(HCC Sports Information)

The Hutchinson Community College football team returned to the Top 10 on Tuesday as the Blue Dragons were ranked No. 9 in the latest NJCAA Football Poll.

Since being upset by Air Force Prep on Sept. 9, the Blue Dragons (4-1, 2-0 Jayhawk West) have reeled off two impressive victories to return to the Top 10. HCC defeated Highland 90-7 when the Blue Dragons set a national modern-day scoring record. Following a bye week, the Blue Dragons routed Fort Scott 69-36.

The Blue Dragons have now been ranked in 23 consecutive and 31 of the last 33 NJCAA football polls, the longest run as a ranked team since the mid-1990s, when it spent time in 29 consecutive polls. HCC had been ranked in the NJCAA Top 10 in 15 consecutive polls before falling out after the Air Force Prep loss.

Two other Jayhawk Conference schools are in this week’s national rankings.

Butler moved up two spots to No. 5 and Coffeyville remained 14th.

Blinn defeated Navarro in a battle of No. 1 vs. No. 2 and took over the top spot in the poll. Arizona Western is No. 2 and East Mississippi is three.

The Blue Dragons return to Gowans Stadium for the first time in three weekend when Hutchinson plays host to Dodge City in a 7 p.m. kickoff at Gowans Stadium.