CORSICANA- History repeated itself in Corsicana with the Blinn Buccaneers defeating Navarro 45-34 after having lost the No. 1 ranking and the regular season game to the Bulldogs just like in 2008. With the win, the third-ranked Bucs remain in contention for a national championship. The conference champion earns a bid to the CHAMPS Heart of Texas Bowl, which is on Dec. 5 in Copperas Cove. However, the conference champion may forego that automatic bid if it is playing for a national championship. If Fort Scott Community College, which beat Butler Community College 13-12, and Blinn are No. 1 and 2 in the final poll on Monday, they could potentially play each other in the Citizen's Bank Bowl in Pittsburg, KS, on Dec. 6 for the national championship.

Two quick touchdowns and two interceptions in the fourth quarter sealed the Blinn win over Navarro. Sophomore running back Mike Hayes topped 1,000 yards on the season with 210 yards and three touchdowns. Cam Newton, recovered from an ankle injury suffered in the previous Navarro game, completed 21 of 29 passes for 237 yards plus three rushing touchdowns.

Playing on its home field, undefeated Navarro awed the crowd when on the second play of the game, Derrick Hall dashed 82 yards to the end zone. Blinn responded with a methodical drive that tied the game on a one-yard quarterback keeper.

After the Bulldogs had a 64-yard Hall touchdown called back, the Bucs took the lead on another one-yard Newton keeper. But in under two minutes, Navarro scored again. Roddy Green hit Marcus Jackson for 33 yards to even the score.

Blinn’s only razzle-dazzle of the first half came when Jared Jaroszewski faked a punt and threw to Darrin Moore for an 18-yard gain and a first down. That led to a 34-yard Billy Greer field goal and a 17-14 Blinn lead.

Again, it was Navarro with big plays to take back the advantage. When the Bucs left wide receiver Chase Harper wide open, Greer hit him for a 57-yard touchdown. Then the Bulldogs extended their lead to 28-17 when Greer scored on a 39-yard bootleg play.

Blinn opened the second half with Hayes scoring a three-yard touchdown. On the oddest play of the game, Greer topped the ball sending his kickoff only five yards allowing Navarro to start from the Blinn 36 yard line. The Bucs defense held the Bulldogs to a field goal.

On the next possession, the Bucs failed on fourth down and gave the Bulldogs the ball again on the Blinn 36. But in the first turnover of the game, Hall fumbled and the Bucs marched 66 yards. In an acrobatic effort Hayes scored from the six yard line to tie the game at 31 early in the fourth quarter.

Navarro regained the lead on a 25-yard field goal. On the kickoff, Hayes returned the ball to the Bulldog 49 yard line. On fourth and two from the 41, the Bulldogs stopped Hayes short, but an off-sides penalty on Navarro kept the Blinn drive alive. On the next play, Newton lobbed the ball to redshirt freshman fullback Marcus Wilkins who ran 39 yards setting up Newton’s third one-yard touchdown and putting the Bucs up 38-34 with 5:29 left.

The high-powered Navarro offense stalled. In trouble on third down, Green threw into triple coverage. Dextrell Simmons intercepted and ran it back to the Navarro 14 yard line. One play is all the Bucs needed for Hayes to log his third touchdown giving Blinn an 11-point lead.

With 3:36 left and down by two scores, the Bulldogs struggled just to get into Blinn territory. Feeling the pressure on third down and 25, Green threw a desperation pass that was picked off by Justin Sorrell ending the Bulldogs’ hopes of a national championship.