HILL/MITCHELL KEY 4TH QUARTER COMEBACK

Comeback gives No. 13 Blinn victory over Cisco, 31-27

BRENHAM, Texas – Blinn College football is finding new ways to create come from behind victories as this time it took two touchdown passes from Caleb Hill to Garrison Mitchell, in almost the same spot of the end zone, to lift the Buccaneers to a 31-27 victory over Cisco College Saturday evening at Cub Stadium in Brenham.

Blinn found itself trailing 27-17 at the start of the fourth quarter but the two touchdown receptions were enough to lift the Buccaneers to a 5-1 overall record and improve to 2-1 in conference.

“Our defense gave up a couple plays but I was proud of them to not get down on themselves and stick with it,” said Blinn head coach Keith Thomas.

The game didn’t start out too smooth for Blinn as Cisco cashed in early with a 45-yard touchdown pass from Richard Lagow to Marcus Daggs on the second play of the game for a 7-0 lead. The Buccaneers were able to answer with a field goal by Eric Piccione from 30 yards out to get within 7-3.

Blinn came after the lead before the end of the first quarter as D’Anthony Hopkins punished Cisco with his powerful running ability and finished off the drive with a 17-yard touchdown run for a 10-7 lead with 2:15 left in the first quarter.

Hopkins scored again in the middle of the second quarter, this time from just five yards out that capped a 66-yard drive to give the Buccaneers a 17-7 lead. Unfortunately, Blinn was unable to keep the lead at 10 points as Lagow found Devon Richardson for a 13-yard touchdown reception to get Cisco within 17-14 at the half.

The third quarter belonged to Cisco as Chris Gardner earned a 50-yard rushing touchdown and Lagow passed for his third touchdown to Andrew Mapps to give Cisco a 13-0 edge in the third and a 27-17 lead at the start of the fourth quarter.

Blinn did not panic with the 10-point deficit as Hill came off the bench in the second half and found Mitchell with a back shoulder toss from 20 yards out for a touchdown to get Blinn within 27-24 with 8:55 left.

“We was baiting them in with our little screen plays,” Mitchell said after the game. “We practice on the back shoulder throw a lot in practice.”

The Buccaneers stopped Cisco once to get the ball back and then stopped the Wranglers again after a near-devastating fumble gave Cisco the ball at the Blinn 31 with only 5:27 left to play. The Buccaneers defense stood Cisco up and Hill was able to find Mitchell in nearly the same spot for a 26-yard touchdown and a 31-27 lead with 1:18 left.

“Our offensive line did a great job and the whole offense stepped up,” Hill said after the game. “I felt like the back shoulder throw was the way to go and it worked for a touchdown.”

Blinn’s defense was able to shut down Cisco for the remaining time to hold on for the victory.

The road doesn’t get any easier for Blinn as it travels to face Trinity Valley Community College on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 5 p.m.

For more information, visit www.buccaneersports.com.

(Story & photos courtesy, Jake Gordon, Blinn Information)