COLBY, Kan. – Hutchinson Community College has been picked to defend their Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference football title following a vote of league coaches as part of the 2024 KJCCC Football Preseason Order of Finish.

The Blue Dragons have won their past 17 games played against KJCCC opponents dating back to the 2021 season and received 48 points along with six of seven first-place votes in this year’s poll. Hutchinson’s last loss against a conference foe came October 9, 2021, in a 33-28 defeat to Independence as HCC has been picked to win the KJCCC for the sixth-straight year and has won 23 of 25 KJCCC games under fifth-year head coach Drew Dallas.

Following Hutchinson and picked to finish second was Garden City after receiving 35 points and the lone remaining first-place vote as the Broncbusters edged out Butler who was picked third with 32 total points. GCCC will be led by KJCCC veteran coach and first-year head man Kiyoshi Harris after finishing last year with a 5-6 overall record while Butler is led by third-year head coach Brice Vignery.

The remainder of the preseason order of finish saw Highland picked to finish fourth with 29 points followed by a tie for fifth with both Coffeyville and Independence earning 19 total points. Dodge City was picked seventh to round out the poll after earning 14 total points despite coming off an 8-3 season that saw the Conquistadors go 5-1 in KJCCC action to go along with their first bowl game win in program history.

Independence will officially kick off the 2024 KJCCC football season for all seven schools as the Pirates will take on Trinity Valley on the road at 7 PM on Saturday, August 24th. The remaining six schools will all begin their season a week later with non-conference home games either on Thursday, August 29th or Saturday, August 31st followed by the opening game of the conference slate on Saturday, September 7th when Garden City renews its rivalry with Dodge City in Dodge City.