Defense is still alive and well in the SWJCFC, thank you.

And so are the Cardinals in the conference race because of it after a 13-10 win against Blinn College Saturday afternoon at Bruce Field.

Seventh-year head coach Sherard Poteete's Cardinals upped their season record to 3-2 with their second straight win. The Cardinals are 1-2 in league play. Blinn tumbled to 2-2 and 1-2.

The Cardinals have another huge game on the road this week. They travel to Corsicana to face the Navarro College Bulldogs (2-2, 1-2) in a 1 p.m. kickoff.

Blinn took a 3-0 lead with 9:06 left in the third quarter on a 24-yard Max Nowak field goal.

After Paul Singleton III intercepted a Blinn pass, the Cardinals took the lead on a 41-yard pass from Champ Harris to Jaquan Lowman. Ty Powers shoed the PAT for a 7-3 lead.

The Cardinals led 7-3 at the half.

Harris passed 13 yards to Antony Shelton with 9:13 left in the game. The PAT was blocked, leaving the Cardinals up 13-3.

Blinn scored on a Rylan Wooten three-yard run and tacked on the PAT at the 1:18 mark to get with 13-10 left.

The Cardinals recovered the on-side kick, which came from the Cardinal 35-yard line after penalties on the touchdown and PAT attempt.

Noah Baker led the TVCC defensive effort with 12 tackles, including eight solo stops. Noah Flemmings had eight ackles.

The Cardinal defense had eight tackles for losses.

In Saturday's other SWJCFC action, it was Cisco 42, NEO 35, Tyler 21, NMMI 10 and Kilgore 63, Christian Community College 0 (non conference).

TVCC-BLINN SCORING SUMMARY

BLINN – Max Nowak 25 FG.

TVCC – Jaquan Lowman 41 pass from Champ Harris. (Ty Powers kick)

TVCC – Antony Shelton 13 pass from Harris. (Kick blocked)

BLINN – Rylan Wooten 3 run. (Nowak kick)