BLINN FOOTBALL KNOCKS OFF #12 SNOW FOR FIRST CONFERENCE WIN

(Story by Joe Alberico, Blinn College Sports Information)

In the days leading up to Saturday's matchup against No. 12 Snow College, Blinn College head coach Ryan Mahon said his team had put together a great week of practice.

He also made it clear how badly the Buccaneers wanted to turn that preparation into a victory.

They did just that.

Blinn rallied twice and made two crucial fourth-down stops in the fourth quarter to defeat the No. 12 Badgers 20-14 at Cub Stadium in Brenham, Texas, earning their first Southwest Junior College Football Conference victory of the season.

"I couldn't be prouder of my team," Mahon said. "We did something we hadn't done all year, which was play two complete halves. We had ups and downs, but we stayed the course."

The victory improved Blinn to 3-3 overall and 1-3 in the SWJCFC, while Snow dropped to 3-3 overall and 2-3 in conference play.

Snow opened the scoring with 11:20 remaining in the first quarter, but the Bucs answered early in the second.

Sophomore quarterback Jack Emerson tied the game at 7-7 with a 4-yard touchdown scramble with 12:21 remaining in the first half.

Blinn appeared to take the lead later in the quarter when freshman safety K'rhin Hollerman interception a Badgers pass and returned it for a touchdown. The score was nullified by a block in the back, though Blinn retained possession at the Snow 30-yard line.

Bucs sophomore running back Bryson Batts ultimately put the Bucs on top with a 1-yard touchdown run with 59 seconds remaining in the half. The extra point attempt was unsuccessful, leaving Blinn with a 13-7 advantage.

Snow had an opportunity to cut into the deficit before halftime, but a 44-yard field-goal attempt sailed wide left as time expired.

The Badgers reclaimed the lead on their opening possession of the second half, scoring on a 4-yard rushing touchdown with 9:57 remaining in the third quarter to go ahead 14-13.

The Bucs answered with their defense.

Sophomore defensive back Samir Richard intercepted a Snow pass in Badgers territory early in the fourth quarter, setting up Blinn's go-ahead touchdown. Sophomore running back Lorenn Johnson scored on an 8-yard run with 14:24 remaining to put the Bucs ahead to stay at 20-14.

From there, Blinn's defense repeatedly came up with the plays it needed.

Snow drove deep into Blinn territory later in the quarter, but the Bucs stopped the Badgers on fourth-and-1 from the Blinn 7-yard line when sophomore defensive end Kamryn Berry made a tackle behind the line of scrimmage.

Blinn took over at its own 8-yard line with 4:15 remaining but could not pick up enough first downs to drain the clock. Snow forced a punt with 1:51 left and took over at the Bucs' 49-yard line.

"To tell you the truth, I was nervous," Mahon said about Snow's final offensive series of the game, "but our defense had been performing all game long, so I was confident too."

Mahon's faith was validated.

The Badgers managed just five yards on their final possession before a fourth-and-5 pass fell incomplete with just under a minute remaining.

Blinn took over on downs and went into victory formation to put the game on ice.

Mahon credited his defense for earning the takeaways and limiting Snow's passing attack.

"Our defense has been working its tail off so dang much," Mahon said. "They earned those takeaways today."

On the offensive side of the ball, swirling winds made passing difficult throughout the afternoon, so the Bucs instead found success on the ground.

"With the wind doing the funky stuff that it was, it was no fun throwing the football," Mahon said. "We leaned a little harder on our running backs today, and I was pleased with their effort.

"I was also very happy with how our offensive line blocked. It wasn't always pretty, but they wore a very good Snow defensive line down."

Mahon said the victory was the product of the type of physical, hard-fought game his team had been preparing for.

"That's a very talented football team over there," he said. "It's fun to be part of a game like that. It was old-school, hard-nosed football."

Blinn's season continues with a conference road trip to New Mexico Military Institute at noon MST Saturday, Oct. 10, in Roswell, N.M.