florida.
The Pensacola, Fla., native also had offers from major NCAA Division I schools including South Florida, Jacksonville State, Stephen F. Austin, UTEP, Western Kentucky, Utah State, Missouri, Old Dominion, UMass, UNLV, ECU, North Texas, Eastern Michigan, Toledo, Boise State, Memphis, Tennessee Martin, Murray State, Arkansas, Georgia State, Texas State, Middle Tennessee, Mississippi State and USC.
The Blue Dragons rallied from a 14-0 deficit to defeat Iowa Western 28-23 in the national championship game Dec. 18 at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas.
First Team All-All-American players for the Blue Dragons are Jordan, 5-10, 200, running back, Pensacola, Fla.; and Marshon Oxley, 6-3, 224, defensive end, South Central, Calif.
Honorable Mention All-Americans are Samari Collier, 6-3, 225, quarterback, DeSoto, Texas; Ja’Quel Mack, 6-2, 227, linebacker, Gonzalez, La.; and Bubba Craig, 6-6, 312, offensive lineman, Fort Wayne, Ind.
All-American selections were made by the NJCAA Football Committee.
2024 NJCAA DI Football All-America Teams — https://www.njcaa.org/sports/fball/2024-25/div1/all-americans/index
Haven boys No. 1, Wildcat girls No. 3 in Kansas Pregame high school basketball rankings
The Haven High School boys and girls basketball teams, both 6-0, are ranked No. 1 and 3 in the Kansas Pregame magazine polls released on Monday.
The Halstead girls are ranked No. 3 in Class 3A.
Other No. 1 ranked boys teams are Shawnee Mission Northwest, Class 6A; Topeka Highland Park, Class 5A; Baldwin, Class 4A; Moundridge, Class 2A; Class 1A Division I, South Gray; Cunningham, Class 1A Division II.
No. 1 ranked girls teams are Blue Valley North, Class 6A; Topeka Seaman, Class 5A; Wellington, Class 4A; Hesston, Class 3A; Pittsburg-St. Marys Colgan, Class 2A; Little River, Class 1A Division I; Haven, Class 1A Division II.
KSHSAA releases 2025 Kansas regional wrestling assignments
The KSHSAA recently released Kansas regional wrestling assignments.
West regional assignments in Class 5A boys and girls were not listed.
Area teams and their assignments are:
Girls: Hutchinson at Class 5A regional (Feb. 15); Buhler, Halstead, Nickerson at Class 4A McPherson regional (Feb. 15); Haven, Fairfield, Lyons, Sterling at Class 3-1A Russell regional (Feb. 15).
Boys: Hutchinson at Class 5A regional (Feb. 21-22); Buhler at Class 4A Abilene regional (Feb. 22); Halstead, Nickerson at Class 4A Rose Hill regional (Feb. 22); Fairfield at Class 3-1A Cimarron regional (Feb. 22); Haven, Lyons at Class 3-1A Hoisington regional (Feb. 22).
Kansas high school Christmas sports moratorium in effect until Friday
High school winter sports teams throughout Kansas will not have practice through Thursday because of the KSHSAA Christmas Moratorium.
Practices will resume on Friday.
This falls under Rule 9 in the KSHSAA Handbook and is in the KSHSAA projected calendar through 2029.