(Hutchinson CC Sports Information) LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas – Iowa Western stung the Hutchinson Community College football team with 17 points on its first three possessions of the NJCAA National Championship game and the Blue Dragons never got untracked on Wednesday night at War Memorial Stadium.

Making their second appearance in the national championship game in three seasons, the No. 1-ranked Blue Dragons fell to the third-seeded Reivers 31-0 in a rematch of a November 12 showdown in the final game of the regular season, won by the Blue Dragons 29-28.

The Blue Dragons suffered their first loss of the season and had the second-longest winning streak in program history of 17 games snapped, finishing the 2022 season 11-1. The 11 victories were the second most in the 90-year history of the program. Iowa Western won its second national title and finished 10-2.

Now with his third season in the books, Blue Dragon head coach Drew Dallas is 28-3 with three conference titles, one national championship and one national runner-up finish.

The Blue Dragons were held to a season-low 159 total yards, limited to 46 yards in the first half. Hutchinson had season lows of 147 passing and 12 rushing yards. Hutchinson also turned the ball over three times. The Dragons' deepest march into IWCC territory was the 28 yards line on two different occasions. Both drives were stopped on downs.

Iowa Western had 314 yards at halftime and finished the game with 404 total yards, including an opponent-high 288 rushing yards.

Tre Bess III was Hutchinson's leading rusher with 32 yards on five carries. Dylan Kedzior was limited to 13 yards on 15 carries.

Quarterback Dylan Laible finished 16 of 37 for 137 yards.

All-American Malik Benson caught five balls for 54 yards. Marcello Bussey had 38 yards on four receptions.

Dasheen Jackson had a career-high 10 tackles to lead the Dragons defensively. Terry Kirksey had eight tackles and R.J. Allen finished with seven tackles.

Hutchinson forced one takeaway in the game. With Reivers quarterback Andre Goodman sprinting for an apparent long touchdown run in the second quarter, Ja'Maric Morris chased him down and forced a fumble that was recovered by Javar Strong in the end zone for a touchback.

Goodman accounted for 228 total yards to lead Iowa Western. He rushed 17 times for 102 yards and completed 4 of 10 passes for 116 yards, including a 68-yard touchdown catch and run by LJ Fitzpatrick on the first drive of the game.

Iowa Western scored on its first three possession of the game. Over each of those first three drives, Iowa Western had a big play that either led directly to or set up a Reiver score.

Fitzpatrick's 68-yard catch and run gave Iowa Western a 7-0 lead with 13:10 left in the first quarter. Jaden Koger's 3-yard rushing touchdown capped a nine-play, 69 yard march for a 14-0 lead with 6:14 remaining. Sam Wilbur kicked a 31-yard field goal for a 17-0 IWCC lead with 2:30 left in the quarter.

The Dragons dodged a couple of bullets in the second quarter with the Morris forced fumble and Strong fumble recovery in the end zone and Iowa Western missing a 40-yard field goal on the final play of the half to keep the deficit at 17-0 at halftime.

Iowa Western scored touchdowns in each of the final two quarters, both Bryant Wiliams short scoring runs of 1 and 3 yards, respectively.