Posted 12:24 am Sunday, October 25, 2009
TJC Earns Berth In Playoffs, 36-33
By JOE BUIE
Staff Writer
With the Tyler Junior College band blaring, and the home team struggling to put the game away, Trinity Valley's Cody Lenz was well short on a desperation 55-yard field goal attempt as time expired.
Staff Writer
With the Tyler Junior College band blaring, and the home team struggling to put the game away, Trinity Valley's Cody Lenz was well short on a desperation 55-yard field goal attempt as time expired.
The No. 17 Apaches could finally celebrate after a nerve-wracking final 54 seconds. They are going to the playoffs for the first time since 2004 after a 36-33 victory on a homecoming Saturday night at Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium.
Neither team scored in the final 10 minutes, but there was no shortage of drama.
Don Brown, who had 112 yards rushing for the Apaches (6-2, 3-2 Southwest Junior College Football Conference), fumbled at the goal line trying to score to give Trinity Valley a touchback and possession at the 20 with five minutes remaining.
TVCC's Chad Winbush, who burned the Apaches for 233 yards, picked up 30 on first down to midfield before the Cardinals self-destructed with two false-start penalties and a delay of game to create a third-and-25. After an incomplete pass, the Cardinals punted.
The Apaches took over with 3:10 left and TVCC with two timeouts.
Quarterback Vincent McNeil, who rushed for 168 yards, converted two first downs and the Cardinals burned their final timeout with 54 seconds to play.
McNeil ran a bootleg for eight yards, and the clock stopped at 44 seconds for a measurement. The Apaches faced a fourth-and-1 from their own 46 and took a delay penalty to set up to punt. However, they had to take two timeouts in the process, before punting with 16 seconds left.
However, there were two penalties on the play -- both on TJC. The Apaches got the punt away, but the Cardinals were awarded an extra 15 yards and got to start from their own 47.
Quarterback Garrett Beal completed a 15-yard pass on first down, and Darnell Williams got out of bounds with four seconds left. Then came the field goal try.
The Cardinals (3-5, 1-5) have lost five games in a row.
TJC dominated the first quarter, outgaining the Cardinals 176-44 and outscoring them 16-0.
The Apaches took the opening drive and marched 67 yards in seven plays to go up 7-0. McNeil completed all three of his passes for 32 yards and set up Don Brown's 4-yard TD run.
TJC's defensive was equally impressive on the Cardinals' first three possessions, forcing a three-and-out, a safety and a four-and-out.
Meanwhile, the Apaches scored again on their third series to make it 16-0. McNeil went in from 32 yards on a scramble down the left sideline after finding nothing but open space.
The momentum swung the Cardinals' way entering the second quarter.
First, they stopped McNeil on downs at the TVCC 32. Second, the Cardinals put together an eight-play, 67-yard drive for their first points. The Cardinals went for two and made it, cutting the deficit in half.
TVCC then recovered a surprise onside kick and drove to the TJC 13-yard line, but came up empty when Whitehouse's Jimmy Kennedy intercepted a pass in the end zone. Linebacker Garrett Roget forced a quick throw with a hit on Beal.
In what may have been a 14-point swing, the Apaches capitalized on the turnover by marching 85 yards -- all on the ground -- to go up 23-8.
The Cardinals countered with a touchdown of their own -- and another two-point conversion -- to get within seven, 23-16, with 6:11 left in the first half.
-- -- --
No. 17 Tyler 36, TVCC 33
TVCC 0 19 0 14 -- 33
No. 17 Tyler 36, TVCC 33
TVCC 0 19 0 14 -- 33
Tyler 16 14 6 0 -- 36
First Quarter
TJC -- Don Brown 4 run (Jorge Martinez kick), 11:49.
First Quarter
TJC -- Don Brown 4 run (Jorge Martinez kick), 11:49.
TJC -- Safety (Garrett Beal tackled in end zone), 7:01.
TJC -- Vincent McNeil 32 run (Martinez kick), 4:45.
Second Quarter
TVCC -- Bo Walker 13 run (Chris Young pass from Beal), 14:11.
TVCC -- Bo Walker 13 run (Chris Young pass from Beal), 14:11.
TJC -- Chris Walkeer 23 run (Martinez kick), 8:38.
TVCC -- Young 37 pass from Beal (Austin Luke run), 6:11.
TJC -- McNeil 5 run (Martinez kick), 2:07.
TVCC -- FG Ernesto Guerra 27, :03.
TVCC -- FG Ernesto Guerra 27, :03.
Third Quarter
TJC -- Brown 8 run (kick blocked), 12:44.
TJC -- Brown 8 run (kick blocked), 12:44.
Fourth Quarter
TVCC -- Darnell Williams 10 pass from Beal (Guerra kick), 12:27.
TVCC -- Darnell Williams 10 pass from Beal (Guerra kick), 12:27.
TVCC -- Walker 1 run (Guerra kick), 10:03.
EST. ATT.
EST. ATT.
- 6,000.
