Apache Football Wins SWJCFC Regular Season Championship

By: Phil Hicks

There's an expression that goes around sports and the media — "Too gritty to be pretty."

The unbeaten Apaches are certainly gritty and their 9-0 record is pretty.

No. 3 Tyler Junior College held No. 10 Navarro out of the end zone on four plays inside the six in the final seconds and the Apaches grinded out a 20-14 victory on Saturday at Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium, clinching their second consecutive SWJCFC regular season title.

"We love being gritty," TJC Coach Tanner Jacobson said. "We talked about that this week in practice — you can't practice soft and expect to play tough.

"It was a gritty win for sure — just to be able to find a way to win."

The Apaches are 9-0 for the first time since 1960, which is also the last time they won a national championship. TJC is 7-0 in conference play, securing home field advantage throughout the postseason tournament. Tyler is open on Nov. 8 before hosting the Region XIV semifinal against an opponent to be determined on Nov. 15. If the Tribe wins the semifinals they will host the conference title game for the second straight year, set for Nov. 22. Two more victories and more likely than not the Apaches will earn a bid to the NJCAA national playoff.

The Bulldogs fall to 4-3 overall and 4-2 in league play. Navarro plays host to New Mexico Military on Nov. 8 in Corsicana.

With Northeastern Oklahoma A&M's 38-31 upset of Trinity Valley in Athens, TVCC will be the No. 2 seed and host No. 3 Navarro in the playoffs. TJC will host either NEO, Cisco or New Mexico Military.

After struggling on offense, the Apaches got things going in the fourth quarter, scoring 13 points, including a 49-yard field goal by Daniel Matthys with a 2:09 showing that gave TJC a 20-14 lead.

But this slugfest was far from other.

Navarro took over at its own 25 and despite no timeouts quickly moved downfield, reaching the TJC six when quarterback Nehemiah Broussard, who was playing for regular starter Ryan Shackelton who was out with a dislocated elbow, connected with Nacari Ashley for 34 yards.

That gave the Bulldogs four plays to go for the win with under a minute to play. On first down, Broussard rolled to the right, but was stopped at the three by Tyson Wilson and Bryson Burgess. With the clock running, the sophomore from New Caney, rolled out to his right again and with pressure from Jamil Davis, Broussard threw to Mason Muaau, who snagged the ball, but was out of the end zone on the right side.

That brought up third down with 24 seconds showing. Pressure from TJ Williams and Xavier Trotter forced Broussard to dump the pass at the six, leaving 19 seconds on the clock and fourth-and-ballgame.

The Apaches brought the house with initial pressure by Benjamin Roberts, followed by Williams and Trotter, forcing Broussard to get rid of the ball. Throwing toward the right side there was nowhere near a completion as Janard Lockhart had blanket coverage on Muaau.

Thus, TJC took over with 14 seconds remaining and ran out the clock.

It was a struggle throughout the day.

For the second straight week, TJC had a kickoff return for a TD negated by a penalty. This time it would have been an 87-yard return by Amari Henry.

That was as close as either team would get to scoring until both teams put up TDs in the latter stages of the second period. TJC did block a field goal attempt in the first quarter.

With 1:19 on the clock, TJC QB Tre Guerria hit Elijah Baesa for a 9-yard TD pass. Matthys made the PAT for a 7-0 lead.

Then with 13 seconds showing, Navarro's Broussard scored on a quarterback sneak. Adrian Zamudio made the extra point for a 7-7 tie.

The Bulldogs took the second-half kickoff, driving 69 yards on eight plays, topped off by a 5-yard TD run by Sergio Snider. Zamudio's PAT put Navarro up 14-7 with 11:32 showing in the third quarter.

In the Apaches' series, Guerra was hit and had to leave the game. After missing the next series, Guerra showed his grit by coming back int0 the game after Julian Dews, a former Tyler Legacy and Navarro player, picked off a pass for the Apaches.

Guerra led TJC to the Navarro 30, but Matthys' 47-yard attempt came up just short.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Tyler got the play it needed as TJC DB Willie Nelson, from Longview, recovered a Navarro fumble at the Bulldog 21.

On the next play, Guerra threw a short pass to Gentz Hilburn, who broke two tackles and high-stepped the third for a 21-yard TD reception. Matthys' PAT tied the game at 14-14 with 14:44 on the clock.

Navarro then drove down the field, taking 11 plays to move from the 25 to the TJC 31 before TJ Williams and Jamil Davis sacked Broussard to force a punt.

Tyler took over at its own eight and marched to the Navarro 16 where the drive stalled. With 4:37 showing, Matthys booted a 32-yard field goal to give the Apaches a 17-14 lead.

On Navarro's next possession, TJC had back-to-back sacks that totaled minus 20 yards (Emmanuel Lawton, Davis) and (Ruben Tshilombo). The latter sack was on fourth down.

The Apaches took over at the NC 30. Although TJC lost back to the 33, Matthys stepped up and booted a 49-yard field goal for a 20-14 lead at 2:09.

Navarro totaled 283 yards (88 rushing, 195 passing) and TJC had 288 yards (74 rushing, 214 passing).

Guerra hit on 21 of 36 passing attempts for 214 yards and two TDs. Hilburn had 10 receptions for 123 yards. Hilburn led in rushing with two carries for 38 yards.

Broussard connected on 12 of 30 passing attempts for 195 yards and an interception. Snider led the Bulldogs with 65 yards on 21 carries. Ashley had six catches for 131 yards.