TJC ON TOP | No. 9-ranked Apaches beat Dodge City, 27-7, in season opener / Presented by WHATABURGER
EDITOR’S NOTE: The first kickoff of the very first football game that counts in East Texas — Tyler Junior College hosting Dodge City (Kan.) Community College — is just over an hour away. ETBlitz.com is here, as the ninth-ranked Apaches play the first of four home games this season. We’ll be back closer to kickoff and we’ll be here live, covering the game as it happens. But to hear the game live as it happens, download the KTBB app on your phone, or click on the link below (then hit the “play” button), for the broadcast of Bill Coates, Kevin Simon and their team. It was just announced last week that Bill is being inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame! Congratulations, Bill!
Also being inducted is none other than Chuck Conrad, owner and operator of KDOK 105.3-FM, and the Texas Broadcast Museum, and legendary East Texas radio personality Tom Perryman. Here is a complete list of the inductees: Texas Radio Hall Of Fame Announces 2025 Inductees – Texas Radio Hall Of Fame.
We’re still about an hour away, but once again congratulations to Bill Coates on his hall of fame induction. That will happen the weekend of Oct. 31-Nov. 1, here in Kilgore at the Texas Broadcast Museum, and Bill is a local sports legend; his talk show every weekday is the only long-running radio talk show in East Texas, and if it has happened in East Texas sports, Bill has seen it. Bill is the sports director at KTBB, and that’s 97.5-FM and The Team, 92.1-FM.
Now, let’s talk some football.
The Apaches are looking for a little revenge in the season opener tonight. They went on the road last year to Dodge City, Kansas in this home-and-home series against the Jayhawk Conference team, and came away with a loss by a field goal (20-17) in a rare Thursday night game.
TJC then dropped its home opener last year to always-tough Georgia Military.
But coach Tanner Jacobson and the Apaches bounced back, winning six straight games before losing the regular season finale at Navarro College in Corsicana.
The Apaches reached the Southwest Junior College Football Conference playoffs, beat Kilgore College at Rose Stadium, and then had to face Navarro again. Navarro again had their number, ending TJC’s season, 31-28, in the conference championship game.
TJC finished the season with a 7-4 overall record, and a 7-2 conference record.
As the 2025 season starts, TJC is ranked ninth, one of three SWJCFC teams in the top 11: Navarro is fourth, TJC No. 9, and KC 11th.
The top team in the NJCAA preseason poll is Hutchinson (Kan.), followed by Iowa Western, Northwest Mississippi and then Navarro. Georgia Military is fifth, followed by Snow (Utah) – that’s where the Apaches go on Thursday, Sept. 4, in fact – and then Garden City (Kan.), Copiah-Lincoln (Mississippi), Tyler, Mississippi Gulf Coast and KC rounding out the top 11.
The only other conference team ranked in the top 15 is Trinity Valley (in nearby Athens), ranked No. 14.
Dodge City? They’re not ranked, but they’re among a group of seven programs that received voted for the NJCAA’s preseason top 15. Others are Coffeyville, East Mississippi (of “Last Chance U” fame, on Netflix), East Central (Mississippi), Holmes (Mississippi), Cisco (of the SWJCFC) and Itawamba (Mississippi) Community College.
Here’s a link to the TJC schedule: 2024-25 Football Schedule – Tyler Junior College.
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We’re 10 minutes until kickoff here at CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium in Tyler between TJC and Dodge City.
TJC is in yellow-rose jerseys with black numbers, “Apaches” written in black on the front above the numbers, white trim, black pants with yellow-rose stripes, and the classic black helmets. Dodge city is in Minnesota Viking-colored jerseys: white with purple and yellow stripes on the sleeves, purple numbers and helmets, and purple pants.
TJC won the toss and deferred; Dodge City’s Conquistadors — also known as the Conqs — will get the ball to open the game.
TJC’s band performs the National Anthem, times it exactly as the pre-game clock expires, and we’re ready to go. It’s 89 degrees here at Rose as we begin the game.
Dodge City begins the first possession of the game at its own 21, and starting quarterback Braxton Clark fights for about maybe 1 yard.
The Conqs try an end-around to receiver Coray Stafford, but TJC’s Justin Catrell. And on third down, a SACK by TJC by Jaxson Stiles, putting DCCC in fourth and 22. The punter’s kick goes sky high, straight up, and TJC is going to take over after no return at the DCCC 30, with 12:50 left in the first quarter.
A 19-yard gain on a run by Bryce Burgess gets the Apaches all the way to the 11. A flag for movement sends TJC into first and 15 at the 15. Burgess gets a yard on first down, and then a pass from Tre Guerra to Burgess out in the flat. Burgess gets the edge, and takes it down to the 9-yard-line. It’s third down there.
