Photo by Rick GrayCORSICANA – Perhaps Chase Fisher felt like he was still in high school.
Fisher, a former Kilgore Bulldog, spent much of Saturday throwing to Bulldogs from Navarro in the way of four interceptions in just over one half of play as No. 1 Navarro rolled to a 24-10 victory over KC in the Southwest Junior College Football Conference Semifinals.
KC, which lost to Navarro 42-17 earlier this year, ends its season 4-6, while Navarro College (10-0) moves on to face Blinn College (9-1) 3 p.m. Sunday in Corsicana for the SWJCFC title.
“I thought we went out and competed a lot more than we did Sept. 19,” said KC head coach J.J. Eckert. “But you have to give Navarro a lot of credit. To go through this conference schedule and be undefeated is a credit to them, their coaching staff and their players. They have great players on both sides of the football.”
Navarro won by beating KC at its own game. The Rangers entered the contest having outscored opponents in the first half by a 174-113 margin, but the Bulldogs took a 24-3 lead to the locker room.
Starting quarterback Hans Cook went down with a second-quarter hip injury after passing for 50 yards and rushing for 42 on 11 carries. Fisher relieved and finished seven of 21 for 162 yards and one touchdown.
Cook also threw an interception before he was injured as the teams each had five turnovers.
“Definitely, creating five turnovers is huge, but giving them five right back, it just cancels itself out,” Eckert said. “That was very disappointing.”
KC started the game strong, taking the opening kickoff and driving 56 yards on 16 plays, taking almost nine minutes off the game clock. Cook moved the chains with passes to Kodie Cadenhead, Jarvin Robinson and Chase Ford, in addition to a fourth-and-one quarterback sneak which kept the possession alive. A 7-yard loss on a reverse ended the drive, and the Rangers settled for a 27-yard field goal from David Bailey with 6:09 left in the opening stanza.
The teams traded interceptions, which led to a 12-yard touchdown run by Brad Croak. KC’s defense had forced a three-and-out, but a penalty on a field goal attempt extended the drive and gave Navarro the lead.
The Rangers were haunted again by critical infractions, totaling 10 for 105 yards.
KC got a 65-yard kick return from Jimmy Anderson on the ensuing kickoff, but the offense could not move the ball. Bailey’s 40-yard field goal attempt fell short and the Bulldogs then scored two quick touchdowns from DePauldrick Garrett to a take a commanding 21-3 lead.
Navarro’s Juventino Sanchez added a 27-yard field goal with 1:36 left to cap off the Bulldog scoring.
An interception gave Navarro another scoring opportunity, but Anderson blocked a field goal try with two seconds left on the clock.
Darren Woodard recovered a fumble to give KC possession deep in its own territory to start the second half. Following a 7-yard run by Zavor Jones, Fisher fired a perfect strike to Terrence Henry for an 89-yard touchdown pass.
Henry finished with a game-high 137 yards on three catches.
Neither offense managed much the rest of the second half, which included six more first downs for Navarro and three for KC.
Junior Osunde picked off two passes after intercepting three the previous week against Cisco. His season total of six picks ties him for the conference lead with Navarro’s Trevor Drayton. Anderson also intercepted one pass, which put him third in the conference.
Roddy Green passed for 141 yards on 12 of 21 passing, including his first three interceptions of the season for the Bulldogs.
Garrett finished with 179 yards on 32 carries to help Navarro pile up 406 yards of total offense.