Esports 4/7/2025 10:58:00 PM

Blinn Rocket League goes 2-1 on first day of NJCAAe Central Super Regional

The Buccaneers battle Heartland Community College in the consolation championship at 6 p.m. on Friday

Esports 4/7/2025 10:58:00 PM

Blinn Rocket League goes 2-1 on first day of NJCAAe Central Super Regional

The Buccaneers battle Heartland Community College in the consolation championship at 6 p.m. on Friday

The Blinn College esports Rocket League team posted a 2-1 record in the double-elimination NJCAA Esports (NJCAAe) Central Super Regional tournament Monday.

In a series of three best-of-five tilts, the third-seeded Buccaneers defeated Southeast Community College 3-2 and Laredo College 3-1 before falling to Iowa Western Community College 3-1 in the winner's bracket final.

Competing for the Bucs were Xavier Johnson, Braeden Pomeroy, Edward Tejada, and substitute competitor Travis Stansberry.

Rocket League combines elements of soccer with fast-paced car mechanics. Teams of three players use rocket-powered vehicles to hit a ball into the opponent's goal. Teams with the most goals during a five-minute match win.

In the opener, Blinn dropped the first round against Southeast 2-0 before rallying for a 5-4 overtime win in game two. Southeast took the third round 3-0, but the Bucs responded with a 1-0 win and a 2-1 overtime triumph to claim the series.

Against Laredo, Blinn raced out to a 2-0 lead with 3-1 and 5-2 wins before falling 3-1 in the third round. The Bucs claimed the match with a 3-2 victory in the fourth round.

In the winner's final, Blinn earned a 3-1 win to open the bout, but Iowa Westerns stormed back with wins of 1-0, 2-1 (OT), and 4-3 (OT).

"We weren't outplayed, we just made too many unforced errors in front of our own net and missed key scoring opportunities," Bucs head coach and Rocket League manager Kyle Murto said. "We controlled much of the series but failed to convert when it mattered most. If we tighten up these individual mistakes, it's a whole different story."

In becoming one of the final four teams in the tournament, Blinn has qualified for the NJCAAe Rocket League national tournament. However, the Bucs' Central Super Regional run is not over.

On Friday, Blinn will face Heartland Community College in the loser's bracket championship at 6 p.m., and the winner will advance back into the winner's bracket for a bout against Iowa Western in the tournament championship at 7 p.m.. Should Iowa Western lose, a grand final matchup will take place at 8 p.m.

The four teams from the Central (Blinn, Heartland, Iowa Western, and Laredo College) will meet two teams from the East and the West in the eight-team national tournament.

"With nationals qualification locked in, we now shift our focus to finishing strong, claiming the regional title, and heading into nationals with momentum and a high seed," Murto said. "We know what we're capable of, and when we play our game, we win. I want to give a special shoutout to Travis, who stepped up in a huge way today. Usually our fourth man, Travis came in cold and not only helped swing the match against Southeast, but also played every single match against Iowa Western, and did so at a high level. His composure and consistency were absolutely vital to our success today."

Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 50 national championships since 1987.

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Players Mentioned

Xavier Johnson: Sophomore; Rocket League

Braeden Pomeroy: Sophomore; Rocket League

Travis Stansberry: Sophomore; Call of Duty, Rocket League

Players Mentioned

Xavier Johnson
: Sophomore; Rocket League

Braeden Pomeroy
: Sophomore; Rocket League

Travis Stansberry
: Sophomore; Call of Duty, Rocket League