NJCAA DI Football Playoff matchups announced

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Charlotte, NC - With the conclusion of the 2022 NJCAA Division I Football regular season and the final national poll, the NJCAA has announced the details of the NJCAA Division I Football Playoff games.  

1. Hutchinson
2. Northwest Mississippi
3. Iowa Western
4. Coffeyville

As the No. 1 seed, Hutchinson (KS) will host No. 4 Coffeyville (KS) at Gowans Stadium in Hutchinson, KS on Saturday, December 3, at 3:00 PM ET / 2:00 PM CT.  The Blue Dragons finished the regular season with a record of 10-0 and held the top spot in the NJCAA Division I Football poll since the seventh week of the regular season.  Hutchinson enters the postseason leading the nation with 40.9 points per game and averaging 428.9 yards per game.  The Blue Dragons are led offensively by sophomore quarterback Dylan Laible, sophomore wide receiver Malik Benson, and sophomore running back Dylan Kedzior.  Laible ranks third in the nation in passing TDs with 20, Benson ranks fifth in the nation in receiving yards per game with 80.9, and Kedzior ranks second in the nation in rushing yards per game with 102.3.

The Red Ravens finished the regular season with a record of 8-2. Coffeyville's last loss of the season was on September 24 to Hutchinson by a score of 14-9.  Since then, the Red Ravens have rattled off six consecutive wins, holding opponents to an average of 13.17 points. Isaiah Velez leads the passing offense for Coffeyville with 136.4 yards per game and nine touchdowns.  One of Velez's favorite targets is Keishawn Qualls who averages 9.2 yards per catch on 22 receptions.  Amir Renwick has been a force for the Red Ravens' defense this season.  The sophomore linebacker is averaging 8.9 tackles and 3.5 sacks per game with five tackles for loss, two interceptions, and six pass breakups.    

 No. 2 Northwest Mississippi will host No. 3 Iowa Western at Ranger Stadium at Bobby Franklin Field in Senatobia, MS on Sunday, December 4 at 6:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM CT.  The Rangers finished the regular season with a record of 10-1.  Northwest Mississippi leads the nation in rushing with 2,070 yards.  Running back Jamarien Bracey leads the Rangers with 726 yards this season, eighth in the nation.  Quarterback Ren Hefley leads the nation with 24 passing TDs this season, many of which were to receiver D.T. Sheffield who leads the nation with 11 receiving TDs. On the defensive side of the ball, Northwest Mississippi is led by Jykeveous Hibbler who has posted 11 sacks this season, fifth in the nation. 

The Reivers finished the regular season with a record of 8-2.  After opening the season on a six-game win streak, Iowa Western dropped its final two regular-season contests, both to Coffeyville and Hutchinson. Despite the late-season setback, the Reivers lead the nation in rushing attempts (502), rushing 1st downs (129), and sacks (47).  Jackson Filer anchors the Iowa Western defense with 53.0 tackles so far this season and leads the nation in sacks with 14.5. 

Tickets to each semifinal game will be available to purchase for $15 general admission plus taxes and fees in advance.  Tickets at the gate will be $18 for general admission.  To purchase tickets, visit: NJCAA DI Football Playoff Tickets

Both semifinal matches will be streamed live on ESPN+.  To watch, visit: NJCAA Football on ESPN+

The winners of the semifinal contests will advance to the 2022 NJCAA Division I Football Championship, presented by Zurich Insurance, set to take place in Little Rock, Arkansas, at War Memorial Stadium.  The championship will be televised nationally by ESPNU on Wednesday, December 14 at 9:00 PM ET / 8:00 PM CT. The primetime airing is the fifth consecutive NJCAA football championship on national television, the first on ESPN. 

For all national championship updates, visit: 2022 NJCAA Division I Football Championship

For more on the NJCAA and ESPN multi-year agreement, visit: HERE.