Apaches quarterback Vincent McNeil was marked inches short on a fourth down play at the Buccaneer 2 with under five minutes to go in the game, and Blinn escaped with a 21-15 SWJCFC semifinal victory before 1,500 fans at Spencer Stadium.

By PHIL HICKS
Sports Editor
Tyler Morning Telegraph

 

Blinn (9-1) advances to the conference championship against No. 1 Navarro (10-0), scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15 in Corsicana. Navarro defeated Kilgore, 24-10, in the other semifinal on Saturday in Corsicana.

TJC, ranked No. 14, fell to 7-3.

With the TJC defense playing stout and McNeil directing the attack, the Apaches appeared ready to knock off the Bucs, a team they lost to 60-31 on Oct. 3 in Tyler.

After falling behind 21-15 with 12:58 to go in the game on QB Cam Newton's 1-yard TD and two-point conversion, Tyler, behind the running of Don Brown and the passing/running of McNeil, drove from its own 10-yard line to the Blinn 3.

Facing a fourth-and-2, McNeil ran left and appeared to be headed for the first down and a possible TD. But a late Blinn surge knocked McNeil back and the ball was placed at the 2. Blinn was awarded the ball without even a measurement.

The mark was not to the liking of TJC coach Danny Palmer.

"We had two chances to win it -- one time when we didn't convert fourth down, which I think was a bad spot," said Palmer, whose team also drove to the BC 34 with under a minute to go before fumbling. "I thought it was a very bad spot. That official -- I don't know his name, but for some reason he has this deal with Tyler. He always has to get involved in the ballgame. I don't know what his deal is with the Tyler people but I've never criticized an official before but he's very bad. I don't care if they fine me.

"I'll take it anytime with the score 21-15 and we got the ball with Vincent McNeil at quarterback. I'm proud of our players' effort. I'm sorry that the officiating was really bad, but you live and die with it. That crew has called (Tyler's games) before and have done a good job, but they made some bad decisions (today)."

On the final drive, TJC was without McNeil who was injured on the previous fourth-down play. Michael Cook took over and ran for a key first down, but after a good gain by Brown, the ball came loose and Blinn recovered at its own 34.

Brown led the Apaches' rushing attack with 112 yards on 15 carries, while McNeil added 75 yards and two touchdowns on 17 attempts.

"We should have won the game. We played better than (Blinn) today," Palmer said. "We are a better football team than after the first five games."

Newton, who accounted for 503 yards in his last game with TJC, was noticeably limping. He was held to 15 yards on six carries and 160 yards passing for a total of 175. In fact, Blinn totaled 298 yards. Tyler outgained the Buccaneers by one yard, 299, including 208 yards rushing.

Blinn coach Brad Franchione would not comment on Newton's injury.

"I thought we played a tremendous first two quarters," said Franchione, whose team rushed out to a 13-0 lead on two Billy Greer field goals and a Don Brooks 3-yard run. "Minus the last drive of the fourth quarter we did not play as well."

Mike Hayes led the Bucs in rushing with 121 yards on 21 carries. Grant Merritt had six catches for 64 yards.

After falling behind 13-0, McNeil scored on a 20-yard run with 35 seconds left in the first half. The PAT was blocked and BC led 13-6 at the half.

Tyler tied the score at 12:25 of the third as McNeil bulldozed in from the 1. Jorge Martinez, who had two punts inside the 10, kicked the extra point and the game was tied at 13-13.

TJC took the lead when the Blinn center snapped the ball over the punter's head for a safety and a Tyler advantage of 15-13 with 5:51 on the clock in the third.

Newton then led the fourth quarter comeback.

NOTES:

Joe Whitaker, a sophomore linebacker from Jacksonville, and Garrett Roget, a sophomore linebacker from Arlington, were captains for the Apaches.

-- -- --

Blinn 21, Tyler 15 At Spencer Stadium, Brenham

Tyler 0 6 9 0 -- 15

Blinn 10 3 0 8 -- 21

First Quarter

BC -- Billy Greer 31 FG, 14:00.

BC -- Don Brooks 3 run (Greer kick), 4:02.

Second Quarter

BC -- Greer 35 FG, 4:24.

TJC -- Vincent McNeil 20 run (kick blocked), :35.

Third Quarter

TJC -- McNeil 1 run (Jorge Martinez kick), 12:25.

TJC -- Safety, ball snapped out of end zone, 5:51.

Fourth Quarter

BC -- Cam Newton 1 run (Newton run), 12:58.

TJC BC

First Downs 12 22

Rushes-Yard 36-208 40-138

Passing Yards 81 160

Com.-Att.-Int. 8-17-0 14-28-0

Punts-Avg. 5-39.0 1-46.0

Fumbles-Lost 1-1 0-0

Penalties 13-135 14-95

INDIVIDUAL STATISTCS

RUSHING -- Tyler,

Don Brown 15-112, Vincent McNeil 17-75, Michael Cook 1-14, Chris Walker 2-4, Jeremy Craft 1-3.

Blinn, Mike Hayes 21-121 Don Brooks 4-22, Cam Newton 6-15, Zaccheus Foster 3-6, Sean Rutherford 2-(-3), Marcus Wilkins 1-0, Team 3-(-23).

PASSING -- Tyler,

McNeil 8-14-0-81, Cook 0-3-0-0.

Blinn,

Newton 14-28-0-160.

RECEIVING -- Tyler,

Jabroski Smiley 3-26, Jamaal Johnson 2-34, Desmond Mars 2-12, Chris Nalley 1-9.

Blinn,

Grant Merritt 6-64, Darrin Moore 4-59, Hayes 2-30, Chad Froechtenicht 1-9, Bola Oninsanya 1-(-2).