Danny Palmer will lead his TJC Apaches into Kilgore on Saturday to face their rival Rangers. (File Photo)

KILGORE — The Tyler Junior College Apaches will face Ricky Collins and the Kilgore Rangers at 7 p.m. Saturday at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium in non-conference action.

Collins, a former John Tyler standout, got his sophomore season off to a great start last week with 11 catches for 150 yards and two touchdowns in the Rangers’ 60-29 loss at No. 6 Hutchinson (Kan.).

KC head coach J.J. Eckert knew what he had in Collins, who signed originally with SMU but came up short of qualifying for the Mustangs. Collins played for Kilgore as a freshman and had 34 catches for 654 yards and three TDs, including a score in the Rangers’ 49-28 win over TJC last October.

Collins, who is now committed to TCU, was one of the few bright spots for the Rangers (0-1) in the season opener. Kilgore allowed 40 points in the second quarter, including a 97-yard kickoff return for a score and a blocked punt that was returned for a touchdown. Hutchinson scored on another long-distance kickoff return in the third quarter to make the score 53-16.

The Rangers will try to regroup against the rival Apaches (1-0), who were denied a playoff berth last season when they lost big to Kilgore. TJC won the non-conference meeting in Tyler, 30-27 in overtime.

In today’s other action, No. 1 Navarro (1-0) travels to No. 10 Georgia Military, and No. 14 Trinity Valley (1-0) entertains Lon Morris at 7 p.m. at Bruce Field in Athens. Fourth-ranked Blinn (1-0) was scheduled to play Southeast Prep on Friday and No. 22 Cisco (1-0) has a bye.

Last Week’s Highlights

Tyler

In Tyler, the Apaches prevailed in a defensive struggle to edge No. 15 Coffeyville (Kan.), 16-14, at Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium. Both teams were held under 300 total yards, and TJC allowed just 63 yards on the ground.

A couple of East Texans were keys to the Tyler victory. Van’s Jacoby Alexander blocked a punt out of the back of the end zone for a safety in the first quarter, and Sulphur Springs’ Ryan Young scored two rushing touchdowns while gaining 107 yards on 18 carries.

Freshman wideout Tracy Smith (Arlington) had a team-high three catches for 87 yards, including a 47-yarder from Randy Price to set up Young’s second TD — from 25 yards.

The Apaches will once again be without four starters who are suspended the first two games. Price and Jacksonville’s Ryan Black are expected to both play quarterback for TJC. Price was 7 of 9 for 95 yards and one interception against Coffeyville. Black, who attempted only two passes, carried the ball 11 times for 34 yards with long gains of 11 and 10 yards. 

Navarro

In Corsicana, the rematch of last year’s national championship game went to Navarro again as the Bulldogs beat No. 3 Butler (Kan.), 23-16, in overtime at Tiger Stadium. TCU transfer Dwight Smith, a former Carthage star, led the Bulldogs with 111 yards on 16 carries as Navarro outgained Butler in total yards, 393-254.

Navarro sophomore QB Adrian Nelson completed 21 of 41 passes for 262 yards and scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime.  

 

Blinn

The Buccaneers started the Ronny Feldman era with a 65-18 thumping of Fort Scott (Kan.). Fort Scott actually led 3-0 into the second quarter before Blinn erupted for 51 consecutive points in an 18-minute span.

The Bucs had 653 total yards of offense, including 383 on the ground. Sophomore running back Marion Grice led Blinn with 241 yards on 16 carries and four TDs. The breakaway back scored on runs of 52 and 70 yards. 

Trinity Valley

In Athens, the Cardinals dominated Independence (Kan.) from the opening coin flip as TVCC scored three touchdowns in the first quarter of a 63-0 victory at Bruce Field.

Trinity Valley scored on its first six possessions and reached the end zone on nine of 12 drives overall in amassing 607 total yards. The Cardinals were just as good defensively as they allowed 139 total yards — all on the ground.

Cardinal quarterbacks Tucker Carter and Deric Davis combined to throw for 394 yards and five touchdowns. Carter, who led Allen to a Class 5A state championship as a junior in 2008, was 16 of 24 for 269 yards and three scores against Independence. Davis came to TVCC with good credentials as well — he was named the 5A Offensive Player of the Year as a senior in 2009 at Arlington Bowie. 

Cisco

In Dodge City, Kan., the Cisco Wranglers tallied 28 points in the first half and won 35-19 on the road.

Cisco QB Jacob Morgan, the 2010 Offensive MVP of the conference, threw three touchdown passes in the victory and redshirt sophomore Jamal Nero rushed for two scores. Morgan was 22 of 45 for 293 yards and threw all three touchdowns to explosive wideout Kali Rashaad, who had eight catches for 137 yards. 

NEO

In Miami, Okla., Northeastern Oklahoma A&M matched its win total from last year by beating Garden City (Kan.) 26-20. The Golden Norsemen featured a balanced attack, rushing for 203 yards and passing for 260.