Just as the Apaches surged against Blinn in the second half on Saturday, Tyler Junior College did so in the NJCAA national football poll on Tuesday.

TJC jumped to No. 2 in the national rankings, which was released from juco headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It is the first week the computer rankings are involved in the poll. The first five weeks were voted on by juco officials alone.

In Brenham, just across the street from the Blue Bell factory, the Apaches, then ranked No. 4, rallied from a 15-0 third-quarter deficit to score a 34-22 victory over the then-No. 6 Buccaneers.

The victory powered Danny Palmer’s Apaches to 5-0 on the season and 3-0 in Southwest Junior College Football Conference play.

East Mississippi, better known as Last Chance U in a documentary series produced by Netflix, is ranked No. 1. The Lions, whose school is located in Scooba, Mississippi, are 5-0 on the season after Thursday’s 45-7 win over Mississippi Delta. EMCC plays No. 15 Holmes (Mississippi) on Thursday in Scooba. Holmes was No. 3 last week, but dropped a 33-13 decision Thursday to Northwest Mississippi.

East Mississippi received seven first-place votes. TJC jumped from No. 4 to No. 2.

Previous No. 2 Arizona Western, which received two first-place votes, dropped to No. 5.

Iowa Western (4-1) leaped from No. 9 to No. 3. Trinity Valley (5-1) is No. 4, followed by Arizona Western (3-0), Snow (Utah) (5-0), Independence (Kansas) (4-1), Blinn (4-1), Scottsdale (Arizona) (5-0) and Lackwanna (Pennsylvania) (4-0).

The remainder of the top 20 includes: 11, Northwest Mississippi (3-1); 12, Hinds (Mississippi) (4-0); 13, Georgia Military (4-1); 14, Hutchinson (Kansas) (5-1); 15, Holmes (Mississippi) (4-1); 16, Monroe College (New York) (5-0); 17, Jones County (Mississippi) (4-1); 18, Louisburg (North Carolina) (4-0); 19, Butler (Kansas) (3-2); and 20, Mississippi Gulf Coast (3-2).

The Apaches will try to stay unbeaten with a game against Navarro College on Saturday at Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. on Earl Campbell Field.

Navarro is 2-3 overall and 0-3 in conference, but the Bulldogs opened the season with a 23-7 over Georgia Military in Milledgeville, Georgia, then dropped close games to Trinity Valley (25-19) in Corsicana, Blinn (27-12) in Brenham and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (40-30) in Corsicana. Last week, Navarro defeated Arkansas Baptist College 71-6 at home.

SOCCER RANKINGS

The Apache Ladies soccer team is No. 1 for the fourth straight week.

TJC is unbeaten and tops the NJCAA poll. Tyler is followed by Monroe (New York) Community College (7-1), Phoenix (12-0-1), Daytona State (Florida) (7-0), Navarro (9-1), Eastern Florida State (4-1), Lewis & Clark (Ill.) (11-0), Harford (Maryland) (11-1), Schoolcraft (Michigan) (5-0) and Northern Oklahoma-Tonkawa (10-1).

The Apaches Ladies improved to 12-0 overall and 5-0 in Region XIV play after Tuesday’s win over conference foe Jacksonville. On Sunday, TJC defeated Angelina 4-0 in Lufkin. Scoring against the Lady Roadrunners were Itzayanna Sanchez-Garcia (2 goals), Luana Munoz and Katelyn Renfro. Claire Ramet and Renfro had assists.

In the men’s poll, the Apaches, the defending national champions, dropped to fifth after a 2-1 loss to Richland.

TJC (9-2) rebounded with a 5-0 win over Broward (Florida) on Saturday. The Apaches have back-to-back games at their home Pat Hartley Field on Friday (7 p.m. vs. Laredo) and Saturday (7 p.m. vs. Coastal Bend). Tyler leads Region XIV at 6-1.

St. Louis (13-0) tops the NJCAA poll, followed by Monroe (New York) College (9-0-1), Schoolcraft (Michigan) (10-0) and Yavapai (Arizona) (12-0-1).

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