ROSWELL, N.M. — The Blinn College football team fell to New Mexico Military Institute, 45-42, on Saturday night to conclude the season.
The Buccaneers finished the season with a 4-5 overall record and 2-5 conference record.
"I love our sophomores and respect their love of the game, so am definitely going to miss them," said Ryan Mahon, Blinn head coach.
Brock Landis completed 17 of 39 passes for 387 yards to lead Blinn with four touchdown passes. He concluded the 2019 season ranked second in the nation with 291 passing yards per game and 28 passing touchdowns.
Wide receiver Danny Gray had five catches for 169 yards and one touchdown. He ended the 2019 season ranked fifth in the nation with 97.4 receiving yards per game and tied for fourth in the nation with eight receiving touchdowns.
Eric Peterson caught four receptions for 90 yards and two touchdowns and Trea Shropshire caught a 39-yard pass for a touchdown. CJ Jones led Blinn with 89 yards on two carries for a touchdown, while Devin McAdoo accumulated 62 yards on nine carries for one touchdown.
New Mexico Military took an early 14-0 lead in the first quarter by scoring on a one-yard rush with 5:57 on the clock and a four-yard pass with 38 seconds left. The Buccaneers landed on the board in the next quarter as Landis and Peterson connected for two touchdown passes. Blinn's first touchdown was for 21 yards with 12:19 showing and the next one was for 13 yards with 2:12 remaining. New Mexico Military only scored one touchdown in the second quarter on a 35 yard pass with 10:18 on the clock, but continued to hold a 21-14 lead moving into the second half.
In the third quarter, the Buccaneers scored 21 points to lead 35-28 moving into the final quarter. McAdoo rushed the ball in from 18 yards out (12:19), Jones carried the ball in from 89 yards out (7:09), and Landis threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Shropshire with 2:05 on the clock. New Mexico Military scored its sole touchdown in the quarter at the 4:34 mark on a 22-yard carry.
In the final quarter, the Broncos scored the first 10 points on a two-yard rush (13:13) and a 40-yard field goal (7:07). Blinn scored its final touchdown as Landis and Gray linked up for a 60-yard touchdown pass with 1:30 left to lead 42-38. New Mexico Military stormed back with a four-yard touchdown pass in the final 20 seconds for the win.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 41 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
