TJC’s Derrick McClendon (21) returns an interception 50 yards for a touchdown on Saturday at Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium in Tyler. The NJCAA will vote on Monday to move fall sports to the spring. James B. Jackson/Freelance

Derrick McClendon and Chris Sanders, two of TJC’s stalwart defenders, came up with big interceptions to spark the Apaches to a 26-20 victory over Northeastern Oklahoma A&M on a cool Saturday evening at Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium.

McClendon, a sophomore linebacker from Houston, got the TDs going for Tyler Junior College with a 50-yard interception return in the first quarter, while Sanders, a sophomore linebacker from Austin, put the finishing touches on the Apache scoring with a 68-yard interception return in the fourth period.

“It was a good win,” TJC coach Thomas Rocco said. “We got some people healthy (after a bye week) and the guys made some good plays tonight.”

TJC improves to 3-4 on the season and 2-3 in Southwest Junior College Football Conference play, while the Golden Norse fall to 3-4 and 2-3.

The Apaches stay alive in a quest to make the postseason and will play at Cisco at 3 p.m. next Saturday. NEO plays host to New Mexico Military that same day.

TJC went old school against NEO, grinding out the win with a rushing attack and defense with very little passing as running quarterback Colby Kizzee played the entire game instead of normal starter David Johnson.

Kizzee, a freshman from Conroe, had 12 carries for 58 yards and would have had even more yardage if not for three sacks for a total of minus 25 yards.

But it was the defense that stole the show.

After Yovannie Garcia put the Apaches up 3-0 in the first quarter with a 33-yard field goal, McClendon picked off NEO quarterback Tanner Griffin and rumbled into the end zone from 50 yards. Garcia’s PAT made it 10-0.

The Golden Norse then scored the next 17 points to take a 17-10 lead on two Griffin TD passes — 20 yards to Chris Potts in the second quarter and 39 yards to EJ Smoot in the third quarter. In between, Aaron Main booted a 33-yard field goal to go along with the PATs.

TJC then fought back, outscoring NEO 16-3 in the fourth quarter, as Kevon Thompson, a former Brownsboro star, dashed from nine yards for a TD. Garcia’s PAT tied the game at 17-17 with 13:25 to go.

The Miami, Oklahoma team then made a special teams mistake when the returner slipped and his knee touched at the five on the kickoff.

Two plays later, Griffin fumbled the football and the Apaches pounced on him in the end zone for a safety and a 19-17 lead with 12:33 on the clock.

It appeared NEO was ready to take the lead but up jumped Sanders who snagged the pick at his own 32 and took off toward the sideline and eventually into the end zone. Garica’s PAT made it 26-17 with 2:16 on the clock in the fourth quarter.

The Golden Norse quickly moved down field and facing fourth down opted for a 26-yard field goal by Main because the squad needed two scores.

NEO almost got the onside kick as the bounded through the hands of Apaches and Golden Norse only to end up under McClendon for another big play and TJC had the ball at the Tyler 46.

Runs of 5 and 20 yards by K’Vonte Jackson allowed TJC to run out the clock. Jackson had 52 yards on 13 carries.

TJC held NEO to 91 yards rushing, but Griffin hit on 30 of 52 passing attempts for 296 yards and the two picks. Smoot had 10 catches for 149 yards.

TJC punter Ryan Harwell had two punts that pinned the Norse at the 5- and 11-yard lines in the second half.

SMOKE SIGNALS: Before the game, to commemorate the inauguration of new TJC president Dr. Juan E. Mejia, a special coin with the No. 7 (seventh TJC president) was used the pregame ceremony. Dr. Mejia and his wife, Meela Mejia, and their sons, Óscar Eduardo Mejia, Jonathan Daniel Mejia, Juan Gerardo Mejia, Miguel Alejandro Mejia and Gabriel Elijah Mejia participated in the ceremony. At halftime, the TJC band spelled out Mejia and Dr. Mejia was presented with a framed No. 7 jersey from Dr. Tim Drain, associate vice provost for student affairs, and Kevin Vest, TJC athletic director. … It was also Belle Babes night as the youngsters performed at halftime with the international famous Apache Belles.

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Tyler Junior College 26, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M 20

NE Oklahoma    0    7   10     3 — 20

Tyler              10    0     0    16 — 26

First Quarter

TJC — FG Yovannie Garcia 33, 9:59

TJC — Derrick McClendon 50 interception return (Garcia kick), 6:45

Second Quarter

NEO — Chris Potts 20 pass from Tanner Griffin  (Aaron Main kick), 11:20

Third Quarter

NEO — FG Main 33, 10:17

NEO — EJ Smoot 39 pass from Griffin (Main kick), 1:59

Fourth Quarter

TJC — Kevon Thompson 9 run (Garcia kick), 13:25

TJC — Safety, Griffin tackled in end zone, 12:33

TJC — Chris Sanders 68 interception return (Garcia kick), 2:16

NEO — FG Main 26, 1:13

                                 NEO         TJC

First downs                 24           13

Rushes-yards              38-91      39-158

Passing Yards              296         48

Passing Stats              30-52-2   7-18-1

Punts-Ave                   4-29.5     8-36.8

Fumbles-Lost              2-0          2-2

Penalties-Yards           11-97      8-66

Individual Statistics

Rushing — NEO, Danuel Oscar 15-40, Chris Friday 12-37, Jack Diamond 4-7, Tanner Griffin 7-7. TJC, Colby Kizzee 12-58, K’Vonte Jackson 13-52, Taequan Tyler 4-25, Kevon Thompson 4-20, Trenton Kennedy 5-9, Team 1-(-6).

Passing — NEO, Tanner Griffin 30-51-2-296, Jack Diamond 0-1-0-0. TJC, Colby Kizzee 7-18-1-48.

Receiving — NEO, EJ Smoot 10-149, Dallas Daniels 7-24, DJ Wagoner 5-34, Chris Potts 4-59, Danuel Oscar 2-19, Chris Friday 2-11. TJC, K’Vonte Jackson 2-6, Kevin Thompson 1-24, Sam Hodges 1-12, Jamir Whitelow 1-5, Deon Collins 1-4, Josh McDowell 1-(-3).