The No. 4-ranked Trinity Valley Community College Cardinals beat the No. 10-ranked Tyler Junior College Apaches, 65-41, Saturday at CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium.

"Give credit to Tyler because they are a good football team," TVCC coach Brad Smiley said. "Our guys came out and we did not execute very well at all in the kicking game and offensively. The defense did a great job containing them to 21 points. We knew offensively everything was there but we just had to execute."

The victory gave TVCC a 6-1 overall record and 4-1 in the Southwest Junior College Football Conference race.

The Cardinals have two regular season games remaining hosting No. 16-ranked Kilgore Saturday for the homecoming and Hall of Fame game and travel to Cisco for the finale Oct. 29.

"Their backs (Kilgore) are against the wall," Smiley said. "They are going to try and pull one off against us and tie it up and give them the advantage."

Smiley said that a win over Kilgore Saturday will clinch a playoff spot and another conference title.

Tyler dropped to 4-2 overall and 3-2 in the conference race.

The Apaches are in a three-way tie for second with New Mexico Military and Kilgore.

They travel to New Mexico Military next week and to Kilgore for the finale.

The first half was a battle between two of the top scoring offenses in the conference. The Cardinals held a 23-21 lead at the half.

Trinity Valley opened up the scoring with 12:59 remaining in the first half. Cardinal quarterback Michael Curtis found Jalen Guyton for an 82-yard touchdown for the 6-0 lead. The PAT was blocked.

The Apaches answered as quarterback McLane Carter found Joseph Ward for 38 yards to give them a 7-6 lead. Jordan Lawless booted the PAT good with 9:15 remaining in the quarter.

TVCC kicker Caden Novikoff gave the Cardinals the lead back with a 31-yard field goal for the 9-7 lead with 3:15 remaining.

The Apaches took a 14-9 lead into the second quarter as with 1:30 remaining in the first, Justin Carr recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown. Jordan Lawless booted the PAT good.

In the second quarter, the Cardinals put together a six play, 78 yard drive capped off by a 19-yard touchdown from Michael Curtis to Tony Mullins. Novikoff booted the PAT good with 11:37 remaining.

The Apaches answered right back as Carter found Ward for a 49-yard touchdown reception with 9:11 remaining in the half.

The Cardinals added the final touchdown of the first half with 4:28 remaining as sophomore Le'Vonte Owens barreled his way in from four-yards out for the 23-21 lead.

"Every time they would score we would answer," Smiley said. "We are extremely proud of the coaches and this team. It was a great bye week and a great victory. We have another championship fight next week."

In the second half, TVCC outscored Tyler, 42-20 to put the game out of reach.

The Cardinals finished with a total of 789 yards of total offense.

They had 471 yards of rushing offense led by Owens with 131 yards and two touchdowns.

Cedric Battle had 113 yards rushing and one touchdown.

Curtis was 16 of 32 passing for 262 yards and two touchdowns.

The leading receiver was Guyton with five receptions for 154 yards and two touchdowns.

The Apaches had 697 yards of total offense.

They were led by Carter, who was 25 of 45 passing for 377 yards with four touchdowns and one interception.

CJ Thomas had nine catches for 139 yards, while Ward had five catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns.

Savon Rollison finished with six receptions for 36 yards and one touchdown.

"Rollison did a good job and we contained him for the most part," Smiley said. "McLane did a good job and we did create some problems for him. The pressure got to him and we forced him into some long yardage plays with the sacks."

(Story courtesy Joe Elerson/Athens Daily Review)