Blinn College Tops Pearl River Community College to Win Third Annual Pilgrim's Pride Bowl Classic

Navarro Rallies to Beat Georgia Military in 4th Annual Pilgrim's Pride Bowl Classic

MT. PLEASANT - On an unseasonably warm day in Mt. Pleasant, Texas, the Bulldogs of Navarro College came from behind in the final minute of the 4th quarter to beat the Bulldogs of Georgia Military College 24-21.

The victory capped a Cinderella season for the 9-3 Navarro Bulldogs, a season in which they started 1-2 and then reeled off eight wins in their final nine games. Over the course of the season, they defeated defending national champions Blinn College twice and regular season Southwest Junior College Football Conference winner Kilgore College once. Georgia Military College had a regular season record of 9-2.

"This is just a tremendous day for our team, our program and for our college," Navarro Head Coach Ray Woodard said. "This surpasses even what I dreamed we could do. What this game and this postseason run have done for our recruiting and our confidence is great; it should take our program to another level."

Navarro took the game's opening kickoff and quarterback Jeremy Sanders made a 63-yard run on the first play from scrimmage. One play later, Tyrone Ross ran the ball the final nine yards for a touchdown. Chad McIntosh tacked on the extra point giving Navarro a 7-0 lead just 44 seconds into the contest.

Following a punt by each team, Navarro's Sheldon Monseque intercepted a Georgia Military pass and ran 72 years for another Navarro touchdown. With a good point after attempt, Navarro had a 14-0 lead with 5:49 remaining in the first quarter.

Georgia Military cut that advantage in half on the ensuing kickoff as returner Brandon Nolley sliced through the heart of the Navarro coverage team for an 88-yard score. Navarro then answered with a 27-yard field goal by McIntosh and the teams went into the locker room at half time with Navarro ahead 17-7.

Jarrell Crawford scrambled to put 6 points on the board for Georgia Military in the third quarter with Juan Rodriguez adding the extra point. At the beginning of the final quarter, Georgia Military used a double-reverse on a punt return to give itself a first down at the Navarro 27. Eight plays later, none of which went for more than 5 yards, 6-4, 225-pound tailback James Poe pounded across for the go-ahead touchdown with 10:26 remaining in the contest.

Navarro used a 71-yard run by Octavious Logan to reach Georgia Military's 8 yard line on its next possession, but was turned away three straight times. Navarro elected to try a field goal, but Chad McIntosh's 22-yard attempt was blocked by Donsay Hardeman with 7:22 left.

Georgia Military drove downfield on its subsequent series, but the third quarterback fumble of the day was recovered by Navarro's Marquis Barnes at the Georgia Military 46 with less than six minutes remaining in the game.

Faced with a fourth-and-7 at the Georgia Military 43, Sanders found no one open but found a seam on the left side of the Bulldog pass rush. He managed a 9-yard gain, enough for a Navarro first down.

Three plays later, Navarro was back in the same predicament, this time facing a fourth-and-8. Sanders again found his receivers covered, slipped a tackle deep in the pocket and then dashed 28 yards to the Georgia Military 4. Justin Sturns then plowed in from a yard out as Navarro regained the lead with 54 seconds left on the clock. Georgia Military's final drive ended with a 56-yard field goal attempt falling short.

"We did not make a lot of big plays today on offense, but Jeremy made the big plays when we needed them most," Woodard said. "He made two great scrambles and got us out of jams on fourth down. He played like a champion today and so did the rest of the team."

Fox Sports Southwest, who televised the game, named Jeremy Sanders of Navarro and Jarrell Crawford of Georgia Military the Most Valuable Players for the game. Each school will receive a $1,000 donation from Pilgrim's Pride to the General Scholarship fund in the player's name.

While Saturday afternoon's game may have been the highlight of the Pilgrim's Pride Bowl Classic, it was not the only activity planned for the players by the Bowl Committee, made up of employees from Mt. Pleasant Independent School District, Pilgrim's Pride Corporation and other local businesses and organizations.

On Thursday evening, both teams and their coaches, along with college officials, were treated to an East Texas Luau with all the trimmings. Live music was provided by the Michael Kline Band. The players feasted on brisket and sausage and took pictures of themselves with cameras provided by the committee.

On Friday, when not practicing, players visited four schools in the Mt. Pleasant area. Georgia Military players spent part the morning at Mt. Pleasant Junior High School and P.E. Wallace Middle School talking to students about the importance of studying and staying in school. They also has the opportunity to interact with younger students at Vivian Fowler Elementary School and to read to pre-school children at the Mt. Pleasant ISD Child Development Center. Friday afternoon, Navarro players visited Annie Sims, E.C. Brice, Frances Corprew and Vivian Fowler Elementary Schools to interact with the kindergarten through 4th grade students at those campuses.

Friday night, players and coaches were treated to a Tex-Mex banquet featuring chicken, vegetables, beans, rice, tortillas and pralines. Georgia Military's head coach Bert Williams and Navarro's head coach Ray Woodard each showed highlight tapes of their team's seasons and introduced their players, coaches and trainers to the 350 folks gathered to honor the teams and players.

Saturday began with a massive Tailgate party featuring grilled Pilgrim's Pride chicken sandwiches cooked on the world's largest grill; autographs by Miss Texas and former Dallas Cowboy Jay Novacek; a play area for children; a visit from Goliath, the world's tallest horse; and music by Doctor Doctor. Pre-game activities included the singing of the National Anthem by Cheyane Smith and performances by high school bands, drill teams, dance teams and cheerleaders from northeast Texas. A highlight of the pre-game activities was the skydivers who landed on the field and delivered the game ball. Lucky fans in attendance at the game also had the opportunity to toss a football for a Pontiac Solstice and enter a drawing for the Race Experience - six laps in a Nextel Stock Car.

N: Tyrone Ross 9 run (Chad McIntosh kick)
N: Sheldon Monsegue 73 interception return (McIntosh kick)
G: Brandon Nolley 88 kickoff return (Juan Rodriguez kick)
N: McIntosh 27 FG
G: Jarrell Crawford 21 run (Rodriguez kick)
G: James Poe 1 run (Rodriguez kick)
N: Justin Sturns 7 run (McIntosh kick)

Individual Totals

Rushing: Navarro – Tyrone Ross 14-45, Octavious Logan 3-77, Jeremy Sanders 13-77, Justin Sturns 5-11. Georgia Military: Jarrell Crawford 12-52, Joei Fiegler 7-10, James Poe 16-51, Fernando Washington 1-1, Carlton Fears 3-0, Brandon Nolley 3-8.

Passing: Navarro – Sanders 9-22-0-68 ; Georgia Military: Fiegler 5-13-1-46, Feares 0-2-0-0.

Receiving: Navarro – Jason Madkins 1-12, Kevin Diles 2-9, Rodney Bradley 2-10, Tyrone Ross 1-3, Lucious Henderson 2-12, Benny Jones. Georgia Military: Washington 2-9, Alonzo Poe 1-18, Nolley 2-19.