The Bucs are now 2-2 on the season and 1-2 in the conference. Their two conference losses have been to NMMI and Kilgore College, which was ranked fifth when it beat Blinn in the Bucs’ season opener.
After a scoreless first quarter, NMMI got on the board first to take a 7-0 lead. Blinn scored with 11:23 left in the second quarter on a 26-yard pass from quarterback Logan McDougald to wide receiver Tre Harden.
The Bucs took the lead on a fluke play when kicker Alejandro Quintero‘s extra-point try was blocked following Harden’s touchdown. Offensive lineman Eric Brown alertly picked up the football and powered into the end zone for a two-point conversion, which was allowed because the ball had never crossed the line of scrimmage.
NMMI (5-0 overall, 3-0 in the conference) scored two more first-half touchdowns before Quintero hit a 36-yard field goal just before halftime to make the score 21-11.
Both teams scored a touchdown in the second half. Blinn’s score came on a two-yard run by Joshua Berry in the fourth quarter and NMMI scored on an interception return by defensive back Jordan Oliver.
Blinn head coach Ryan Mahon said three turnovers by the Bucs were critical.
“We had three turnovers in the red zone. It’s just hard to overcome that,” Mahon said. “I have to give the defense credit. They were put in a lot of bad situations.”
Mahon said the Bucs were able to move the ball against NMMI as McDougald got his first start of the season.
“Except for the turnover, he managed the game really well,” Mahon said. “We moved the ball well for the most part.”
Blinn travels to Navarro College on Saturday, Oct. 9, for a conference game at 3 p.m.
