ATHENS, Texas – Blinn College football had its chances to come away with a road victory and even led by five in the third but Trinity Valley Community College scored the final 13 points to come away with a 36-28 victory Saturday night in Athens.
With the loss, Blinn's record lowers to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in conference.
The Buccaneers almost had enough to come away with the victory as a Robert Mitchell connection to Garrison Mitchell for 57 yards for a 28-23 lead with 12:07 left in the third quarter but that would be the final points scored by Blinn.
Blinn came out strong on defense in holding Trinity Valley to only three points for the normally potent offense. Robert Mitchell helped the Buccaneers strike first with a 57-yard touchdown rush for a 6-0 lead.
After a Trinity Valley field goal cut the lead in half, D'Anthony Hopkins scored a touchdown for Blinn from three yards out for a 13-3 lead that held up until the end of the first quarter. Trinity Valley came around in the second quarter, scoring two touchdowns for a 17-13 lead at the half.
Trinity Valley kept the momentum going in the third quarter with a touchdown pass from Jerrod Evans to Derrick Willies for a 23-15 with 13:12 left in the third. Blinn did add on two points after Trent Soechting recovered the blocked point after and ran it back to the opposite end zone.
Blinn did show signs of life in the third quarter as Mitchell again broke off a big touchdown run, this time for 60 yards to get the Buccaneers within 23-21 with 12:35 left. Robert Mitchell was able to throw for the go-ahead touchdown to brother Garrison Mitchell for 57 yards and a 28-23 lead for the Buccaneers.
Unfortunately, that would be the final points scored for Blinn and Trinity Valley added two touchdowns late in the third quarter that ended up being the difference maker in the game. Neither team could muster any points in the final quarter.
Blinn will look to rebound with its final home game of the year against Kilgore College Saturday, Oct. 17 at 3 p.m. at Brenham Cub 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
A comprehensive community college committed to educational excellence and to individual and community enhancement, Blinn College has served its 13-county Central Texas region since 1883. 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 affordable educational excellence.
Blinn offers job seekers the skills and credentials they need to succeed in the region's fast-growing industries, and partners with local businesses to provide skills development training for incumbent employees. Each year, Blinn programs and students make a $345.3 million impact on the local economy.
For more information about Blinn College and exciting student success initiatives such as Destination Success: First-Year Focus and the Blinn TEAM Program, visit: www.blinn.edu or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
