An upset loss at the hands of Tyler Junior College just five days after cracking the NJCAA's Division I Top 15 rankings gave the Blinn College football team a chance to look in the mirror.
"We had a long team meeting after watching the film and asked each and every one of our players, 'What could you have done better," sixth-year Blinn head coach Ryan Mahon said in the aftermath of a 42-14 Region XIV road loss to the unranked Apaches on Oct. 23. "It's about getting back to the little things now … there's plenty of room for improvement and that's what this week is all about."
The end of the work week for the Buccaneers (4-3 overall, 3-3 Southwest Junior College Football Conference) will feature a non-conference tilt at home against Rezolution Prep Academy at 3 p.m. on Saturday at Cub Stadium in Brenham.
Blinn will celebrate Sophomore Day while also hoping to celebrate a victory over an opponent it has dominated in recent years.
In its two previous matchups, the Buccaneers ousted Rezolution 84-12 (2018) and 72-7 (2019) before a shortened 2020 schedule postponed the matchup for one year.
Blinn could get back on track this weekend and should be favored against Saturday's visitors, but sophomore quarterback Logan McDougal says the Buccaneers will only improve after last week's setback if they take the week of practice and the upcoming ballgame seriously.
"Each day is a new day, and each day is a day to get better," he said. "We have to keep building regardless of who we're playing.
"Going forward this week, it's just a refresh and a refocus for us. We've got to win every game and our back is against the wall, but we've got to trust each of these guys in blue that we can get done everything we need to get done to get to where we want to be."
Blinn's loss to Tyler wasn't a disaster statistically, as the Bucs managed almost 400 yards of offense. However, Mahon described it as one of the offensive line's weakest showings of the year as Blinn managed just 109 rush yards.
The defense did itself no favors, either, as it allowed Tyler to rack up 505 total yards.
"In that tough loss (against Tyler Junior College), our defense started off fast and our offense started off slow," freshman defensive back Justice Ugochukwu said. "We just need to put both sides of the ball together with both sides starting fast and playing hard.
"Our defense played hard for a while but fatigue started setting in and we started making mental mistakes and things like that. We just need to play a complete game, be physical and tough and go full speed the entire time."
Mahon added that Saturday's contest will serve as a test as to whether or not his team can bounce back from the Tyler loss while also paying greater attention to detail to execution and individual responsibilities.
"It's a huge challenge for us … can we go out and execute what we're supposed to do," he said. "That's going to be the measuring stick for us."
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 42 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
About the Blinn College District
With innovative programs and award-winning co-enrollment partnerships, Blinn's academic transfer rate ranks No. 1 among Texas community colleges. Courses are available online and at five Central Texas campuses, and students save 43% in tuition and fees compared to the average state university. For more information, visit www.blinn.edu.
