Published: October 31, 2009 06:57 pm      

Navarro claims top spot with 23-20 win

Click Update for more on Saturday's Navarro-Blinn showdown

6:55 p.m. The Bulldogs will look to be ranked No. 1 after the 23-20 victory over Blinn Saturday. Look for team coverage of the game online and in the Sunday print edition of the Daily Sun.

5:33 p.m. Well a great, great catch by J.J. Hayes in the corner of the end zone gives the Bulldogs' the crucial first points of the second half. The extra point is missed by Sanchez, so with 14:30 left in the game Navarro has a two-score lead. Navarro 23, Blinn 7

5:31 p.m. Third quarter is over. No scoring. Navarro has the ball at Blinn's 17 with a first-and-10. The Bulldogs can put this thing away with a touchdown right here. Navarro 17, Blinn 7

5:23 p.m. Navarro's Stephone Mercer plays a good center field. He comes down with an interception, the Bulldogs second of the game with 3:59 to go in the third quarter. Navarro 17, Blinn 7

5:19 p.m. The Bulldogs have missed on fourth-and-long conversions on their last two drives after moving the ball against the Blinn defense. The good news is the clock keeps running. 4:17 to go in the third quarter. Navarro 17, Blinn 7

5 p.m. After halftime festivities that included honoring the 1989 national champion Bulldogs, we are back underway with Blinn getting the ball first to open the second half at its own 11-yard line. Navarro 17, Blinn 7

4:27 p.m. Trevor Drayton comes up with an interception on a tip drill for the Bulldogs on the second to last play of the first half. The big story is that the pass from thrown by Blinn's Sean Rutherford of Bay City. That's because starter Cam Newton limped off the field on a tackle by Bulldogs linebacker Brad Graham. It was a legal hit by Graham, but he did go low on Newton and that had the Blinn offense, especially lineman Sean Robertson, very upset. Robertson picked up an unsportsmanlike penalty. The sack of Newton should raise the intensity level of the second half, and why do I think we haven't seen the last of Blinn's starting quarterback. Navarro 17, Blinn 7

4:19 p.m. Juve Sanchez knocks home a 25-yard field goal to give the Bulldogs a 17-7 lead with 1:12 to go in the first half. Navarro 17, Blinn 7

4:07 p.m. Hey a shout to the crowd. I'm blown away. Crowd today is as big as the Corsicana-Waco High crowd for the Tigers previous home game.

3:51 p.m. First big mistake for the Bulldogs as DePauldrick Garrett fumbles at the Blinn 7, obviously stalling a key drive for Navarro. Navarro 14, Blinn 7

3:49 p.m. In that Fort Scott game, No. 3 Fort Scott just took the lead back from No. 4 Butler at 14-10 with 1:37 left in the game. It's a final now.

3:46 p.m. Good pressure by linebacker Justin Clark on third-and-nine for Blinn at the Bulldogs 20 forced Newton into an errant throw. Blinn's Billy Greer hooks a 42-yard field goal off the left upright on the first play of the second quarter as the scores remains Navarro 14, Blinn 7 with 14:55 left in the first quarter. Navarro 14, Blinn 7

3:32 p.m.Blinn gets its first touchdown drive, keyed by a spectacular effort by Cam Newton on a third-down play. Newton got to the edge and took off down the sideline and made a diving attempt for a score, a la Reggie Bush. He was knocked out at the 1. Navarro 14, Blinn 7

3:18 p.m. An explosive start to say the least for the Bulldogs, who have put the pressure on top-ranked Blinn. Roddy Green connects with slot receiver Jahmai Coleman on a skinny post for a 14-0 lead. Coleman made a great catch, stretching out for the catch and hanging onto to the ball long to get credit for a touchdown, even though the ball did bounce out of his hands as his came to the ground. Navarro 14, Blinn 0

3:15 p.m. In a score of major interest, No. 3 Fort Scott leads No. 4 Butler, 7-3, at the end of the third quarter.

3:12 p.m. Dominick Maddox picks up a fumble by Blinn's star quarterback Cam Newton around the Bulldogs 25 and returns it three yards to the 28. Navarro 7, Blinn 0

3:09 p.m. Derrick "Frog" Hall makes the first big play of the game for the Bulldogs, breaking loose on a 51-yard touchdown run. It was all speed for Hall, who broke up the middle of the field. Navarro 7, Blinn 0

2:50 p.m.: Minutes before kickoff, it's already a playoff atmosphere at Tiger Stadium as No. 1 Blinn (8-0) visits No. 2 Navarro (8-0). Navarro's 300 free T-shirt giveaway didn't see 2:30. Folks are getting a first look at Blinn quarterback Cam Newton, the Florida transfer. He's impressive. The '89 national championship team has had lunch in the press box and will be honored at halftime.