(TJC Athletics)

It will be the Apaches vs. Bulldogs on Saturday with a football title at stake.

Tyler Junior College, ranked No. 7 in the nation, and No. 6 Navarro College meet for the Southwest Junior College Football Conference championship at Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium.

Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Earl Campbell Field.

The winner of the SWJCFC earns a berth in the C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl, which is scheduled for Dec. 7 at Ernest Hawkins Field at Memorial Stadium on the campus of East Texas A&M University in Commerce.

The Apaches (7-3) have won 11 league championships, but none in almost a quarter of a century.

TJC won the 2000 SWJCFC championship with a 23-21 win over Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in the Red River Bowl held at Pennington Field in Bedford. The Apaches last played for the title in 2021, falling to New Mexico Military Institute, 45-10, in Roswell, New Mexico.

The Bulldogs (7-2) have captured 12 conference titles, the last in 2019, a 36-35 win over NMMI in Corsicana. Current Navarro Coach Ryan Taylor, a former TJC All-America center, led Cisco College to the 2020 crown. (The season was played in the spring of 2021 due to COVID-19).

Navarro played for the title last season, falling to Kilgore College, 48-39, in Kilgore.

The last time the two met in the championship was in 2011, a 33-29 win by Navarro in Corsicana.

The last time the championship game was held in Tyler was in 2003 (NEO won over TJC, 37-34).

TJC advanced to the championship with a 28-17 win over Kilgore College last week in the semifinals.

In six games, quarterback Tre Guerra, a sophomore from Keller, has connected on 54 of 85 passing attempts for 618 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions.

Lonnie Johnson has been a favorite target of Guerra. The big tight end who graduated from Keller Timber Creek, a rival squad of Guerra’s Keller High team, has 18 receptions on the season for 213 yards and three touchdowns (2 against KC last week).

Bernock Iya (6-2, sophomore, Azle) is not only a key defensive back, but the speedster is a threat on kickoff and punt returns.

William Cornelson (6-2, 240, sophomore, linebacker, Austin/Cedar Park Vista Ridge High School) leads the Apaches with 114 tackles (7.5 sacks) followed by Darion White (6-2, 215, sophomore, linebacker, Waco/La Vega High School) with 113 tackles (5.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles). Both are among the nation’s leaders.

Jayden Madkins (6-2, 290, sophomore, defensive lineman, Houston/Alvin Shadow Creek) leads the big guys up front. He has four sacks.

Navarro advanced to the championship with a 28-21 win over Cisco last week in Corsicana.

Bulldog quarterback Mason Shorb completed 19-of-31 passes for 259 yards and three touchdowns against Wrangler and backup QB Ryan Shackleton was 3-of-4 for 41 yards and a TD.

Cisco gave the Dawgs all they wanted and more, and Navarro’s defense had to put the game away in the second half, breaking free from a 21-21 tie at halftime.

Shawn Brown caught three passes for 71 yards and two touchdowns, including a 56-yarder, and Braylon Finney had three receptions for 28 yards and a TD. Malachai Jackson caught four passes for 74 yards.

Navarro has won three-straight over the Apaches since TJC won 69-57 on Sept. 11, 2021. On Nov. 2, Navarro scored a 49-24 win over TJC in Corsicana.

The Bulldogs lead the all-times series with Tyler, 49-41.

SMOKE SIGNALS: Tyelar Rohman, TJC assistant athletic director, said, “Fans are encouraged to wear black and participate in another Black Out to show their support as the team takes the field in their signature black uniforms.” … Ticket prices are: general admission ($8), reserved seatbacks ($12), TJC students (Free with ID) and other students ($3 with valid student ID).