With the NJCAA playoffs just days away, we're just another step closer to crowning a national champion.
One thing is a given is that we'll have a new national champion this season as New Mexico Military didn't make it this season.
So, who's up for the task? The Hutchinson Blue Dragons are the top seed with an unbeaten 10-0 record. Followed by MACCC runner-up Northwest Mississippi, 10-1. Iowa Western, despite dropping their final two games of the season had a good enough resume to finish third with an 8-2 record. Coffeyville, makes an appearance with their 8-2 finish. They won their final six games of the season.
No. 4 Coffeyville (8-2) at No. 1 Hutchinson (10-0)
Saturday, Dec. 3 at 2 p.m.
Gowans Stadium—Hutchinson, Kansas
The Red Ravens are angry. They beat Iowa Western and thought they deserved the three seed over the Reivers. However, here they are. Most likely, they were going to have to play Hutch to win a title and they match up well with Hutch.
The Blue Dragons have the nation's longest winning streak at 16 games after a stunning victory over Iowa Western in the last week of the season. They blocked a punt with just under two minutes to go in the game to beat Iowa Western and secure that top seed.
These two met the last time Coffeyville lost on Sept. 14 and it was a nail-biter. Hutch won 14-9 but it wasn't until 1:17 remaining in the fourth quarter that Hutch was able to secure the victory when they scored on a 2-yard run.
Coffeyville had it near midfield before they were intercepted, sealing the game.
The Red Ravens feel if they can control the first down, they'll have a high success rate against Hutch. In their first meeting, Coffeyville held Hutch to 1 of 8 on third downs of 5 yards or more. Four yards or less, the Blue Dragons were 2 of 5.
They also did a really good job of forcing turnovers. Coffeyville forced four fumbles, recovering them all. Despite all the errors by the Blue Dragons, they were able to remain calm and that was their biggest take away from the win. They were laser focused as they drove down the field for the game winning drive.
The Blue Dragons are led by Walter Jones finalist, Dylan Laible. He finished the regular season with 2,012 yards passing, 20 touchdowns and only three interceptions. His running back, Dylan Kedzior finished with 921 yards, second in the nation in yards per game and nine touchdowns.
Coffeyville is led offensively by Isaiah Velez, he finished with 1,228 yards passing, nine touchdowns and four interceptions in nine games. Romal Webb led the Red Ravens with 606 yards rushing and six touchdowns.
On the defensive side, Hutch ranks 12th nationally allowing 267.1 yards per game. They have forced 28 turnovers in 10 games this season. Hutch's 11.9 points allowed per game is second in the nation behind Iowa Western.
Coffeyville is ranked third nationally in points per game allowed with 12.1 points per game. Their 277.6 yards per game ranks 15th nationally. They also have forced 28 turnovers.
Bishop Fitzgerald heads the Red Raven defense. He was the conference defensive player of the year chosen by the coaches.
The Blue Dragons had five players selected to the first team all-conference, including three players on the defensive line.
No. 3 Iowa Western (8-2) at No. 2 Northwest Mississippi (10-1)
Sunday, Dec. 4 at 5 p.m.
Ranger Stadium at Bobby Franklin Field—Senatobia, Mississippi
This game feels like it could be a national championship with both teams going unbeaten until their final weeks of the regular season and then both suffering tough defeats. Northwest saw East Mississippi win the conference over them in a game that was a two-score game until Northwest scored late but never really threatened.
Then, Iowa Western bit the bullet against Hutch. They led by two scores with less than nine minutes to go in the fourth quarter before losing by one. They would fall the previous week on the road against playoff foe, Coffeyville, 23-7.
This will be a battle of one of the best offenses in the NJCAA in Northwest and one of the best defenses in Iowa Western. The Rangers are seventh nationally overall in offense with a really balanced offense. They're averaging just over 200 yards passing and just under 200 yards rushing per game. Led by Ren Hefley, the Rangers can move the ball in the air as he's thrown for 2,240 yards this season with 24 touchdowns and six interceptions.
One thing Northwest will have to do is be efficient on third down. They're sixth nationally (44 percent) in third down conversions. The Reivers will put pressure on Hefley and what they do in those moments will be crucial. More times than not, Iowa Western has put their opponents in third and long and made it difficult. Iowa Western is allowing opponents to only 21 percent conversion on third down this year.
For the Reivers, reeling from their first two-game losing streak in years, they were able to get into the playoffs. They played a tough schedule that saw them stay just above Coffeyville. Despite the 23-7 loss to Coffeyville, had they taken care of the ball, they may have won that game. However, they didn't and now they will have to go to Mississippi.
Iowa Western's defense will be the biggest influence on Sunday night. They rank second in yards per game (179.9). They're first in points allowed per game (11.5). They're first nationally in total sacks (47) and their 45.3 rushing yards per game is the best in the nation.
Walter Jones trophy finalist Jackson Filer will be a handful for the Rangers. He's set all sorts of Iowa Western career defensive numbers.
Iowa Western's offense can score and be efficient but they haven't been healthy. They've used an array of quarterbacks this season and it's handicapped their offense. We saw it after the first drive against Hutch where they lost their QB to a concussion and it just wasn't the same going forward.
This will be the second meeting between the two JUCO powerhouses. They met in the Graphic Edge Bowl in 2017, with Iowa Western winning 36-19.
The winners of the two semifinal games will meet in Little Rock Arkansas on Dec. 14 at War Memorial Stadium for the national championship.
Both semifinal games will be on ESPN+, while the national championship will be on ESPNU.