By Monty Franks

sports@joplinglobe.com

MIAMI, Okla. — Tyler Junior College broke a single-game yardage record while whipping Northeastern Oklahoma A&M; 54-35 on Saturday before a small Halloween crowd at Robertson Field.

Tyler amassed 762 yards in total offense, the most ever gained against an NEO team. Cisco, Texas had 700 total yards in a 2007 game.

NEO sophomore tailback Da’Sor Horton set a school record with five touchdowns while eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark.

With the loss first year head coach Donnie Bigby’s Norsemen finish 3-6 on the season and 1-5 in the Southwest Junior College Football Conference. NEO has posted four consecutive losing seasons and five out of the last six.

Coach Danny Palmer’s Tyler Apaches finish 7-2 on the season and 4-2 in third place in the SWJCFC. The Apaches will face previously unbeaten No. 1 ranked Blinn College (8-1 and 5-1) in Brenham, Texas next Saturday in the conference semifinals. No. 2 raked Navarro College (9-0 and 6-0) defeated Blinn 23-20 Saturday and will host Kilgore College (4-5 and 3-3) in the other semifinal.

Horton became the 10th player in NEO school history to gain 1,000 yards in a seasion. He rushed for 180 yards on 28 carries. Horton finishes with 1,072 yards on 218 carries. His 120 total points ranks third in NEO history.

Ironically, two Horton fumbles led to touchdowns for Tyler as the Apaches built a 10-7 lead through the first quarter.

After Horton lost the handle at the NEO 39-yard line, veteran linebacker Roger Trammell fell on the loose ball. Sophomore quarterback Vincent McNeil wasted little time by connecting with freshman Jabroski Smiley for a 39-yard touchdown pass with 9:17 left in the first quarter. Jorge Martinez booted the point-after for a 7-0 Tyler lead.

Horton scored the first of his record-setters on a 16-yard burst straight up the middle to end a 52-yard, four-play drive by NEO. Matt Berrey kicked the point-after for a 7-7 tie with 7:31 left in the first quarter.

Martinez nailed a 25-yard field goal at the 5:04 mark to end a 71-yard drive in six plays by the Apaches.

Late in the second quarter, Horton fumbled again and Trammell made the recovery to give Tyler the ball at the NEO 39-yard line.

McNeil used his quick feet and scored on a 16-yard quarterback scamper with 2:17 left until halftime. Martinez hit the PAT for a 17-7 Apaches lead.

Remaining on the ground on their next possession, the Apaches drove 96 yards in eight plays with McNeil gaining 85 yards on six carries before the drive stalled. Martinez kicked a 22-yard field goal as time expired for a 20-7 Tyler cushion at intermission.

An unusual circumstance led to a touchdown for NEO early in the third quarter. After forcing the Apaches into a punting situation at their own 42-yard line, Martinez had the snap sail over his head towards the end zone. With NEO defenders bearing down, Martinez kicked the ball out of the back of the end zone.

The officiating crew ruled a loss of down and NEO’s ball at the Tyler 5-yard line. Horton scored on a 5-yard run and Berrey’s extra point trimmed the deficit to 20-14 with 11:43 left in the third quarter.

McNeil found Jamaal Johnson opened for a 33-yard touchdown pass to end a 70-yard, eight-play drive by the Apaches. The PAT by Martinez created a 27-14 Tyler lead at the 8:58 juncture.

Another bad snap over punter Martinez’s head almost cost the Apaches, but he recovered the ball and as he went to kick it, NEO was penalized 15 yards for a personal foul on the punter to keep Tyler’s drive alive at the NEO 45 yard line.

Sophomore fullback Don Brown (6-0, 250) used his body mass to score on a 10-yard run at the 5:12 mark. Veteran quarterback Michael Cook replaced McNeil and threw a two-point conversion pass to veteran tight end Aaron Muhammad for a 35-14 Tyler spread.

Freshman cornerback Jedrick Williams intercepted a Barrett Ahrberg pass to give Tyler the ball at the NEO 49-yard line.

Cook found Smiley crossing over the middle for a 49-yard TD pass play and Martinez hit the point-after for a 42-14 Apaches lead with 4:54 left in the third quarter.

Horton’s third touchdown was a 1-yard plunge with 1:55 showing on the clock. Berrey kicked the extra point for a 42-21 deficit.

During the final 15 minutes, Tyler relied on freshman tailback Jeremy Craft who gained 146 yards on 14 carries in the quarter.

Craft scored on a 7-yard run with 13:48 left in the game. After Martinez had the extra point blocked, the Apaches held a 48-21 lead.

Touchdown runs of 23 and 18 yards by Horton rallied NEO to a 48-35 deficit over the next seven minutes.

But the Apaches would put the last points on the board as quarterback Jeffrey Clayborn scored on a 3-yard run with 3:39 showing on the clock.

NEO generated 388 yards in total offense which included 191 yards rushing and 197 yards passing.

Ahrberg competed 15 of 30 passes for 197 yards with two interceptions and no touchdowns.

Former Miami Wardog Grant Longcrier caught nine passes for 77 yards while Aaron Antle added two catches for 38 yards.

McNeil rushed for 167 yards on 17 carries while Craft added 146 as the Apaches rushed for 484 yards.

Cook and McNeil combined to complete 16 of 32 passes for 284 yards and three TDs without an interception.