The Buccaneers (3-3, 1-3 SWJCFC) are looking to pump the brakes on a three-game skid as they welcome to town a Tyler team fresh off a 20-12 upset of defending national champion and then-No. 1 New Mexico Military Institute in Week 7.
The Apaches come to Brenham with a 3-2 overall record and a 2-1 conference mark.
Blinn head coach Ryan Mahon said he posed a question to his team this week, asking who will step up and be a difference maker in a critical conference matchup.
“We’re so close to being where we want to be as a football team,” Mahon said. “We just have to make sure we’re bridging the gap between being close and actually being there. That’s been our message all week long: Who is going to fix that one assignment? Who is going to make that big play when we need it? The guys are fired up and ready to answer the question.”
Blinn’s three setbacks this season have come by an average of 9.7 points, adding credence to Mahon’s sentiments that the Bucs are close to getting over the hump.
“The confidence is still there. We watched film after the Trinity Valley loss last week and you can tell that we’re close – we were just a couple plays away,” freshman quarterback Brock Bolfing said. “We just have to keep getting better, and every guy out here has to keep doing his part to improve and do his job. We can’t try to do too much, you just have to do what’s necessary to improve on the job you’re doing, and when it’s time to go out there and play you have to put all of that work out there.”
Tyler brings a balanced offensive attack to the table, including a passing attack that has bounced between pocket passer Hunt Young and dual-threat Austin Skoglund. In the Apaches’ victory over NMMI last week, Young passed for 181 yards, including five completions for 52 yards to Skoglund, who shifted to wide receiver. Young also threw two interceptions. Tyler was fueled by a rushing attack which chewed up 202 yards against NMMO, spearheaded by an 83-yard effort from running back Logan Johnson.
“From what we’ve seen on film, they’re versatile in what they do, and their game plan is to change the tempo on you,” Blinn freshman defensive end Quardale Patt said. “Our plan is to continue to fight at the line of scrimmage, compete through all phases of the defense, and give them trouble. If we do that, I think we’ll be all right.”
Blinn will have a bye in Week 9 before playing its final home game of the season against Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 42 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
