By MIKE MONTFORT
Kobe Muasau threw five touchdown passes and 14th-ranked New Mexico Military Institute took advantage of seven Navarro turnovers to trounce the Bulldogs 50-30 in Saturday's SWJCFC opener at CNB&T Stadium in Corsicana.
Lead receiver Treyvion Beamon snagged touchdown passes of 33, 17 and 17 yards from Muasau, who guided the Broncos to 417 yards offense plus a pair of momentous scoring bursts in each half that the Bulldogs couldn't counter. .
While winning its fifth straight game in the series, NMMI (2-1/1-0) overcame a 14-6 Navarro lead and tagged the 'Dawgs with an unanswered 20-point run inside the final five minutes of the first half. NC clawed within 26-23 on Dane Jentsch's five-yard run at 9:27 of the third quarter, but the Broncos went on another 24-point flurry over the next 16 minutes.
Navarro, now 0-2 at home, remarkably had some positive statistical advantages. NC ran more offensive plays (74-64), outgained the Broncos on the ground (236-150), and had a sizeable return-yardage (311-20) – thanks to Tim Burns and Kyle Veasley.
Clay Thevenin, who headed NC's 46-carry effort, churned 29 attempts into a season-high 169 yards and the Bulldogs' first touchdown.
Burns cashed six kickoffs and two punt returns into 195 yards – highlighted by a 57-yard punt return with 4:04 to play for NC's final touchdown.
With 0:08 left before half, Veasley returned a blocked NMMI conversion 81 yards for a defensive safety.
Jentsch and freshman back-up quarterback Mason Shorb combined to pass for just 184 yards and suffered five interceptions.
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NEXT WEEK: Navarro plays an 11 a.m. Saturday game against Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (0-2/0-1) at Red Robertson Field in Miami, Ok.
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SWJCFC SCORES
Week 2
Saturday
Conference
NMMI 50, Navarro 30
Kilgore 48, NEO A&M 0
Cisco 20, Blinn 19
Non-Conference
Tyler 52, Georgia Military 28
Friday
Non-Conference
TVCC 38, Air Force Prep 26
