After two grueling rivalry games, Apache fans could understand that their football team might have a letdown when hosting non-conference foe Texas A&T on Saturday.

Don’t tell that to Tyler Junior College head coach Danny Palmer.

“We have made progress these past few weeks and I would really like us to avoid a sloppy game,” said Palmer, whose club is coming off back-to-back victories over nationally ranked Trinity Valley and Navarro. “We might not be the biggest defense, but we are quick. The offensive and defensive lines have played well.”

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Palmer said he would like his quarterbacks to continue to improve. He said he would like all three quarterbacks to play against A&T, but he is uncertain about El Paso freshman Andrew Fernandez.

Fernandez missed last week’s game with Navarro after leading the Apaches to a 37-24 win over TVCC in Athens on Sept. 8.

“Andrew is still banged up a bit,” Palmer said.

Freshman August DeBiase (Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida) and Mineola sophomore Jeremiah Crawford combined to lead the Apaches to a 59-41 win over Navarro by scoring 24 points in the fourth quarter.

The Apaches had three scores directly attributed to turnovers. A fumbled punt recovered at the 2-yard line by Daniel Duggan (sophomore, Denton) set up a TD by Trenton Kennedy after the Apaches trailed 14-0 to the Bulldogs.

Also, Chris Sanders (sophomore, Austin) had a 17-yard interception return for a TD and Chanler Ferguson (sophomore, Delray Beach, Florida) added a 28-yard interception return into the end zone.

The Apaches are tied for third in the nation with nine interceptions through four games. TJC has also recovered five fumbles. Jeremaine Brealy also pounced on a fumble for TJC and Diarva Brown had his fourth pickoff of the season.

Texas A&T, which plays its home games in Santa Fe, is 1-2-1 overall. The Drillers won over Fort Hood (37-0), tied Louisiana College JV (28-28) and lost to Binn (66-0) and Cisco (72-6).

The Apaches will celebrate homecoming next Saturday, a Sept. 29 contest against New Mexico Military Institute. Kickoff is 7 p.m. Texas A&T will play host to Kilgore College in a 1 p.m. kick.

SMOKE SIGNALS: The Apaches are 6-0 against Texas A&T, outscoring the Drillers 381-13. … Other Southwest Junior College Football Conference games Saturday include Blinn (4-0, 2-0) at Trinity Valley (1-3, 1-2), 7 p.m.; Cisco (3-0, 1-0) at Navarro (2-2, 1-2), 7 p.m.; and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (3-0, 1-0) at Kilgore (2-2, 1-2), 7 p.m.

IF YOU GO

• The Tyler Junior College Apaches (2-2) meet the Texas A&T Drillers (1-2-1) on Saturday in Tyler.

• Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Earl Campbell Field at Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium.

• Bill Coates and Kevin Simon have the call on The Team 92.1-FM.