Much at Stake in Final NJCAA Football Weekend
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Nov. 12, 2009) - The outcome of three football games between top ranked teams in the final weekend of NJCAA football will have the attention of many football fans this Saturday and Sunday to close out the regular season. To make it even more intriguing, all three games are rematches from earlier this season.
Much attention will be on the Southwest JC Football Conference title game as No. 1 Navarro College (Texas), 10-0, hosts No. 3 Blinn College (Texas), 9-1, Sunday. Navarro defeated Blinn two weeks ago 23-20, but last year entered the SWJCFC title game undefeated only to fall to Blinn 49-24.
Also on Sunday, No. 2 Fort Scott (Kan.), 10-0, will host No. 7 Butler (Kan.), 8-2, in the Region 6 title game. Two weeks ago Fort Scott pulled out a 14-10 win over Butler to win the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference title for the first time since 1974.
Another rematch of great importance takes place on Saturday in Yuma, Ariz., when No. 4 Snow (Utah), 9-1, travels to No. 7 Arizona Western, 8-1, in a game that will decide the champion of the Western States Football League. Arizona Western defeated Snow 35-17 back on Sept. 5.
NOTE: Selections of teams for NJCAA Bowl Games by respective bowl committees can not be made until 12 p.m. (Central Standard Time) on Nov. 17th. Once selections are made and forwarded to the NJCAA, matchups of each game will be posted on the NJCAA Bowl Games website.
SOUTHWEST JC FOOTBALL CONFERENCE - CHAMPIONSHIP
#3 Blinn, Texas (9-1) at #1 Navarro, Texas (10-0) FINAL SCORE: BLINN 45, NAVARRO 34
Sunday, Nov. 15 at Corsicana, Texas, 3 p.m. (Central)
Listen Live at www.1069theranch.com (Navarro broadcast)
If there is one team in the country that wants more than anything than NOT talk about last year it's the Navarro Bulldogs. Last year is the past...the 2009 season is all they can control now. This Sunday, the Bulldogs will get a chance to redeem the past while taking one more step toward the program's first national championship since 
1989 when they host third-ranked and defending SWJCFC champion Blinn on their home field in Corsicana.
In case you need a quick refresher course, last year Navarro held the No. 1 ranking in the NJCAA / JC Football.com Top 20 for seven weeks and headed into the SWJCFC title game with a 10-0 record before falling to Blinn 49-24. The loss not only crushed national title aspirations for Navarro, it also left the Bulldogs out of a bowl game due to the craziness that ensues in the collegiate football bowl selection process....but that was last year.
Second year head coach Nick Bobeck, who won NJCAA Football Coach of the Year honors from his peers last season, believes his 2009 squad is much better and more prepared this time around. He told Rob Ludwig of the Corsicana Sun that "this team is different because it is a better football team in many, many ways. We have been really good on defense and when we don't turn the ball over we are a good offensive team."
Navarro comes into the SWJCFC title game after defeating Kilgore (Texas) 24-10 last Saturday. The Bulldogs scored 24 unanswered points in the game and were led by freshman running back DePauldrick Garrett (left) who rushed for 181 yards and two touchdowns. Garrett is now Navarro's leading rusher with 827 yards and 10 touchdowns on the season. 
However, Navarro did commit five turnovers in the game. The turnover bug hit the Bulldogs late last season as well and has many Navarro fans nervous heading into Sunday's title game with Blinn.
The Buccaneers, who were ranked No. 1 in the national rankings for eight straight weeks before losing to Navarro two weeks ago, are fresh off a 21-15 escape from Tyler (Texas) last Saturday. Blinn needed a late fourth quarter touchdown from quarterback Cam Newton (right) and a goal line stand from their defense with less than two minutes remaining to get the win.
In Navarro's 23-20 victory over Blinn two weeks ago, the Bulldogs managed to force three interceptions from Newton and sacked the former Florida Gator three times while also putting him to the turf on numerous occasions. Navarro looked to be cruising to a big win as they led 23-7 in the fourth quarter, but Newton rallied the Bucs for two scoring drives before throwing an interception in the final minutes of the game to end their come-from-behind effort.
Sunday's game is scheduled for a 3 p.m. (Central) kickoff and fans can follow the action via live audio at www.1069theranch.com (Navarro broadcast).
REGION 6 - CHAMPIONSHIP
#7 Butler, Kan. (8-2) at #2 Fort Scott, Kan. (10-0) FINAL SCORE: FORT SCOTT 13, BUTLER 12
Sunday, Nov. 15 at Fort Scott, Kan., 1:30 p.m. (Central)
Live Stats Here
For the first time in five years, the favorite in the Region 6 football title game is not the Butler Grizzlies. This Sunday Fort Scott will host Butler for the Region 6 title game, which is the first time the Greyhounds have hosted the championship game in school history.
The 2009 season has been a remarkable one for Fort Scott. The Greyhounds are 10-0 for the first time since 
1973 when they rallied off 10 wins before losing to Mesa (Ariz.) in the Wool Bowl. Also, their No. 2 ranking in the NJCAA / JC Football.com Poll is the highest for the Greyhounds since '73.
Fort Scott won its first Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference title since 1974 when they defeated Butler two weeks ago 14-10 and two days ago Greyhound head coach Jeff Sims and running back Jasmin Hopkins (left) were named KJCCC Coach of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year.
Not to bad considering that the Greyhounds posted a 0-9 record back in 2005.
The Greyhounds took care of business last week by throttling Hutchinson 42-27. Fort Scott's offense posted 403 total yards with 275 coming on the ground. Hopkins proved deserving of the Player of the Year honors by rushing for 213 yards on 25 carries with three touchdowns. Hopkins is now second all-time in rushing yards at FSCC and currently ranks second nationally with 1,557 total rushing yards. He is also tied for second with 16 rushing touchdowns.
