HOUSTON — The Blinn Buccaneers debuted with a bangย Saturday, topping Southeastern Prep 77-6 in their first game under new head coach Keith Thomas.
The Buccaneers wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in the first quarter asย Jake Hubenakย connected withย Damion Ratleyย for a 47-yard touchdown strike. A 27-yard run byย DeVante Maysย made it 14-0 before Hubenak foundย Kaylon Melanconย for a 40-yard touchdown pass, then foundย Dede Westbrookย to make it 28-0.
A 7-yard touchdown pass from Steadman Bell to Isiah Shepherd made the score 28-6 beforeย Luke Klinglerย found Ratley for a 7-yard touchdown strike to make it 35-6 heading into halftime.
The Bucs put the game out of reach in the third quarter. Klingler and Ratley hooked up again, this time for a 28-yard touchdown, before Klingler foundย Derick Brownย on a 7-yard score.
Malik Pryorย blocked a third-quarter punt andย Ryan Payneย returned it for a touchdown to extend the lead to 50 points before Brenham High School gradย Ryan Nunnย scored twice andย Christopher Shepherd Jr.ย added another rushing touchdown to produce the final score.
Ratley finished the game with three touchdown receptions.
โWe knew he was going to be good,โ Thomas said. โAll four of our receivers are good โ theyโre tough to guard.โ
Klingler and Hubenak split the playing time and each threw for three touchdowns. Thomas said he feels comfortable with both signal callers running the offense. Even more importantly, he said, the Buccaneersโ young offensive line was impressive.
โWe knew our receivers would be good and our running backs would run hard, but weโve got to be good on the offensive line to go far in this conference,โ Thomas said. โWe didnโt commit a holding penalty or an offsides, and the only sack the offensive line allowed came in the final minutes of the game.โ
Thomas praised punterย Brett Kocianย and place kickerย Eric Piccione, as well as his coaching staff.
โWe played well in all three phases of the game, and when you do that youโre going to win games,โ he said.
The Buccaneers play their home opener atย 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, when they host Tyler Junior College at Cub Stadium in Brenham.
โItโs going to be intense,โ Thomas said. โTyler is going to be a tough test.โ
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 29 NJCAA national championships since 1987. For more information, visitย www.buccaneersports.com.
