It's hard to imagine a better year of football than the one enjoyed in 2024 by freshman quarterback Justin Bland.
 
The Carol Stream and Glenbard North HS product led the Chaparrals to an NJCAA national championship for an unprecedented fourth straight year with statistics that are spectacular.
 
Bland threw for 3,114 yards on 184 of 292 passing with 37 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He averaged 283.1 passing yards in 11 games with a passing efficiency of 191.0.

On the ground, he rushed for 68 yards and scored four TDs.
 
Those statistics along with guiding COD to a fourth NJCAA title are the reasons why he is the 2024 NJCAA Division III Offensive Player of the Year.
 
Bland becomes COD's fourth player to earn a national player of the year honor. He joins running back Darrell Smith in 2021, defensive back Guy Goss in 2022 and running back Jaden McGill in 2023.
 
"What can you say about Justin's year?,'' head coach Matthew Rahn said. "He had the best junior college season at quarterback that I've ever seen. He really clicked our offense and with his ability, his accuracy showcased our offense.''
 
Notes: Starting QB in 11 games for the NJCAA champions … The offensive catalyst that allowed COD to earn its 4^th straight national title … Ranked No. 1 in yards, completions, attempts, completion percentage, yards per game, touchdowns and passing efficiency … Enjoyed four 300-yard plus passing games … Threw for multiple TDs in nine games … Threw just 5 INTs … A two-time NJCAA offensive player of the week … First collegiate start, threw for 423 yards, 4 TDs on 15 of 19 passing vs Ellsworth in Week #1 … Second honor in Week #11 vs. Community Christian (14 of 25, 250 yards and career-high 5 TDs) … First D3 QB to throw for more than 3,000 yards since NJCAA recognized the division in 2021.
 

Games	Passing (Comp/Att/Pct/Yds/TD/INT
Aug. 22 Ellsworth Community College (48-13 win)	15-19 423 yards | 78.9% | 4-1
Aug. 31 at Hocking (49-12 win	15-19 253 yards | 78.9% | 2-0
Sept. 7 at Rochester C&TC (55-14 win)	9-17 232 yards | 52.9% | 4-0
Sept. 14 Community Christian (50-0 win)	15-28 179 yards | 53.6% | 1-0
Sept. 21 North Dakota State College of Science (48-14 win)	23-29 324 yards | 79.3% | 4-0
Oct. 5 at Iowa Central (30-35 loss)	19-38 279 yards | 50.0% | 3-0
Oct. 19 Hocking (70-6 win)	18-23 393 yards | 78.3% | 5-2
Oct. 26 at Sussex County CC (58-21 win)	21-34 251 yards | 61.8% | 4-0
Nov. 2 at Ellsworth Community College (58-17 win)	24-37 350 yards | 64.9% | 4-1
Nov. 23 at Community Christian (63-0 win)	14-25 250 yards | 56.0% | 5-1
Dec. 7 Louisburg (NJCAA Championship — 31-17 win)	11-23 180 yards 47.8% | 1-0