FOOTBALL PREVIEW: KILGORE AT BLINN
Story by Joe Alberico, Blinn College Sports Information
With two games remaining in the regular season, a postseason berth still hangs in the balance for the Blinn College football team.
The Buccaneers host Kilgore College for a must-win Southwest Junior College Football Conference (SWJCFC) matchup at 3 p.m. on Saturday at Cub Stadium in Brenham, Texas.
Blinn (3-4 overall, 1-4 SWJCFC) has one path remaining to punch its ticket to the four-team conference tournament. The Bucs need a victory over the Rangers on Saturday, and then need Kilgore to provide an assist by defeating Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in the regular-season finale on Nov. 8.
“We know what part of the situation we can control, so let’s go out and control it,” Bucs head coach Ryan Mahon said. “We have a job to do this week. We know what’s in front of us and we know what’s at stake. You’re in a high-stakes situation at the end of the season, and that makes the game fun. It’ll be even more fun when we go out and get the job done.”
With the return of several key offensive pieces last week, the Bucs showed promise in a tough 28-21 road loss at Northeastern Oklahoma.
Freshman quarterback Jack Emerson returned to the lineup following an injury that cost him two games and threw for 187 yards and two touchdowns. Freshman wide receiver Travaris Turner-Smith hauled in both of Emerson’s touchdown throws while tallying 77 yards, and freshman running back Bryson Batts burst onto the scene with 72 yards on just 14 carries.
“We like what we’re doing, we just need to be a little more consistent,” Mahon said. “This is going to be one of those games where you have to limit your mistakes and you have to put your best foot forward on every play, because if we don’t, it could cost us dearly.”
Kilgore has moved the ball well this season to the tune of 360 offensive yards per game and checks in at 31 points scored per outing. On the other side of the football, however, the Rangers have struggled, surrendering 340 yards and 28 points per game.
Kilgore has cycled through a trio of quarterbacks who have thrown for a combined 1,570 yards with 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
“They’re a team in our conference, and that means they’re tough,” Mahon said. “No one can be taken lightly in this league, and Kilgore is among the teams at the top of that list. I believe we will have every opportunity to win this football game, but that doesn’t mean it will be easy. We’re certainly excited for the challenge.”
KWHI will broadcast the game live beginning with the pregame at 2:30pm, followed by the kickoff at 3pm on 1280AM, 101.7FM, and KWHI.com.