Football 9/26/2025 11:51:00 AM

One year after stunning upset, Blinn eyes repeat result against No. 6 Navarro

The Buccaneers and Bulldogs are both unbeaten in conference play

Football 9/26/2025 11:51:00 AM

One year after stunning upset, Blinn eyes repeat result against No. 6 Navarro

The Buccaneers and Bulldogs are both unbeaten in conference play

In a stunning come-from-behind victory over Navarro College in 2024, the Blinn College football team put on an unforgettable performance.

One year later, the Buccaneers are hoping for an even better encore.
Blinn and No. 6 Navarro will face off in a battle of Southwest Junior College Football Conference (SWJCFC) rivals at 3 p.m. on Saturday at Community National Bank & Trust Stadium in Corsicana, Texas.

"This is a huge matchup … there's no doubt about it," Bucs head coach Ryan Mahon said. "You've got two teams who are undefeated in our conference with plenty to prove. As a coach and as a player, it just gets you excited."

Excitement would be an understatement when describing the two teams' 2024 matchup.

Navarro, which was also ranked sixth when the teams met in week four of last season, gave the Bucs all they could handle with about six minutes left in the third quarter. The Bulldogs were leading 37-10 when Blinn staged a wild 33-6 rally across the final 21 minutes of play.

Ultimately, the Bucs out-scored Navarro 27-6 in the fourth quarter to secure a 44-43 upset.

Fast forward one year and Blinn (3-0, 1-0 SWJCFC) is looking for a similar result.

"That game last season is one you never forget," Blinn sophomore defensive back Kolin Garner said, "and we know Navarro brought back a lot from that team and is still a very good squad this year. We're ready to do it all over again and go to battle with another great opponent."

Navarro (2-1, 2-0 SWJCFC) has relied heavily on a passing attack led by quarterback Ryan Shackleton. The sophomore saw action during last season's matchup but never through a pass against the Bucs, instead tallying 11 yards on a pair of runs.

Shackleton is currently ranked second in passing yards in NJCAA Division I with 902 to go with six touchdowns.

"Ryan Shackleton is a guy who has grown up a lot during his time at Navarro, and he's excelling in the schemes they run," Mahon said. "He's a very good quarterback and a very good leader on a very good football team. They've built around him and made him comfortable with talented playmakers, and now it's our job to disrupt that and make him uncomfortable."

Garner and the rest of Blinn's secondary will be charged with slowing Navarro's aerial assault and are quickly proving they're up to the task.

The Bucs' have racked up eight interceptions this season, including three in a 34-21 conference win over New Mexico Military Institute in week three. Blinn has also tallied 15 pass breakups. The Bucs have also amassed 14 1/2 sacks.

Navarro has passed the ball on almost 60 percent of its plays this season.

"Stopping an offense like that starts with pressure up front from our defensive line, and finishes with our defensive backs," Garner explained. "We want to make life hard for their QB, and when he does put the ball in the air, we need to be on our man and ready to knock it away or bring it in for an interception."

The Bucs will attempt to counter Navarro's potent offense with its own viable attack.

Blinn is scoring at a rate of 56 points per game this season, buoyed by a 50-50 offense that throws and runs the football well.

Freshman quarterback Jack Emerson is enjoying a strong debut season with 416 passing yards and five touchdowns.

Fellow freshman Jordan Hayes has anchored the Bucs' stout ground game with 278 yards on just 37 attempts. The running back's seven rushing touchdowns are tied for the national lead. He chewed up 170 yards on 23 carries with three TDs in week three.

Navarro's defense has allowed 22.7 points per game while giving up an average of 254 and 174 passing and rushing yards, respectively.

"As coach always tells us, we're going to take what the defense gives us," Hayes said. "We plan to run the football, but we have a great quarterback and great receivers, too, so when the opportunities through the air open up, I think we'll be able to take advantage of them."

Fans unable to attend this week's game can catch the action live on www.buccaneersports.com by clicking on the "Live Streams" button under the "Inside Athletics" tab.

Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 53 national championships since 1987.

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