BLINN DROPS A 13-10 CONFERENCE GAME TO TRINITY VALLEY
Story by Joe Alberico, Blinn College Sports Information
The Blinn College football team needed a repeat of its week five magic to upend Trinity Valley Community College on Saturday.
This time, it wasn't in the cards for the Buccaneers.
Blinn rallied for a last-minute touchdown to pull within a field goal of the Cardinals, but its onside kick attempt on the ensuing kickoff went the way of Trinity Valley as the hosts held off the Bucs 13-10 in Southwest Junior College Football Conference action in Athens, Texas.
"We shot ourselves in the foot with untimely penalties and turnovers," Blinn head coach Ryan Mahon said. "Our defense gave us an opportunity once again to win the ballgame, but we just couldn't pull it out this time."
The Bucs (2-2, 1-2 SWJCFC) were riding a wave of momentum after they pulled off a memorable upset of then-ninth-ranked Navarro College on Sept. 28. In that game, Blinn won 44-43 after rallying out of a 30-7 halftime deficit, completing its comeback with two touchdowns sandwiched around a successful onside kick in the final 3 minutes of play.
It was a much different ballgame Saturday as the Bucs brought a game defense to Bruce Field.
After Blinn scored first on a 25-yard Max Nowak field goal, its defense limited the Cardinals to just a touchdown in the first half.
Trinity Valley made it 7-3 with 4:59 remaining in the second quarter.
In the second half, the Cardinals stretched their lead to 13-3 on a short TD pass with 9:14 left in the game.
Blinn had a hard time sustaining drives and cashing in on strong starting field position as false starts and holding penalties put the Bucs behind the chains early and often.
Blinn was also hampered by an interception which led to Trinity Valley's first touchdown, as well as a fumble. The Bucs' defense recovered a TVCC fumble.
"It was a game of field position, and we couldn't win it," Mahon added. "You can't have all of those penalties and lose the turnover battle and expect to win."
The Bucs scored the final TD of the game on a 3-yard quarterback keeper from sophomore Rylan Wooten with 1:18 remaining.
Blinn gets back to work with a SWJCFC homecoming clash against Tyler Junior College at 3 p.m. on Saturday at Cub Stadium in Brenham, Texas. KWHI will broadcast the game live beginning with the pregame at 2:30pm on 1280AM, 101.7FM. and KWHI.com.