TJC completes first season sweep of Rangers since 2006
Hoping to avenge an early season loss to Tyler Junior College, KC dropped a heart-breaker to the Apaches, 40-37 in double-overtime, Saturday at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium.
KC received an outstanding performance from freshman quarterback Hans Cook, who accounted for 308 yards of offense in his first start. Cook passed for 183 yards, completing 13 of 19 attempts with one touchdown and one interception. Cook also scored a rushing touchdown while carrying the ball 25 times for 125 yards, a season-high for KC rushers.
The Ranger defense managed to hold TJC’s talented quarterback Vincent McNeil in check most of the night, but the speedy signal-caller had his way in overtime. The Apaches took the opening possession of the first extra period and McNeil needed just two plays to complete a five-yard pass and run the remaining 20 yards to paydirt.
Cook took control for KC, completing a 12-yard pass to Chase Ford before tossing a nine-yard touchdown to Ford on third-and-six to tie the game.
The teams then reversed possession order in the second overtime, and Kilgore quickly moved to the Apache 3 with five straight runs by Cook. Facing fourth down, head coach J.J. Eckert elected to go for it, and Cook hit Jordan Scroggins for a wide-open touchdown in the back of the end zone. However, an illegal motion penalty negated the play and the Rangers settled for a 24-yard field goal from David Bailey, his third of the night.
McNeil, who had just 20 yards on 14 carries in the first four quarters, followed with the game-clinching 25-yard touchdown run on the first TJC offensive play.
“In overtime we had a hard time tackling Mr. McNeil,” Eckert said. “We got to him a couple of times and kept him in check (early in the game), but he is a threat every time he touches the football because he’s an elusive individual.”
TJC head coach Danny Palmer said his team was fortunate to escape with a win.
“We got lucky,” he said. “We were very fortunate.”
KC used two touchdown runs by Liquor Lockhart, who finished with 55 yards on 13 carries, to build a 21-7 lead with 58 seconds left in the second quarter.
TJC took advantage of a botched kickoff to score a quick touchdown 49 seconds later. Chris Walker ran for 35 yards before scoring on a one-yard dive just before the break, however, a diving Jimmy Anderson blocked the extra point attempt.
The Apaches then gift-wrapped three points to KC in the last nine seconds of the half. After a short kick was returned 15 yards to midfield by Calvin Stoker, a 15-yard personal foul penalty put the Rangers in the edge of field goal range. Eckert elected to run a fake, but TJC was called for a 10-yard holding penalty, allowing Bailey the opportunity to convert a 38-yard field goal with no time left on the clock.
Leading 24-13, KC started the second half with an interception and a punt, opening the door for TJC to score two quick touchdowns. McNeil hit Justin Bell for a 32-yard touchdown pass and then scored on a nine-yard run less than five minutes later to give TJC its first lead of the game, 27-24.
Photo by Justin RhodesBailey kicked a 32-yard field goal on the first play of the fourth quarter to tie the game at 27-27.
Ford, who entered the game tied for the conference lead in receptions, had six grabs for 113 yards and one touchdown.
“We really can’t get the ball to him enough,” Eckert said. “We have to be more creative to get him the ball because he changes games. He can get open and make things happen.”
NOTES – KC finished a season-high 10 of 18 on third down conversions. “That’s the highest we’ve hit on all year,” Eckert said. “We faced a lot more manageable third down conversions and a lot of that has to do with the running game. Our rushing yardage is up about 50 yards a game over the last couple of weeks.” … With three field goals and four extra points, Bailey collected a season-high 13 points for the game … During a second-quarter punt-attempt, TJC hiked the ball over the punter’s head, resulting in a 40-yard loss. The play led to a four-yard touchdown run by Lockhart … KC was flagged 11 times for 77 yards … KC lost the turnover battle 3-0 after losing one fumble and throwing two interceptions … Defensive end Matt Jones had a big game which included a sack and two stops behind the line of scrimmage.
// J.C. Derrick, Executive editor
/ Video by Taylor Cammack, Web editor