The Fort Scott defense also played a big role in the win, holding Hutchinson to just 240 total yards and forcing two turnovers. Linebacker LeVonte David, a recent 1st Team All-KJCCC honoree, led the way with 11 tackles.
Butler comes into the Region 6 title game after posting a memorable comeback in their 21-14 semifinal win over Coffeyville last Saturday. The Grizzlies led 7-0 at halftime with the only score being a 27-yard touchdown pass from Ross Dausin to Robert Demps. The Grizzlies the found themselves down 14-7 in the fourth quarter when quarterback Ross Dausin connected with Dontel Watkins for a 22-yard touchdown that tied the game with 2:39 to play.
Coffeyville then fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Butler's Brett Soft recovered. Four plays later, Delando Henderson dove past the goal line for the game-deciding score. The win was Butler's 18th-straight over the Red Ravens.
Butler finished the game with 333 yards of offense to Coffeyville's 267. Dausin finished by completing 12 of 22 passes for 245 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, Cornelius Carradine and Scott Smith teamed up for 19 tackles and had two sacks apiece.
Sunday's game will kickoff at 1:30 p.m. (Central) and can be followed via live stats at http://grizzlies.butlercc.edu/football/stats/livegame/xlive.htm.
WESTERN STATES FOOTBALL LEAGUE - REGUAL SEASON FINALLE
#4 Snow, Utah (9-1) at #7 Arizona Western (8-1) FINAL SCORE: ARIZONA WESTERN 30, SNOW 17
Saturday, Nov. 14 at Yuma, Ariz., (Central), 1 p.m. (Mountain)
Listen live at www.snowbadgerscom or via the Arizona Western Matador Sports Network
The third great rematch this weekend in NJCAA football takes place on Saturday in Yuma, Ariz., when No. 4 Snow travels to No. 7 Arizona Western in a contest that will decide the Western States Football League champion for this year. (The WSFL does not hold a playoff)
Snow is looking to win the league title outright for the fourth consecutive season, while Arizona Western is trying to win a conference title for the first time since 1981.
These two teams played back on Sept. 5 in Ephraim, Utah, in a non-WSFL contest. The Matadors handed the Badgers their first loss on their home field since 2004 by a score of 35-17. That game was also the first collegiate start for AWC running back Reggie Bullock (left). The freshman ran for 202 yards and two scores in the contest. Bullock currently leads all NJCAA running backs with a 168.2 yards per game average. However, Bullock did not play in AWC's last two contests due to minor injuries but is expected to play Saturday.
The Matadors are coming of a 17-7 road win at Phoenix (Ariz.). A fourth quarter rushing touchdown by Dallas Brown and a 39-yard interception return for a score by Jerell Ramos led the Matadors to their eighth win of the season.
Snow is again one the best offensive teams in the NJCAA this season, averaging over 40 points a game. However, Arizona Western held them to their lowest point total of year (17). The Badgers average over 400 yards of offense a game while holding their opponents to 277 yards of offense. 
The Badgers are led by quarterback Quinn Mecham who leads the nation with 34 touchdowns, and only seven interceptions. He has passed for 2,584 yards and ranks in the top five in individual passing and total offense. Snow also has a very good rushing attack thanks to Tyson Church (right) who is one of only eight running backs in the country to eclipse the 1,000 yard mark on the season.
Snow had a bye last week. Their last contest was a 48-20 victory over Scottsdale (Ariz.) on Oct. 31.
Saturday's game will kickoff at 1 p.m. (Mountain) and can be heard live at www.snowbadgerscom or via the Arizona Western Matador Sports Network.
Around the NJCAA / JCFootball.com Top 20 - Nov. 14-15
1. Navarro (10-1) lost to No. 3 Blinn (10-1) for the SWJCFC Championship 45-34
2. Fort Scott (11-0) defeated No. 7 Butler (8-3) for the Region 6 title 13-12
3. Blinn (10-1) defeated No. 1 Navarro (10-1) for the SWJCFC Championship 45-34
4. Snow (9-2) lost at No. 7 Arizona Western (9-1) Saturday 30-17
5. Grand Rapids (10-0) has concluded its regular season.
6. East Mississippi (10-1) has concluded its regular season.
7. Butler (8-3) lost at No. 2 Fort Scott (11-0) for the Region 6 Championship 13-12
8. Arizona Western (9-1) defeated No. 4 Snow (9-2) Saturday 30-17
9. Mississippi Gulf Coast (9-2) has concluded its regular season.
10. Central Lakes-Brainerd (10-1) has concluded its regular season.
11. Eastern Arizona (8-3) lost to Phoenix (4-6) Saturday 27-21
12. Dean (9-1) has concluded its regular season.
13. Nassau (8-2) defeated ASA (5-3) Saturday 22-19
14. Rochester (10-1) has concluded its regular season.
15. Ellsworth (7-3) has concluded its regular season.
16. New Mexico Military Institute (7-3) has an open date to conclude its regular season.
17. Tyler (7-3) has concluded its regular season.
18. Pearl River (6-3) has concluded its regular season.
19. Coffeyville (6-4) has concluded its regular season.
20. Hutchinson (6-4) has concluded its regular season.
Others Receiving Votes:
Jones County (6-4) has concluded its regular season
Lackawanna (5-4) lost at Georgia Military (6-4) Saturday 35-7
Glendale (6-5) defeated Scottsdale (4-6) Saturday 27-12
Northwest Mississippi (6-3) has concluded its regular season