NMMI Sports Press
Turnovers, special teams and penalties combined to give visiting Kilgore College a win in the Southwest Junior College Football Conference's championship match, 39-12.
The Rangers came to the Wool Bowl on Saturday with a three-game winning streak, hot off the heels of another impressive win on the road last week against Trinity Valley CC, 38-10, in the SWJCFC semifinals.
The Broncos boasted an unblemished 6-0 record at home this season and had a one-game win-streak, edging out Navarro College at home in the semis, 24-23, thanks to a trio of blocked kicks.
But it was the away team that did the blocking this time: Kilgore knocked down two of NMMI's first three punt attempts in the first quarter, and early into the second quarter, got just enough of a William Testa 47-yard FG attempt to prevent it from going the required distance.
Despite the miscues, NMMI trailed just 10-3 at the end of the half.
NMMI struck first on their opening drive, with Testa kicking his first of two FGs in the game after their possession stalled at the Ranger 14. Two big plays helped the drive with Malik Phillips returning the opening kickoff 39 yards, and then a 33-yard pass for QB Koby Muasau to WR Treyvion Beamon.
Kilgore came right back, moving 72 yards in just five plays for the touchdown, making it 7-3 with 10:16 left in the first quarter. NMMI had the Rangers seemingly stopped during the drive on a third down quarterback scramble, but a personal foul penalty made it 1st & 10 on the NMMI 15 instead of 4th & 22 from the NMMI 29.
NMMI went three-and-out on their next possession and the ensuing punt was blocked, giving the Rangers the ball at the NMMI 6. The Bronco 'Black Swarm' defense held Kilgore to just a field goal however: 10-3 Ranger lead with 5:57 left in the first.
The NMMI kickoff coverage unit faltered on the kickoff to start the second half with Kilgore returning the ball 90 yards for the touchdown a 17-3 lead.
NMMI's kick return team almost returned the favor, with Phillips taking Kilgore's kickoff 67 yards, down to the Ranger 28. The Broncos got just inside the red zone, down to the Kilgore 19, but couldn't convert on a 3rd & 1. Testa kicked his second field of the game to make it 17-6 with 12:57 remaining in the third.
The rest of the third quarter, and most of the fourth, resulted in 26 unanswered points by Kilgore, thanks in large part to turnovers: two interceptions, one for a pick-six, and a fumble.
NMMI final points – a four-yard touchdown plunge by RB Au'mhryaun Brown capping a 6-play, 60-yard drive – didn't come until the final minute of the fourth period.
Running back Jeiel Stark was the leading rusher for the Broncos on the night with 12 carries for 45 yards. Wide-out Noah Armijo led in receiving yards with 44 on a pair of catches.
"We didn't accomplish tonight what we wanted to accomplish," said head NMMI coach Kurt Taufa'asu. "We hurt ourselves with turnovers and special teams."
With the loss, the chance for the Broncos to play for another NJCAA National Championship title is probably off the table.
However, with their current No. 6 national ranking (which will likely slip down a few spots) and their 8-3 overall record, an invitation to a post-season bowl game – including the HF Sinclair Wool Bowl on Friday, Dec. 2 – is almost inevitable.
"Hopefully we'll have one more opportunity to play," continued Taufa'asu. "If so, we'll take a bit of time off to try and heal up, and then get back to the drawing board."