RUMBLE AT ROSE: Apaches boot late FG to edge Rangers, 16-13

Published 3:46 pm Friday, October 25, 2024

Christian Baxter has hit many important field goals in his career and the latest was a huge one on Saturday.

Baxter, the Tylerite with the thunderleg, kicked a 40-yard field goal with no time remaining to lift No. 12 Tyler Junior College to a 16-13 victory over rival No. 9 Kilgore College, clinching the Southwest Junior College Football Conference regular season championship.

It was also the 500th win in TJC football program history.

It was the Tyler Legacy High School graduate’s third FG of the game and it also helped TJC celebrate homecoming. It was TJC’s first regular season league title since 2003. The Tribe won their sixth consecutive game to improve to 6-2 overall and 6-0 in conference. The Rangers fall to 5-2 overall and 3-2 in the SWJCFC.

Two weeks ago Baxter hit the game-winner against Blinn in overtime and last year he had a 30-yard walk-off game-winner against Trinity Valley. In high school, his 49-yard field goal sent the game between his Red Raiders and the Tyler Lions into overtime.

Tyler Coach Tanner Jacobson said that Baxter and the contest epitomizes the Apaches’ grit and determination.

“It never is a pretty game, it is kind of dirty, grimy,” Jacobson said. “Mistakes were made, but we make just enough plays down the stretch to win. This is just a winning group and I’m really proud of them.”

After taking a 10-0 lead, the Apaches trailed the Rangers 13-10 in the fourth quarter when Anthony Monsivais kicked a 30-yard field goal with 13:09 showing.

Tyler then took over at its own 19, driving down to the KC 25 when the Apaches faced fourth-and-1. Kilgore came through with the stop and took over with 6:47 on the clock.

The Rangers did not get a first down and had to punt. The ball touched a TJC player near midfield and Kilgore recovered. However, a KC player was running onto the field during the punt and was offside, negating the turnover and forcing another kick.

TJC took over at the 43 and thanks in part to a 29-yard pass from Tre Guerra to Bryce Burgess moved down the field. Tyler reached the 5 before KC held and Baxter booted a 22-yard field goal to tie the game at 13-13 with 2:08 showing.

Kilgore began the ensuing drive at its own 12. After gaining two yards on the first two plays, KC quarterback Tyler Webb rolled out and under pressure from Samuel Robles tried to throw the ball away, but TJC’s Kendall Marks leaped high to snag the ball near the sideline for the interception at the 22 with 1:49 showing.

However, excessive celebration resulted in a 15-yard penalty against the Apaches, thus moving the ball back to the 37.

Burgess carried the ball five consecutive times, moving the ball to the 23 before Jacobson called timeout with five seconds showing.

Baxter came on and split the uprights for the game-winner.

The Apaches took a 7-0 lead when TJC offensive coordinator Brady Davis reached into his bag of tricks. Guerra threw a backwards pass to Terrance Naulings who then lofted a pass to Lavarion Logan for a 43-yard TD pass. Baxter made the PAT as the clock showed 8:41 of the first quarter.

With 12:44 of the second period, Baxter kicked a 35-yard FG for a 10-0 lead.

KC got on the scoreboard with 4:15 on the clock in the second quarter as Monsivais kicked a 41-yard field goal.

In the third quarter, Gary Maddox scored on a 1-yard run. Monsivais added the PAT for a 10-10 tie with 4:59 to go in the third.

The regular season title means TJC is the No. 1 seed in the four-team postseason tournament and will get to host games as long as the Apaches continue to win. The semifinal is slated for the weekend of Nov. 16 and the championship game is set for the weekend of Nov. 23.

TJC concludes its regular season when the Apaches travel to Corsicana on Nov. 2 to face Navarro (4-2, 3-2) in a 1 p.m. contest. The Rangers have two games remaining in the regular season, hosting Blinn at 3 p.m. Nov. 2 in Homecoming and traveling to Miami, Oklahoma on Nov. 9 to meet Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in a 1 p.m. contest.

It was the 132nd meeting between TJC and KC. The Rangers now hold a 67-64-1 lead.