College Sports

By JOE BUIE
Staff Writer

A Navarro backup quarterback came off the bench for the second year in a row to beat Tyler Junior College.

Freshman Milton Howell entered the game with 13:03 remaining in the second quarter and rushed for 114 yards to lead the No. 2 Bulldogs over the upset-minded Apaches, 44-34, Saturday night at Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium.

TJC, 2-2 overall and 1-1 in the Southwest Junior College Football Conference, never recovered after Navarro (4-0, -0) scored 24 points in the second quarter to erase a 14-point deficit.

The Apaches pulled within 34-27 on Don Brown's third rushing touchdown of the night with 13:38 left in the game, coming after Howell threw an interception.

TJC forced a three-and-out on the next series, but the Apaches were forced to punt as well.

The Bulldogs needed only three plays to find the end zone after that. William Powell, who rushed for 128 yards, ran for six and 20 yards and then Vetric Sam sprinted 57 yards to paydirt to put Navarro up 41-27 with 7:42 remaining.

The Apaches kept the offense grounded for the second consecutive game with only six pass attempts. Freshman quarterback Vincent McNeil led TJC with 115 yards on 17 carries, mostly out of the shotgun. O'Bryan Bell of Whitehouse contributed 88 yards on 15 attempts.

Former Troup star Chris Davis rushed for 60 yards in his first action of the season for the Apaches.

The Bulldogs shook off a slow start with 24 points in the second quarter for a 24-21 lead at the half.

Navarro stalled TJC's momentum with back-to-back touchdown drives, but the Apaches regrouped and marched 73 yards in 12 plays to regain the lead, 21-14. Chris Lenoir capped the drive by scoring untouched on an 8-yard run with 57 seconds left in the first half.

However, the Apaches could not handle prosperity. Navarro's Derrick Hall returned the ensuing kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown, and Gabriel Elizondo kicked the extra point to make it 21-21.

TJC's Bell, who rushed for 86 yards on 14 carries in the first half, fumbled the ball away on the Apaches' next play from scrimmage with 23 seconds remaining.

Navarro cashed that turnover into a 34-yard field by Gabriel Elizondo to put the Bulldogs up by three at the break.

No. 2 Navarro 44, Tyler 34

At Location

Navarro 0 24 10 10 -- 44

Tyler 14 7 0 13 -- 34

First Quarter

TJC -- Don Brown 2 run (Taylor Matlock kick), 11:26.

TJC -- Brown 2 run (Matlock kick), 1:05.

Second Quarter

NC -- William Powell 14 run (Gabriel Elizondo kick), 10:45.

NC -- Powell 12 run (Elizondo kick), 5:31.

TJC -- Chris Lenoir 8 run (Matlock kick), :57.

NC -- Derrick Hall 93 kickoff return (Elizondo kick), :42.

NC -- FG Elizondo 34, :01.

Third Quarter

NC -- Justin Sturns 3 run (Elizondo kick), 9:50.

NC -- FG Elizondo 29, 5:52.

Fourth Quarter

TJC -- Brown 1 run (kick failed), 13:38.

NC -- Vetric Sams 57 run (Elizondo kick), 7:42.

NC -- FG Elizondo 26, 2:05.

TJC -- Chris Davis 4 run (Matlock kick), :46.

TYLER JUNIOR COLLEGE wide receiver Teric Williams returns a first-half kickoff against No. 2 Navarro Saturday at Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium.
(Staff Photo By Mark Roberts)