ATHENS — Josh Johnson rushed for 188 yards and two touchdowns in a losing effort Saturday afternoon as Trinity Valley Community College fell to Blinn, 49-33.

The two teams combined for more than 950 yards of total offense and 56 first downs in an offensive onslaught that saw the defending national champion Buccaneers jump out to 42-13 halftime lead.

With the loss, TVCC dropped to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the Southwest Junior College Football Conference. Blinn improved to 5-2 and 2-2.

Blinn scored touchdowns on six of its seven first half possessions, including a three-play, 16-second drive that ended with quarterback Justin Tuggle connecting on a 36-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Maxwell on the final play of the half.

Tuggle was key to Blinn's success early, completing 15-of-23 in the first half for 199 yards and four touchdowns.

The Cardinals looked like they were going to be able to keep pace with the Buccaneers in the first quarter, scoring touchdowns on their first two possessions.

On its first possession, TVCC engineered a 13-play drive covering 73 yards. Although Johnson did most of the damage on the drive, quarterback Si'Darius Blackshire picked up the touchdown on a 16-yard run.

Jaimie Salazar's extra point attempt was blocked, however, the first of two extra points blocked by Blinn during the game.

On their next possession, the Cardinals went 70 yards in eight plays – helped by a pair of Blinn penalties – and Johnson finished off with a 1-yard scoring run.

The next time TVCC had the ball the Cardinals' special teams problems continued. Blinn was able to break free and block Brad Dunavant's punt, giving the Buccaneers the ball on TVCC's 12. The Buccaneers scored two plays later.

Blinn continued its attack in the third quarter, scoring again, this time on a Marion Grice 11-yard run. Grice picked up 195 yards on 20 carries and scored twice to lead Blinn on the ground.

To TVCC's credit, the Cardinals did not hang their heads when they got down 49-13. Instead, they scored the next three touchdowns to make things interesting at the end.

First Blackshire hit Jeremiah Williams with an 11-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter.

Blackshire finished the game with 128 yard passing on 15-of-37, two touchdowns and one interception. He also added 77 yards rushing on 11 carries.

Early in the fourth quarter, Johnson picked up his second touchdown on a 1-yard run.

A short time later Blackshire added his second passing touchdown on a 41-yard connection with Derel Walker on the Cardinals longest completion of the game. That came following a fumble recovery by TVCC's David Curley.

Johnson and Chris Franklin had the most receptions for the Cardinals with five each. Johnson had 25 yards receiving and Franklin 28.

The Cardinals had two more good scoring opportunities in the second half but came up short.

Early in the third quarter, Franklin broke a punt return for 56 yards to give the Cardinals excellent field position at Blinn's 22. Blackshire looked to the end zone on the first play from scrimmage, but was picked off by Buccaneer Nashon Davis.

TVCC's final frantic comeback attempt started at their own 1 yard line with 5:34 left in the game and ended at the Blinn 1 yard line with 38 seconds left when Blackshire couldn't pick up the final yard on a quarterback sneak on fourth down.

The Cardinals will celebrate homecoming next Saturday by hosting Cisco. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.

First Downs: B-24; T-32



Rushing: B-286; T-291



Passing: B-261; T-128



Total: B-547; T-419



Pass Att: B-34; T-37



Pass Comp: B-20; T-15



Int: B-0; T-1



Fumbles/Lost: B-2/1; T-2/0



Penalties/Yards: B-12/112; T-4/20



Punts/Ave: B-4/37.25; T-4/33.25





Blinn: 14, 28, 7, 0 – 49



TVCC: 13, 0, 7, 13 – 33





B-1-12:58-Philander Moore 40 run, Chase Hover Kick – 7-0



T-1-7:30-Si'Darius Blackshire 16 run, Kick NG – 7-6



B-1-3:41-Justin Tuggle 32 pass to Isaiah Battle, Hover Kick – 14-6



T-1-:30-Josh Johnson 1 run, Jaimie Salazar Kick – 14-13



B-2-9:45-Tuggle 19 pass to Dewayne Peace, Hover Kick – 21-13



B-2-7:52-Marion Grice 17 run, Hover Kick – 28-13



B-2-4:55-Tuggle 16 pass to Otis Seals, Hover Kick – 35-13



B-2-:00-Tuggle 36 pass to Xavier Maxwell, Hover Kick – 42-13



B-3-7:48- Grice 11 run, Hover Kick – 49-13



T-3-3:15- Blackshire 11 pass to Jeremiah Willaims, Salazar Kick – 49-20



T-4-11:13-Johnson 1 run, Salazar Kick – 49-27



T-4-7:37-Blackshire 41 pass to Derel Williams – Kick NG – 49-33





TVCC LEADERS



Josh Johnson: 188 yards rushing on 36 carries; 25 yards receiving on 5 catches



Si'Darius Blackshire: 77 yards rushing on 11 carries; all passing stats



Derel Walker: 45 yards receiving on 2 catches



Chris Franklin: 28 yards receiving on 5 catches