KC stumbles at Tyler, drops 24-21 decision to Apaches

Before the rematch between Kilgore College and Tyler Junior College on Saturday afternoon, one might have argued that the TJC Apaches needed the win just as badly, if not more so, than the Rangers.

Regardless, TJC got it.

The Apaches upset the Rangers, 24- 21, last Saturday at Rose Stadium in Tyler, getting a huge game from tailback O'Brian Bell in the process. Bell had 253 yards rushing and a score in leading the Apaches to the comeback win.

The result: KC's two-game winning streak is done, on the week before another big game. KC is now 3-3 overall, 2-2 in the Southwest Junior College Football Conference (SWJCFC), as Trinity Valley comes in for homecoming this Saturday. TVCC also comes off a loss (55-20 to Blinn) and both teams have an equal 2-2 conference record. KC-Trinity Valley will kick off at 3 p.m.

Things on Saturday started off ominously for KC, as the Rangers trailed early when a pass by Shane Fry was intercepted by Tyler's Richard Lyles, who returned the pick 44 yards for the score and gave TJC a 7-0 lead.

The Rangers tied things up pretty quickly, scoring in six plays, most of the drive fueled by Mesquite sophomore tailback LaRon Elmer. Elmer had 35 workmanlike yards on the drive.

The big play, though, was the scoring play, a 40-yard touchdown pass from Fry to former Hallsville teammate Darius Valentine. Combined with Rico Casas' extra point, the Rangers tied the score, still in the first quarter.

A strange series of events followed. KC ate up yardage and clock on another first-quarter drive, and looked to score the go-ahead touchdown when Fry was hit and fumbled the ball before he crossed the goalline, officials ruled. TJC's Garrett Roget fell on the loose ball in the end zone, which was ruled Tyler ball, touchback.

But the Rangers did get that go-ahead touchdown in the form of an interception return by Chris Tate, a 24-yard score that wound up being the final one of the first half.

In the second half, TJC tacked on a field goal, giving KC just a four-point advantage, and then the Rangers really appeared to put the game away on a second touchdown pass from Fry, this one to Kendrick Johnson with just four minutes left in the third quarter.

TJC wouldn't go away, though.

Bell broke free for a 60-yard scoring run, and then Stephen Schwarkscored on a fourth-down play from the KC 1 with about 10 minutes left in the contest.

TJC and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (NEO) add to the conference logjam with KC and Trinity Valley, all at 2-2.

Navarro, the top-ranked team in the nation, slammed NEO, 65-24, last weekend, and Arkansas Baptist broke a four-game losing streak with a 24-20 win over Cisco. Cisco is just 1-5 overall, and 0-4 in conference play.