LINDALE, Texas – Blinn College football started the game the way it would have liked by scoring the first 17 points against Tyler Junior College but the Buccaneers could not hold the lead and eventually fell 35-30 Saturday night at Lindale High School in Lindale.
Tyler scored 35 points in the second and third quarter and that was enough to hand Blinn its first loss of the season and lower its season record to 2-1 and 0-1 in the Southwest Junior College Football Conference.
The Buccaneers couldn't have asked for a better start as Jaylon Bowden intercepted an early pass and then Blinn answered on offense with a pass from Robert Mitchell to James Homan for a four-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
Blinn took advantage of a Tyler fumble and then cashed in with a touchdown run from Thomas Hutchings from two yards out for a 14-0 lead that would hold up until the end of the opening quarter. Eric Piccione added a field goal early in the second quarter for a 17-0 lead.
Tyler finally got on the scoreboard to get within 17-7 but Blinn was able to answer right back with a Mitchell touchdown pass to Doug Johnson for 66 yards to build the lead back to 23-7.
From there however, Tyler grabbed the momentum and scored the next 28 points in the second and third quarters to snatch a 35-23 lead late in the third quarter.
Johnson caught his second touchdown, this one thrown by Caleb Hill for 33 yards to get the Buccaneers within 35-30. Blinn would have their chances in the fourth quarter but the final chance for the Buccaneers ended with a Tyler interception in the final minute to seal the win for the Apaches.
Blinn will look to bounce back at home when it hosts Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. at Brenham ISD Stadium.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 32 NJCAA national championships since 1987. For more information, visit: www.buccaneersports.com.
About Blinn College
Founded in 1883, Blinn is a comprehensive community college committed to educational excellence and to individual and community enhancement. With an enrollment of 19,317 students, Blinn ranks among the nation's leaders in transferring students to leading four-year universities and has received national recognition for its affordable educational excellence.
As part of its commitment to student success, Blinn is implementing a Quality Enhancement Plan titled "Destination Success: First-Year Focus," which utilizes learning communities to support first-year college students.
For enrollment information and to learn about financial aid opportunities, visit: www.blinn.edu.
