JUNIOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAMEDAY 3

TEAMS: Navarro Bulldogs (1-2 / 1-1) at (3) Kilgore Rangers (3-0 / 2-0)

KICKOFF: 7 pm Saturday, Sept. 23

VENUE: R.E. St. John Stadium, Kilgore, Tx

LIVESTREAM: Kilgore College Ranger YouTube exclusively webcasts Saturday's game with Manny Almanza on the call. LINK for free coverage: https://www.youtube.com/@kilgorecollege1935

SERIES: Navarro and Kilgore are meeting for the 93rd time since the series began in 1949. The Bulldogs own a 45-43-4 lead. The Bulldogs have won the last two meetings – 28-21 in Corsicana in 2022, and 47-43 at Kilgore in 2021.

GAMEDAY WEATHER: A humid evening is expected after a very warm 96-degree afternoon. Humidity will be near 70 percent. South-to-southwest winds at 7 mph may include an occasional gust of 13 mph.

ABOUT THE RANGERS: Kilgore averages 428 yards and 48.3 points. KC's passing game 263.3 yards and 11 touchdowns in three games. averages an NJCAA-best 21.9 yards per completion. Kilgore's rushing defense surrendered an average of 62 yards for a unit that yields 303 yards and 19.3 points. KC's defense has scored three pick-sixes.

ABOUT THE BULLDOGS: Navarro norms 319.7 yards and 26 points. The Bulldog offense is about 55 percent rushing (178.3) and 45 percent passing (141.3) after three games. Last week's shutout helped NC's defensive numbers as the 'Dawgs now are yielding 311 yards and 30 points. Navarro's rushing defense has given up 138 per game; its pass defense, 173.

LAST WEEK'S GAME: Dane Jentsch accounted for 191 yards offense, ran for one touchdown and threw for another as the Bulldogs smothered NEO, 42-0, for their first victory of 2023. Jentsch ran for a team-high 104 yards and completed 6-of-9 passes for 87 yards – including a 52-yard scoring strike to Elias DeJean. Linebackers Eddy Toussom and Jordan Smith produced touchdowns for Navarro's defense. Toussom recovered a fumble in the end zone for one score, while Smith returned an interception 46 yards for another. KC – The unbeaten Rangers scored a statement victory in a 48-23 decision over NMMI at Roswell, NM., and achieved a balance with 207 yards passing and 228 yards rushing. Cameron Peters completed 11-21-207-4, with three TD strikes to Aldyn Bradley (7-100-3). Kaden Meredith, one of nine rushers, gained a team-high 75 yards on the ground and caught a 29-yard scoring pass.

KILGORE KEYS: NJCAA Offensive Player of Week 1, QB Cameron Peters, ranks fourth in conference and ninth nationally with 32-65-710-10-3, with multiple weapons in WRs Michael Phoenix (11-237-4), Aldyn Bradley (10-150-3) and Chris Marshall (5-139-2), RBs Kaden Merdith (32-163-1) and Dominique Williams (29-123-1), NJCAA kick-scoring leader Chris Baldazo (25 points from 19-of-20 conversions and 2-of-2 field goals), LBs Julian Payne (25 tackles), Vincent Paige (19) and Jermari Seals (18), DL Kajuan Robinson (3 sacks). Payne earned NJCAA Defensive Player Of Week 3 honors for a monster game against NMMI with 13 tackles, one TFL, one sack and a 92-yard interception return for touchdown.

NAVARRO VITALS: QB Dane Jentsch accounts for 585 yards and four TDs (34-67-352-1-4 passing and 28-233-3 rushing) , RB Clay Thevenin (54-240-2), WRs Bryan Spotwood (10-134-0 and D'Tyerian McCoy (6-25-0), PK Eric Acosta (16 points from 2-of-3 FGs and 10 conversions), ATH Tim Burns leads in all-purpose yardage (9-189 KR and 6-133-1 PR), LBs Jordan Smith (27 tackles, 5 TFL, 1 sack, 1 INT-TD), Eddy Toussom (15 tackles, 6 TFL, 2 sacks), DB Ty Marsh (18 tackles, 1 FF, 1 INT, 1 Bl-K), DL Braelyn Ward (9 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 1 TFL)

SWJCFC SATURDAY: Conference – Navarro at Kilgore, NMMI at Blinn, Cisco at Trinity Valley. Non-Conference – Butler at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.

NEXT WEEK: Navarro hosts Blinn for a 4 pm Saturday game at CNB&T Stadium on Bulldog Hall of Fame weekend.

 

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