A trip to Tyler Junior College awaits the Blinn College football team this week.
The Buccaneers hit the road for their Southwest Junior College Football Conference (SWJCFC) clash against the Apaches starting at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14, in Tyler, Texas.
Blinn (2-4, 0-4 SWJCFC) is looking for its first conference victory of the season while Tyler (3-2, 2-1) is battling for potential playoff positioning.
“There aren’t any moral victories in football, but we know that we’re blessed to come out here and play the game of football day in and day out,” said freshman running back Antonio Martin. “With that said, every man on this team is hungry for that first conference win, and we’re going to continue to give our best until we get over that hump.”
With 530 yards rushing and four touchdowns this fall, Martin has been one of Blinn’s best offensive weapons. Freshman dual-threat quarterback Khalib Johnson has also added a spark to the running game with five TDs on the ground. The Bucs are likely to utilize Martin and Johnson early and often against a Tyler defense that has allowed an average of 177 rushing yards per game.
“There are going to be opportunities for us against their defense, we just have to grab hold of them,” said Blinn head coach Ryan Mahon. “They present a challenge with a big defensive front that is difficult to move and they’re athletic in the defensive backfield with some size. It’s going to be on us to focus on our individual reps and each snap as we look to be successful.”
Tyler’s offensive success has been fueled by a pair of sophomores in quarterback Jaden Pete and wide receiver Tray Taylor. Pete has tossed for 1,329 yards and 12 touchdowns against eight interceptions, with a bulk of that yardage being gained by Taylor. The wideout has 490 yards on just 24 receptions (20.4 yards per catch) to go with seven touchdowns.
The Bucs’ passing defense continued its trend of takeaways during a tough conference loss to Trinity Valley Community College on Oct. 7, recording their 10th interception of the season. Mahon said it will be on his secondary to keep the Apaches at bay.
“They have an athletic quarterback who keeps plays alive and probably the fastest receiver in the conference in Taylor,” Mahon said. “It’s going to be a test for us, but we have to focus on controlling the 50-50 balls when they throw it downfield and then we have to slow them down in the running game to give ourselves a chance.”
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 44 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
