College Sports

By JOE BUIE
Staff Writer

LINDALE -- The third annual Texas-Kansas Junior College Football Challenge gets going in earnest today with seven games.

Second-ranked Blinn College kicked off the 2008 series Thursday night with a 23-20 win over top-ranked Butler in Wichita, Kan.

The Tyler Apaches will try to do their part for the Southwest Junior College Football Conference when they take on Independence at 7:30 p.m. at Lindale's Eagle Stadium.

The Apaches are 2-0 in the series with both wins over Hutchinson -- 27-6 last year at home and 41-7 in Kansas two years ago.

The Texas conference beat the Jayhawk league 5-3 in 2006, and edged Kansas last year 4-3.

Once again, the Apaches will not be playing one of the Jayhawk powerhouse programs.

Both teams have finished in the bottom half of their conferences the last three years, which is one factor used in determining the matchups.

Not much different is expected in 2008.

The Apaches are picked to finish fifth in the SWJCFC, coming off a 5-4 record overall and 3-3 league mark.

The Pirates are predicted to finish sixth in the eight-team Jayhawk Conference after finishing with marks of 2-7 and 2-5 last year.

TJC head coach Danny Palmer said key players for Independence are 6-3 wide receiver Andre Simmons (first-team all-conference), quarterback Jeff Schibi (honorable mention) and linebacker Mychael McJunkins (honorable mention).

TJC's only all-conference players returning are center Ryan Taylor and defensive end Ronny Green, who both earned honorable mention.

Smoke Signals:

To get to Eagle Stadium, take Highway 69 North to Lindale. In Lindale, take a left on Highway 16 and continue past Lindale Primary School. The stadium is on the right. Out of 62 players expected to dress out for the Apaches, 23 are from East Texas. TJC students, faculty and staff will be admitted free with their TJC ID card. Also, Lindale ISD students, faculty and staff will be admitted free with a special pass provided by Lindale ISD. The home side is opposite the press box. All seats are general admission. Country singer Casey Rivers of Lindale will sing the national anthem.

Texas-Kansas Juco Challenge

Thursday's Result

No. 2 Blinn 23, No. 1 Butler (Kan.) 20

Today's Games

Arkansas Baptist at Highland (Kan.), 1 p.m.

No. 18 Fort Scott (Kan.) at No. 14 Kilgore, 7 p.m.

No. 6 Navarro at No. 23 Coffeyville (Kan.), 7 p.m.

Dodge City (Kan.) at Trinity Valley, 7 p.m.

No. 9 Garden City (Kan.) at No. 24 Cisco, 7 p.m.

NE Oklahoma A&M at Hutchinson (Kan.), 7 p.m.

Independence (Kan.) at Tyler, 7:30 p.m.