The Apaches keep moving on up.

Coach Danny Palmer’s Tyler Junior College football team moved up a spot to No. 4 in the latest NJCAA National Poll that was released on Tuesday from Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The Apaches are 3-0 on the season after Saturday’s 76-23 victory over Arkansas Baptist College in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Copiah-Lincoln (Mississippi) is on top of the poll with a 3-0 record. The Wesson, Mississippi school received seven of the nine first-place votes to remain in first place for the second straight week.

Nassau (New York) is second and received the other two first place votes.

The Lions (3-0) are followed by Coffeyville (Kansas) (3-0), Tyler and Butler (Kansas) (3-0).

Rounding out the top 10 are Snow (Utah) (2-0), East Mississippi (2-1), Northwest Mississippi (3-0), Hutchinson (Kansas) (2-1) and Rochester (Minnesota) (3-0).

Three of TJC’s Southwest Junior College Football Conference foes are ranked as well – No. 15 Kilgore College (2-1), No. 17 Blinn (3-1) and No. 20 Trinity Valley (2-2).

TJC has beaten Blinn (35-30 on Sept. 5) and Trinity Valley (71-64 on Aug. 29). The Apaches play at Kilgore on Oct. 24.

Another team on the Apaches’ schedule is No. 14 Georgia Military (3 p.m. Oct. 10 at Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium).

Tyler stays on the road this week, traveling to Miami, Oklahoma on Saturday to take on Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

The Apaches are also on the road on Sept. 26, playing at Cisco (7 p.m.).

TJC’s next home game is Oct. 3 against Texas A&T at TMF Rose Stadium. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

The Apaches used the ground attack to score the big win over ABC.

While Arkansas was being upset by Toledo across town at War Memorial Stadium, TJC wanted to make sure that didn’t happen at Little Rock Central High School’s field.

Tyler used its ground attack to subdue the Buffaloes. TJC had 32 first downs, of which 28 came via the rush.

Ten Apaches carried the ball, led by Kee Kee Johnson (11-98, 2 TDs), Tevin Muse (9-90, 2 TDs), Cobe Carraway (2-76) and Ken Burks (10-71, TD).

TJC only threw the ball 11 times and just twice in the second half. Muse was 5 of 7 for 33 yards. Conner Heath was 1 for 2 for a 31-yard TD, while Sederian Copeland was 1 of 2 for a 19-yard TD.

CJ Thomas had four catches for 39 yards and two touchdowns with Savon Rollison adding two receptions for 35 yards and a TD.

Tedrick Lowery had two interceptions, while Elton Crawford, Nate Jones and Ka’Darius Scott had one apiece. Lowery also had two sacks.

Linebacker Somari Wright led with 10 tackles, while Joshua Wheeler and Tupe Saunoa were next at nine and eight stops, respectively. Crawford, Lowery and Damond Dean added seven tackles each.

 

Volleyball

The TJC volleyball team remains No. 1 in the NJCAA poll.

The Apache Ladies are followed by Northwest (Wyoming), Southern Idaho, Western Nebraska and Salt Lake (Utah).

Tyler is 11-2 on the season. The Apache Ladies’ next game is Sept. 23 against Paris Junior College at Wagstaff Gymnasium. The match is slated to begin at 7 p.m.

 

Men’s Soccer

In the latest NJCAA soccer poll, the Apaches (2-2) are ranked No. 11. The top five includes: 1, Monroe College (New York) (3-0-1); No. 2, Eastern Florida State (3-0-1); 3, Pima (Arizona) (6-0-1); No. 4 Yavapai (Arizona) (7-1) and Otero (Colorado) (5-0).

The defending national champion Apaches are off to a slow start, but head coach Steve Clements said his team will get things turned around.

TJC is on the road this weekend – Friday at Paris (5 p.m.) and Saturday at Northeast Texas Community College (4 p.m.). The Apaches’ next home game is Sept. 25 against San Jacinto-South, 7 p.m. at Pat Hartley Field.

 

Women’s Soccer

The Apache Ladies’ soccer squad is ranked No. 4 in the NJCAA poll.

Eastern Florida State is No. 1, followed by Darton State (Georgia), Iowa Central, Tyler and Parkland (Illinois).

Navarro is ranked No. 9, while Hill College is No. 13.

TJC (5-1) is on the road this weekend – Friday at Paris (3 p.m.) and Saturday at Northeast Texas Community College (3 p.m.).

The Apache Ladies return to Pat Hartley Field on Sept. 27 to meet Jones County Junior College (Mississippi) at 3 p.m. The big game is on Sept. 29 when TJC meets Navarro in Tyler. The match has a 7 p.m. start.