College Sports

By JOE BUIE
Staff Writer

The Tyler Junior College Apaches want to pick up where they left off last football season.

But it may not be that easy to continue the momentum that they felt from winning their last three games of 2007.

Second-year head coach Danny Palmer said talk of a momentum carryover sounds good, but in reality "it's a new season. This is 2008," said Palmer, whose team rallied to end last season with a 5-4 record.

Asked again about the winning streak, which included a big-time rally at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in the final game, Palmer offers a few positives.

"It gives you confidence in your quarterback that he can handle the situation," Palmer said of redshirt sophomore Stephen Schwark, who will start Saturday's season opener against Independence (Kan.) Community College in Lindale.

Secondly, Palmer said erasing a 24-point deficit and beating NEO 41-34 can be a point of reference for the sophomores if they ever get that far behind again.

The Apaches have a solid nucleus of returning starters on both sides of the ball: cornerback Calvin Rubles, Chris Lacy (Longview HS), safety Demarcus Perkins, safety Jacolby Reed, Schwark, tailback Ira Duckworth, safety Jarell Young, defensive tackle Jonathan Hatton (John Tyler HS) and offensive lineman Chris Brunson (T.K. Gorman HS).

Also, defensive end Ronny Green, defensive end Jabari Williams, offensive lineman Brandon Flanagan (Marshall HS), offensive lineman Richard Hutchings (Gilmer HS), defensive tackle Darrence Richardson, offensive lineman Jessie Green (Mount Pleasant HS), center Ryan Taylor, offensive guard Fonda White and tight end Jatrell Rollins.

"The strength of our football team, without a doubt, is the offensive line," Palmer said. "We're better at the tight end position of which last year it was almost non-existent.

"We had two good guys that tried, but we never could attack anybody. Aaron Muhammad (6-3, 225 pounds) is a very good football player. We'll even split him out."

Schwark, from Mesquite Horn, is expected to start the year under center while getting pushed by true freshman Vincent McNeil (Dallas Roosevelt HS).

The third quarterback, Michael Cook of Eustace, is also expected to take some snaps in the first game.

"All three performed very well in the scrimmage against Texas Lutheran," Palmer said.

McNeil, a dual-threat, was a star in high school as he led Roosevelt to an 11-2 record his senior year. In a playoff loss to Gilmer, McNeil had 250 yards passing and 150 rushing.

"He's a playmaker," Palmer said. "He's special. We've added a few things in (four-receiver sets) with him running the ball."

The Apaches will play three tailbacks, starting with former Whitehouse standout O'Bryan Bell, then returning starter Ira Duckworth and also Brian Eurysthee.

"I think we've got more depth at running back and a little bit better quality," Palmer said. "Duckworth gives us a lot of strength. Brian Eurysthee has performed well and Don Brown (West Monroe, La.) will be playing running back and fullback. He'll carry the ball a bunch."

The receiving corps in TJC's no-huddle multiple offense took a hit when academic qualifier Alonzo Adams accepted an offer from TCU.

"Our receivers are better as a group, but we're going to find out if we have an Alonzo Adams," Palmer said. "We've got some playmakers and what I've also been impressed with is their blocking."

Defensively, Palmer says the team is not very big. Instead, they will rely on experience and quickness.

"Ronny Green, Jonathan Hatten and Darrence Richardson are quick people (at defensive tackle)," Palmer said, "They won't be able to stay in there and play base defense. They're going to have to move a lot. And the linebackers are quick, and I think the secondary has improved."

Palmer said one of the surprises of camp has been just how good Richard Lyles is at cornerback. The freshman from Carthage is the brother of Jason Teague, another corner who left TJC to sign with TCU.

Smoke Signals:

Troup's Chris Davis, who began fall camp as the No. 2 tailback, is out of the lineup with a shoulder injury, Palmer said. It is the same shoulder that Davis hurt during the spring. � Wide receiver Bart Henderson, a true freshman from Whitehouse, is out with a urinary tract infection, Palmer said. Henderson had been penciled in as a starter. � The place-kicker will be freshman walk-on Landon Rodgers from Chapel Hill HS. The punter will be Rex Petty, a freshman walk-on from Denison. � Saturday's kickoff is 7:30 p.m. in Lindale. For directions to the stadium, see Saturday's

Tyler Morning Telegraph

.

TJC Football Schedule

Aug. 30 -- #Independence (Kan.) 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 6 -- at Kilgore 7 p.m.

Sept. 20 -- *at Cisco 7 p.m.

Sept. 27 -- *Navarro 7 p.m.

Oct. 4 -- *at Blinn 3 p.m.

Oct. 11 -- *Kilgore 3 p.m.

Oct. 18 -- *at Arkansas Baptist 3 p.m.

Oct. 25 -- *at Trinity Valley 3 p.m.

Nov. 1 -- NE Oklahoma A&M 2 p.m.

#at Lindale

*conference game

APACHE FOOTBALL: Danny Palmer, second-year coach of the Tyler Junior College Apaches, conducts a practice Aug. 13 at Pat Hartley Field. The Apaches open their season Saturday at against Independence (Kan.) at Eagle Stadium in Lindale.
(Staff File Photo By Herb Nygren Jr.)