By JOE BUIE, Staff Writer, Tyler Morning Telegraph

BRENHAM -- Considering Tyler Junior College left 14 points on the field against then-No. 1 Blinn -- with the game still in doubt -- the Apaches should feel confident about the rematch.

TJC, ranked No. 14 and in the playoffs for the first time since 2004, will try to upset the No. 4 Buccaneers in the Southwest Junior College Football Conference semifinals at 1:30 p.m. today at Spencer Stadium.

Blinn scored 19 points in the final six minutes to beat the Apaches 60-31 on Oct. 3 in Tyler.

TJC pulled within 10 with 11:27 remaining and held the Bucs to a field goal on the ensuing drive. Blinn then put it away with an interception return for a touchdown.

The Apaches still remember the touchdown that was called back for holding in the second quarter, and the lost fumble in the third quarter after reaching Blinn's 3-yard line.

Blinn (8-1) spent eight weeks at No. 1 before losing 23-20 to then-No. 2 Navarro last weekend in Corsicana. That gave Blinn the No. 2 seed, and meant third-seeded TJC would travel to Brenham instead of Corsicana.

The Apaches have not defeated the Bucs since a 2004 playoff game in Brenham.

To break Blinn's dominance, TJC head coach Danny Palmer said the Apaches must protect the ball and continue to be prolific on offense, play mistake-free in the kicking game, and force the Bucs into third-and-long.

"I've really been pleased with our offensive production this year, rushing and passing," said Palmer, whose team averages 41 points and 472 yards per game. "We haven't been a big turnover team � except in the kicking game.

"The kicking game has been embarrassing at times. When we've executed it well, it's really changed field position for us."

Both TJC and Blinn are led by dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks.

Cam Newton, a transfer from the University of Florida, accounted for 503 yards of total offense in the win over the Apaches.

"He's really dangerous if we allow him to take off," Palmer said. "We're hoping we can steal some downs and get some stops. We've got to get some pressure on him with the front four."

TJC's Vincent McNeil threw for 177 and rushed for 162 against Blinn. The Dallas Roosevelt product needs 163 yards rushing to reach 1,000 for the season. He's already passed for 1,300.

McNeil is the current Offensive Player of the Week in the conference for the fourth time. He rushed for 164 yards and one touchdown, and threw for 195 and two scores, in last week's 54-35 win over Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.

Link to Original Article:  http://tylerpaper.com/article/20091107/SPORTS06/911070340