Guerra’s pass to Burgess is incomplete, as Guerra was rushed heavily.
TJC gets onto the board with a 26-yard field goal, a 3-0 lead for TJC with 10:56 left in the first quarter. It was a 21-yard scoring drive.
After a short kick return, the Conqs are back at their own 25 to begin their drive, and it’s a run to the 31 for 6. A second straight run gives DCCC another first down, this one at its own 39.
Derick Shanks, a running back from Birmingham, Alabama, got all of that yardage.
The first-down play afterward saw Clark go incomplete to a receiver along the TJC sideline; he did catch it, a one-handed catch, but was out of bounds.
Shanks again, this time for 3 yards, to their own 41.
Clark finds Shanks for a short gain on third down, but not nearly enough for the 7 needed to convert for a first down.
Back for the punt, and IT’S A FAKE. The punter throws it into coverage, and the pass is dropped by a TJC defender. TJC takes over at the DCCC 42. And it was good that TJC’s Willie Nelson dropped the ball; their field position wouldn’t have been as good.
Guerra finds James Lee, a running back, for a throw for 2 yards, and then it’s Burgess running, but for no gain. It’s third and a long 8.
Another pass, this one to reciever Hawk Patrick, to get TJC within 2 of the first down.
It’s fourth down and TJC is lining up to go for it, fourth and 2. Former Gilmer standout Ashton Haynes gets right at the marker, and it’s signaled a first down.
Elijah Baessa STRIKES two plays later, making a catch from Guerra at the DCCC 18, and then SCORING on a 29-yard pass-and-catch. The point after is true, and TJC leads Dodge City, 10-0, with 5:51 left in the quarter.
Dodge City can’t get off its own 25-yard-line; they’re back there again after the kickoff. A run by Shanks leads to just 2 yards, and on second down, Shanks again, and he is a LOAD to bring down. He gets all the way to the 35, enough for a first down.
No gain on second down, but then a pass from Clark to Mahki Whitney for 12, all the way to the 47.
TJC defensive lineman Jamil Davis wrecks the next play, wrapping Shanks up in the backfield for a loss of 4.
Clark gets it right back on a quarterback scramble for 4, and then on third down, Clark finds Whitney down the TJC sideline, but he’s well short of the first down, getting just 6.
The punt is fair-caught, and TJC sets up for a possession, their third of the game up 10-0, at their own 22.
Guerra goes deep, way down the DCCC sideline, to Amarion Henry, but Henry can’t hang on.
On the next play, a second-and-10, Guerra just takes it up the middle, a run right at the first-down marker, and he gets it.
Burgess puts up another carry, down to the TJC 38 for about 6.
A third-down pass over the middle is incomplete, as Guerra is hit, and TJC will have a fourth down. The Apaches punt for the first time in the game, and Dodge City fields it, but he’s down again — yes, back inside their own 25. Again.
Shanks picks up 5 to his own 28, and that’s the final play of the first quarter. TJC leads Dodge City, 10-0.
Four plays later, and Dodge City has made it to midfield, just into the Apaches’ territory at the TJC 45.
Dodge City converts on a third-and-short, a pass to Joshua Taylor for a first down at the TJC 10-yard-line.
Edwin Merriweather III — we’ll call him “Trey” — came in briefly at quarterback, after Clark’s helmet came off, and Clark comes right back in, in time to throw Dodge City’s first touchdown pass of the season, a 10-yarder to David Ramos. The score came with 8:02 left in the half, and the extra point has the new score TJC 10, Dodge City 7.
On the kick return, DCCC gets flagged for a facemask, and TJC will begin this drive at its own 45.
Guerra attempts a screen pass out of the shotgun, but he’s rushed and it’s low, and Khalil Ewell can’t hang onto it.
On the very next play: another drop, this one by Jahrid Hughes.
On third down, a first-down catch by Henry, a transfer from the Air Force Academy, for about 12 yards to the DCCC 43.
Two plays later: a wide-open Henry on a crossing route makes the catch from Guerra, throwing on the move. That play was good all the way to the DCCC 15.
The Apaches go up-tempo and its James Lee around the corner. He loses the ball, but out of bounds, and TJC has it after a gain of 3.
It’s third down, and Guerra takes the snap: he’s got a free play, as DCCC was offsides and the flag was thrown. Guerra tries to get it to tight end Lonnie Johnson in the end zone, the first target to Johnson today, and there’s another flag. It’s pass interference on the man covering Johnson, and TJC has a first-and-goal at the 3.
A false start backs TJC up 5 yards, to the 8.
