Blinn falls 38-24 at Kilgore after fast start

Blinn College football raced out to a fast start Saturday, but the Buccaneers were unable to maintain their early momentum in a 38-24 loss to Kilgore College in a Southwest Junior College Football Conference matchup in Kilgore, Texas.

Blinn is now 2-3 overall and 0-3 in the SWJCFC.

The Buccaneers received the opening kickoff, and on just the third play of their opening drive, ever-dependable sophomore running back Bryson Batts broke multiple tackles during a 74-yard run that set Blinn up at the Kilgore 1-yard line. On the next play, Batts punched it in for his third touchdown of the season with 13:13 left in the first quarter.

A rushing touchdown by the Rangers tied the game at the 9:40 mark of the quarter.

A passing touchdown gave Kilgore its first lead of the game with 2:22 still to go in the first quarter.

Freshman quarterback David Richardson brought the Bucs even with a 30-yard scamper to the end zone as time expired in the first quarter.

Kilgore regained the lead with a field goal as the horn sounded at the end of the first half. The Rangers led the Bucs 17-14 at halftime.

The Rangers scored a pair of touchdowns to open the second half and take a 31-14 lead.

The Bucs answered with a 20-yard field goal from freshman Camilo Garcia-Matute with 1:48 left in the third quarter, making it 31-17.

Kilgore returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown and a 38-17 advantage.

Blinn added a touchdown with 2:59 left in the ballgame when sophomore quarterback Jack Emerson hit sophomore wide receiver Savion Conteh for a 14-yard score.

The Bucs return to the gridiron for a SWJCFC home matchup against conference newcomer and 14th-ranked Snow College at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1, at Cub Stadium in Brenham, Texas.

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