10 observations from TVCC's win over NMMI

The Trinity Valley Community College Cardinals outfought New Mexico Military Institute in a tight game Saturday afternoon, 42-32, to improve their SWJCFC record to 3-1.

Here are 10 observations from an important win at Bruce Field.

-- I don't know about other juco football teams, but the Cardinals have become like the Oregon Ducks of the conference when it comes to uniforms. Five games into the season and they haven't worn the same thing twice. Personally, I love the changing look and it seems like the players do, as well. TVCC broke out the all-black unis with the numbers on the helmets for Saturday and they looked sharp.

-- LIFE IS MORE THAN FOOTBALL DEPT. Julian Johnson's stat line was impressive, but it was so much more than four catches for 111 yards and three touchdowns. Last weekend, his younger brother was shot and in ICU and Johnson spent the week at the hospital with his family. ... "Julian spent his time with his family, which is exactly where he should be," Coach Sherard Poteete said. "I appreciate his effort and focus when his mind could be somewhere else. But he got to get away from that today in these three hours of football and perform like he did."

-- Is Jordan Davis a WR or a QB? Doesn't matter, he's just good. Davis is normally a receiver, but took several snaps as QB Saturday and ran for one TD and threw for another. On a third drive, he used his running skills -- including jumping over a defender -- to move the team 57 yards into scoring position. ... "That's one of the packages we've been practicing all year," said Coach Poteete. "He gave us a spark."

-- Kicker Christopher Esqueda-Almanza has been a model of consistency for the Cardinals this year and handles all kicking duties. He came through in a big way near the end of the first half, punting from his own 29 and pinning the Broncos at their own 3. It was an important field position swing when NMMI had some momentum. Oh, and he hit all six extra point attempts, as well. ... "In my opinion, he's the best specialist we have in our conference," said Coach Poteete.

-- This one won't show up in most news stories because it wasn't a turnover, but Justin Cain recovered a Cardinal fumble deep in TVCC territory late in the second quarter. Turning the ball over to NMMI in that circumstance could have been devastating. It was a game altering play.

-- NMMI's Anthony Grant came into the game as the nation's leading rusher, averaging 8.5 yards per carry and almost 150 yards a game. The Cardinal defense held him to just 79 yards on 18 carries and 35 yards of that came on the only two carries where he got loose. Great job by the front seven.

-- Cam Camper came back from injury and got his first action of the year Saturday. He made the most of it, picking up 107 yards on seven receptions including a WOW catch along the sideline in the first half to give the Cardinals a first down.

-- Speaking of receiving weapons, RB Cordrick Dunn is a really good as a pass catcher out of the backfield. He had four receptions for 44 yards and a touchdown Saturday. My favorite play came in the fourth quarter with the Cardinals facing a third and 10 from their own 33 and nursing a 3-point lead. QB1 Matt Morrissey was flushed from the pocket and rolled right, buying time. Dunn was in the flat as a safety valve, but when the QB broke the pocket he leaked down the sideline where Morrissey found him for a 26-yard gain and a first down. The pair combined for a very similar play earlier this year in Tyler.

-- Speaking of Morrissey, all he did while sharing the backfield with three other QBs is go 20-of-30 for 248 yards and three TDs. Excellent day at the office for No. 7.

-- When the whole press box goes "oooohhhhh!" you know there's been a big hit. Jaeden Ward drew that response late in the game with a soul crushing tackle on an NMMI punt returner. Coach Poteete said physicality was a key to the game. "We said we've got to come out and be physical and out hit our opponents, and we did," he said.

The Cardinals will return to Bruce Field next Saturday, May 1, to take on the Blinn Buccaneers. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

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