The Conquistadors stuff back-to-back runs by TJC, and on third down and goal at the 8, and Guerra finds Elijah Baesa AGAIN. Baesa scoots into the end zone, loses the ball, but the official on the spot ruled he crossed the goal line for the TOUCHDOWN, TJC, with 4:18 left in the half.
The point after is good once again, and TJC leads by 10 once again, 17-7.
Dodge City begins its next drive at its own 31, with 4:12 left in the half. The first-down pass bounces off the Rose Stadium turf, an underthrown ball. Shanks makes headway for only about 2 yards on second down. Clark sidesteps a rushing Dada Ross to complete a pass for a first down to Santana Flemming all the way to the DCCC 45.
The two-minute time out, right before halftime, finds Dodge City at Tyler’s 42.
TJC’s Clifton Gooden smacks the intended receiver, and the referee drops a flag, but it was actually on Dodge City for holding. So the Conquistadors have second and 19 at their own 49.
Clark lets a pass go downfield and the only player near it is TJC defensive back Cattrell. He can’t pull it down, and it’s third and super long.
Clark drops back but he is sacked, on a delayed blitz by safety Kerry Williams, TJC’s second sack of the day.
The clock stops with 1:17 left in the half, and TJC has two time-outs left.
On the punt, the ball hits and there’s a scrum because it hit a TJC player. They had to fall on it, and they did recover it at their own 35. TJC starts with 1:07 left and those two time-outs.
The Apaches execute a screen pass to Burgess, but he gets only 3.
On the next pass: a HUGE PLAY, a catch at the Dodge City 20-yard-line, by Henry.
But on the very next play: disaster, a drive-killing interception by Anthony Madison of the Conqs.
He gives the ball right back to Dodge City, who takes over at its own 24, with just 34 seconds left in the half.
TJC calls a time out with that same time on the clock.
Dodge City hands off to Joshua Taylor, for a handful of yards, and that will do it for the first half: TJC leads, 17-7, at halftime.
The sound of “Bad To the Bone” brings the Apaches, and the Conqs, back to the field, as we start the third quarter.
Gentz Hilburne, wearing No. 0, brings the ball back all the way to midfield, breaking tackle after tackle, and sets TJC up at the DCCC 47-yard-line.
TJC is immediately called for holding on the very first play from scrimmage of the second half. TJC is in first and 20 at their own 42. Burgess makes a catch and takes it all the way back, getting 18 on that play to the Dodge City 39.
Two plays later, Dodge City is flagged for illegal hands to the face; that’s an automatic first down, all the way to the Conquistadors’ 23.
On the first-down play, it’s Guerra to Hilburne, a transfer from Northwest Washington, for a first-and-goal at the 5.
Haynes is stopped for no gain on first down, and back-to-back incomplete passes on second and third downs.
The 22-yard field goal is good — I don’t have the young man’s name — and TJC extends its lead to 20-7, with 11:43 left in the third quarter.
Dodge City takes over at a familiar place — their own 25, again — and first down leads to exactly 1 yard. Taylor gets nothing. And then a second-down play downfield, a pass, is incomplete. A flag drops, and it’s
It’s offsides on TJC, and then Clark picks up a first down with his legs, to the DCCC 43, on the next play.
Shanks gives, and then takes away: an 11-yard run for another first down to midfield, and then on the second effort, he loses all the way back to the DCCC 43, a loss of 5.
A second-down pass downfield is overthrown badly. On third and 15, at the DCCC 43 (needing the TJC 42 for a first down), Clark is SACKED by Jamil Davis, TJC’s third sack of the night.
There’s no return on the punt, and TJC will begin at its own 38, with 8:23 left in the third.
Ewell is tackled for not much of any gain on the first down, and then on second, Guerra’s pass is incomplete to Henry.
Lonnie Johnson then shows up in a big way, making a catch from Guerra in the backfield at the 40, and he toughs and roughs his way to the 50, for 12. Johnson is a transfer from SMU.
The next play starts with a fumble of the snap by Guerra, but gets it off to Hilburne, who gets 5 yards out of it somehow.
A run by Ewell gets three more, and TJC has a third-and-short, a third-and-2, at the DCCC 42.
It’s a handoff, and Haynes can’t get there. There’s no gain.
And then flags fly after the game. The referee sorts it out, and TJC is flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. That’s big. It’s a 15-yard penalty, moving the Apaches all the way back to their own 43, and into a fourth-and-17.
It forces a punt. Brian Ramirez gets it off and it’s a good one, all the way back inside the 10. Actually, it’s at the 17, and DCCC rolls with a run for 5 yards by Taylor, who is down, maybe a cramp.
Hopefully Taylor is OK, but Clark’s third-down pass is broken up, and it’s fourth down again.
