Reivers Come Up Short of Three-Peat

CANYON, Texas - Iowa Western was outscored 21-6 in the second half of the 2024 NJCAA Division I Football National Championship, stopping them from completing their quest of three consecutive national titles.

The Reivers jumped out to an early 14-0 lead in the first quarter, just eight minutes into the game. Quarterback Hunter Dekkers connected with Keyon Brown on the first of his two touchdowns on the day to start the scoring. The Reivers went 93 yards on nine plays, capped off by Brown's 27 yard TD reception. 

The very next drive, Iowa Western turned great field position into six points. Only having to go 33 yards, Dekkers found Titus Myers on a 14-yard TD connection that put the Reivers ahead by two touchdowns just midway through the first quarter. 

Hutchinson, who started the game with four straight punts, rallied early in the second quarter to their first score of the game, a 27-yard scamper from quarterback Samari Collier. 

Before the half, Max Bartachek knocked in a 32-yard field goal to give Iowa Western a 17-7 advantage heading into the break. 

The second half is when the script flipped. The Reiver offense started the final 30 minutes with four straight three-and-out possessions, resulting in just 13 yards on 12 plays. 

Meanwhile, Hutchinson scored on their opening possession of the half -- an 8-yard bullet from Collier to Benson Prosper.

Then, two drives later after Collier left the game due to injury, backup Christian Johnson hucked a 34-yard touchdown pass on his very first play of the game to the Blue Dragons' top target Tre Brown. That gave Hutch their first lead at 21-17.

The third quarter continued to snowball when just 1:45 seconds later Kordell Gouldsby housed an Iowa Western punt 73 yards for a touchdown to give Hutchinson a two possession lead 28-17. 

In the fourth quarter and after 21 unanswered points, Iowa Western was able to get on the board again with Brown's second touchdown -- this time an 11-yard rush around the left end. 

Down just 28-23 after a failed two-point attempt, the Reivers put together one final drive to try late in the fourth quarter. They went 12 plays for 74 yards -- they needed 85.

The game came down to a 4th & 5 from the Hutchinson 11 yard line. Dekkers dropped back for the 51st time of the night, and the Blue Dragons brought a blitz between the right guard and tackle. JaQuel Mack forced a quick throw from Dekkers which ended up in the dirt and thwarted the Reivers attempt at a comeback and third-straight National Championship.

Dekkers ended the game 29 for 51 with 412 yards and two touchdowns. 

The Reivers leading receivers were Brown who had five catches for 79 yard and a touchdown along with Myers who had three catches for 58 yards and a score. Fresh Walters, the nation's leader in receptions, had 59 yards on six catches.

Iowa Western only ran the ball 24 times compared to Hutchinson who nearly doubled that total with 45 rushes. Daniel Swinney led all Reiver rushers with 27 yards on 11 carries.

Collier led the game with 109 yards on 16 carries while the Blue Dragons' prize running back Waymond Jordan Jr. ended with 79 yards on 24 carries. 

Hutchinson (11-1), with the win, took home their second national championship in school history -- both in the last four seasons. 

Iowa Western (11-2) finishes as the runner-up for the second time in four seasons and now are 3-3 in NJCAA National Championship games.