The Blinn College football team ended its season with a 45-0 loss to third-ranked New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI) in the semifinal round of the Southwest Junior College Football Conference playoffs Saturday in Roswell, N.M.
The Buccaneers ended their season 5-5 overall, while NMMI improved to 9-1 and will face Tyler Junior College in the conference championship.
“They were the better team, and that’s why they will play for the conference championship,” Blinn head coach Ryan Mahon said. “Tip of the hat to them; they were the better team today.”
Mahon said the Buccaneers moved the ball well at times, but a lack of execution and costly turnovers deep in NMMI territory kept his team out of the end zone.
Despite Saturday’s outcome, Mahon expressed pride in what the Buccaneers accomplished this season and is optimistic that the program’s improvement from a 1-8 2021 spring season is a positive sign for what’s to come in the future of Blinn football.
“I can’t tell you how proud I am of this bunch of kids,” Mahon stated. “Watching them fight through adversity and all of the ups and downs of this season, this was one of my favorite teams I’ve ever coached. Now it’s time to hit the drawing board to get ready for next season and start filling some key spots of the players that we’re saying goodbye to.”
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 42 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
