Apaches Stay Undefeated in SWJCFC with Win Over NMMI

By Chase Upton 

TYLER, Texas—Tyler Junior College's football team won their third straight Southwest Junior College Football Conference showdown as they defeated New Mexico Military Institute (2-3, 1-2 SWJCFC) 21-10, improving to 3-2 on the season and 3-0 in conference play. 

The two squads traded three-and-outs for the majority of the first quarter until quarterback Nathan Greek found wide receiver Terrance Naulings for a 29-yard TD that opened the scoring and gave TJC a 7-0 lead with 5:21 remaining in the first quarter. 

The Apache's second scoring drive was started by a 43-yard reception from WR Ja'Quan MaGee that put TJC on NMMI's 48-yard line. TJC's Lazarus Rosario then hauled in a 25-yard reception to put Tyler in the red zone, the next play Greek would punch it in himself off a QB-sneak to put the Apaches up 14-0 with under 12 minutes to go in the first half. 

NMMI defensive back Stilton McKelvey came up with an interception with 1:42 left in the half, and just under a minute in game time later WR Kendall pulled in a 32-yard reception to set up NMMI in the red zone with 50 seconds left in the half. 

TJC defensive lineman Knowledge Davis forced a fumble with eight seconds left in the half to keep NMMI off the board and allow the Apaches to take a knee to go into the locker room confidently up 14-0 at the halfway point. 

In the first half, Tyler's defense held NMMI to zero points on 11 possessions. 

A 40-yard reception by Maurice Collier, followed by a 32-yard field goal by kicker Jack Nelson opened up NMMI's end of the scoring, making it 14-3 with 6:56 left in the third. 

Tyler DB Kam Robinson came up with an interception with 1:25 left in the third quarter, but the Apaches couldn't cash in off the turnover. 

The Broncos got the ball back and put together a nine-play TD drive that included three pickups of 15 yards or more and was finished off by a goal-line TD run from QB Elliot Paskett-Bell to score NMMI's first TD of the game making it 14-10. 

Tyler was put on their heels late in the fourth quarter when QB Nathan Greek threw his second interception of the day to put NMMI in prime position to take the lead on TJC's 45-yard line with 4:45 remaining in the game. 

The Apache's star-studded defense would come up with a clutch stop, capped off by a sack from DL Samuel Robles that pushed NMMI out of field goal range and forced a punt. 

TJC put the game away with 2:32 left in this one when running back Bryce Burgess broke away for an electric 69-yard TD to put the Apaches up 21-10. 

QB Nathan Greek tossed for 197 yards and two TDs; Greek also improved to 2-0 as TJC's starter. 

Burgess led the Apache's rushing attack with 121 yards on 12 carries and a TD. 

Ja'Quan MaGee led the way for the Tyler receivers hauling in three catches for 70 yards. 

TJC tallied 470 yards of total offense, good for the best offensive performance of their season thus far. 

Tyler improves to 3-0 in SWJCFC play for the first time under third-year Head Coach Tanner Jacobson.  

When asked about the big win Jacobson said "Everything is better when you win, the water is sweeter, the food tastes better, when I walk in the café at the Apache junction the sun shines brighter. Just proud of how we battled… It took everybody we had dressed out today to make it happen so I'm really proud of this group and how they finished strong" 

TJC will hit the road next week as they travel down to Brenham, Texas to take on Blinn College (2-2, 1-2SWJCFC) at 3 p.m. Oct. 12.