Apache’s Travel to No.9 Navarro College to Close 2024 Regular Season

By Chase Upton

Tyler, TEXAS- Tyler Junior College's No. 7 nationally ranked football team will travel to Community National Bank & Trust Stadium in Corsicana, Texas, to face No. 9 Navarro College at 1 p.m. Nov. 2 for their final regular season contest of 2024.

TJC comes into this game riding a six-game winning streak and is fresh off a historic 16-13 win over No. 14 Kilgore College (5-2, 3-2). The win was the program's 500th victory and crowned them the 2024 Southwest Junior College Football Conference regular season champions.

Navarro enters this matchup with a 4-2 record and is coming off a 30-24 win over Cisco College. This game is crucial for the Bulldogs, as they must defeat Tyler to keep their hopes of reaching the SWJCFC semifinals alive.

The Apaches have consistently proven to have one of the nation's strongest defenses this season. They lead the country in sacks with 38 and currently rank third in points allowed per game at 13.5.

TJC's defense will have their hands full as they take on a Navarro offense that averages 38.2 points per game and currently ranks 10th in the nation in total yards per game, averaging 393.8. The Bulldogs have also scored 40 or more in three games this season.

In their most recent game, the Apaches put up a season-high 245 passing yards, thanks largely to quarterback Tre Guerra's 201-yard performance. This week, the Apache offense will go up against a Navarro defense that ranks 8th nationally in passing yards allowed per game, giving up 207 on average.

Tyler football last achieved a perfect, no-loss, no-tie conference record in 1991, finishing 6-0 to claim what was then the Texas Junior College Football Conference championship. This Saturday, TJC will look to reclaim that status and become undefeated conference champions of the SWJCFC.