The punt bounces in front of Ewell, and misses him — it would’ve been a live ball. Instead, TJC takes over at the DCCC 44, roughly where they were before the unsportsmanlike conduct was called.
Baesa grabs another, for a first down, from Guerra to the Conqs’ 21-yard-line.
On third down at the 15, though, a loss of yards on a pass play. The Apaches have a fourth-down and 7 and the Dodge City 19. This time, the field goal misses, and the score remains 20-7, TJC.
The Conqs’ field position isn’t good, but Fleming picks up yards on an end-around, out of bounds about 6 yards short of the first down.
Whitney misses the jump-ball pass by Clark along the Apaches’ sideline, and it’s incomplete. But TJC is flagged for roughing the passer, and now it’s the Conqs’ ball at their own 40.
A first-down run by Shanks picks up only a yard.
But TJC defensive back Arionta Bulock, falling down. He gets no return, but he’s down at the TJC 39, giving the Apaches the ball with 49 seconds left in the third quarter.
TJC gets 3 yards on a quick pass play, and Guerra lets the third-quarter clock run out. TJC leads, 20-7, at the start of the fourth.
On a third-down play right after the start of the quarter, DCCC is flagged for offsides, giving the Apaches third and short, third and 2, at midfield.
Henry catches the bubble screen, and it’s a race. He’s down to the Dodge City 23.
Guerra finds Hilburn for a short 4-yard gain on first down, and he’s hit hard. The second-down pass into the flat, a short screen attempt, is incomplete, and dangerously so, as it goes out of the hands of a DCCC defender.
On third-and-7, an incomplete throw off his back foot, and Guerra misses everything.
Kicker Daniel Matthews misses again: he’s missed his two second-half kicks, and TJC leads, but still the same score, 20-7. He’s missed from 35 and 36 yards out.
The Conqs have a first down at their own 30, plenty of time left in this game (13:12).
The first-down pass is incomplete, and then a familiar name, Shanks, takes the handoff for about 6 yards.
It’s third-and-4 at the DCCC 36.
This time, though, TJC figures it out. Shanks tries the middle of the defense and finds nothing. It’s fourth and 4, at the DCCC 37.
Wow, they go for it on fourth down. Clark rolls out and throws it to tight end Jack Clifford, who can’t get to it. It’s TJC football at the Dodge City 37.
Backup quarterback Luke Ulrich is in the game, and takes the ball on first down and just bulls all the way to the 30 for 7 yards. He gains another on second down, and now Guerra is back in.
The third-down conversion fails, a run by James Lee, and it’s fourth and 5 at the 32. A different kicker, a left-footer, comes in and misses a 49-yarder. There’s a flag down, illegal substitution, and DCCC gets the ball back. They’ll take over at their own 32, with 9:32 left to play.
TJC have had 10 possessions, and five of them have began in Dodge City territory, TJC color commentator Kevin Simon just noted, with 20 points on the scoreboard.
Clark is sacked for a loss of 4 by David Langi. That’s the fourth sack for TJC tonight.
Clark goes downfield on second and 14, and there’s a miscommunication; the receiver never even looked for it.
Clark throws it to midfield, and it’s Willie Nelson of Longview, “On the Road Again,” a pick-six, an interception return from the 46-yard-line for a TOUCHDOWN, TJC. The kick is good, and it’s a bit more comfortable 27-7 lead for the Apaches over Dodge City.
Dodge City seems to be out of fight: fourth down from their own 39, and punting the ball away to TJC. There’s no return by Ewell, and TJC has the ball back with 6:25 left in the game.
The Apaches, mercifully for everybody, are running the ball, keeping it on the ground, and running clock. It’s an 8-yard gain by the former Gilmer Buckeye Haynes, and TJC has a third down at their own 42.
And it’s Haynes for a big run, all the way down to the Conqs’ 49, and stays in bounds, a big 9-yard gain and another Apaches’ first down. There’s 4:24 remaining.
TJC keeps it on the ground, and on third and 6 at the DCCC 44, Burgess is wrapped up. It’ll be fourth down and about 5, with 2:17 left, as the clock is running.
Check that: we just hit the two-minute time-out. TJC is up, 27-7, and the Apaches will move to 1-0 on the season, the first team in the ETBlitz.com coverage area with a win this 2025 season.
The punt stays in bounds and is out at the 5.
It’s a different QB for Dodge City, who just snaps the ball and it’s a run for a short gain, maybe a yard. The clock is less than 1:20, now, left.
Dodge City manages back-to-back runs and they get the first down at the 15. But the clock is winding, rapidly.
And TJC has won its season opener, 27-7, over Dodge City. Congratulations to the Apaches (1-0) and their fans, and Happy Football Season, everybody. It’s finally here.