BRENHAM —A blocked field goal touchdown helped lead No. 12 Kilgore College to a 28-21 victory over No. 16 Blinn College on Saturday at Cub Stadium.
With the loss, the Buccaneers drop to 5-3 overall and 3-3 in the Southwest Junior College Football Conference.
"Our kids played very hard and didn't give up at all, so it is deflating that you think you are going to kick a game-winning field goal and then it goes in that direction," said Ryan Mahon, Blinn head coach. "I couldn't be more proud of our kids for staying on course the entire game."
Brock Landis made his first start for the Buccaneers in the quarterback position. He completed 13 of 24 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns. Corey Henderson led the Buccaneers in receiving with 77 yards on three receptions for two touchdowns. Adrian Johnson returned a fumble for a touchdown, while Donovan Banks caught an interception.
The Buccaneers were in position to win the game with a field goal after battling back from a 21-7 deficit. Tied 21-21 with 5:55 left in the game, Kilgore managed to block the kick and return the ball into the end zone for a touchdown. The Rangers held onto the 28-21 lead for the remainder of the game.
Earlier, Blinn and Kilgore were even 7-7 in the first five minutes of the opening quarter after each team capitalized on the other's mistakes. The Rangers started the game with a 7-0 lead after returning an interception for a touchdown with 14:43 on the clock. Johnson immediately answered back for Blinn by recovering a fumble and returning it for a touchdown to level the score 7-7 with 10:14 left in the quarter.
The score remained tied until 4:21 remained in the first quarter and Kilgore scored with an eight-yard touchdown pass to lead 14-7. The Rangers extended their lead to 21-7 after rushing the ball in from the four-yard line with 9:01 left in the first half.
The Buccaneers battled back to even the score 21-21 as Landis and Henderson connected for two touchdown passes. First, Landis sent a 12-yard touchdown pass to Henderson with 2:56 remaining in the first half. Landis and Henderson united once again with a 59-yard touchdown pass for the Buccaneers to even the score with 4:21 left in the third quarter.
Next, the Buccaneers will close out the regular season with a home game against New Mexico Military Institute on Saturday, Oct. 27, at 3 p.m.