From staff reports
sports@joplinglobe.com
MIAMI, Okla. — Teams in the Southwest Junior College Football Conference are chasing Navarro.
Northeastern Oklahoma A&M; College is the latest team to have the opportunity to bring the Corsicana, Texas-based Bulldogs down to earth.
Navarro, ranked No. 1 by the NJCAA, visits the Golden Norsemen today with kickoff scheduled for 3 p.m. at Robertson Field.
Navarro, in its first year under Nick Bobeck, is 5-0 overall and 3-0 in the SWJCFC.
The Bulldogs finished 9-3 overall last season, ranked fourth nationally, postseason league champions and 24-21 winners against Georgia Military in the Pilgrim’s Pride Bowl.
NEO (2-3, 2-1), which has a two-game winning streak, is part of the logjam in second place.
Today’s other 3 p.m. league games are Kilgore (3-2, 2-1) at Tyler (2-3, 1-2), Blinn (4-1, 2-1) at Trinity Valley (4-1, 2-1) and Cisco (1-4, 0-3) at Arkansas Baptist (2-4, 0-3).
Navarro is coming off a 35-6 win against visiting Trinity Valley.
“Playing the No. 1 team in the nation is a great challenge for our team,” NEO coach Rob Green said.
“Last week on the bus ride back from Cisco (Texas), I asked one of our coaches ‘who do we play next week?’ That’s the kind of focus we have. We don’t ever look ahead until we start game-week preparation, no matter who’s the opponent.
“In essence, this is our bowl game because we’re on the hallowed ground of Robertson Field, in front of our hometown fans and playing the No. 1 team in the country. We’re fired up for this kind of challenge.
“Navarro is the most balanced team we will have faced,” Green said.
“They have an experienced, poised quarterback (sophomore Andre Bevil) who executes their offense almost flawlessly. The key element of their offense is the fact they don’t turn over the ball that much. Add their big-play capability and they are a very formidable team. They also are very opportunistic on offense.
“This is another one of those games where, offensively, we want to get the ball snapped as many times as we can,” Green said. “We’ve averaged about 77 snaps the last three games. We’d be satisfied with that total.
“We also want to improve our proficiency in the end zone and come away with some points,” Green said. “Right now we have a rhythm with our offense and have been moving the ball with consistency. We’re in a ‘run-to-throw’ mode with our offense.”
Notes: Three Golden Norsemen are expected in uniform following a one-game suspension for violation of team rules. They are wide receiver Alonzo Adams, kicker Matt Berrey and running back Dominik Williams. ... NEO tailback Cardell Clemons will be seeking his fourth straight game of more than 150 rushing yards. ... NEO leads the series 15-7-1.
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Navarro, rated No. 1 in juco poll, provides stern test for Norse
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