Two teams in search of their first Southwest Junior College Football Conference wins collide Saturday as the Northeastern A&M Golden Norsemen entertain the Cisco Junior College Wranglers at 2 p.m. on Robertson Field.


First year head coach Sherard Poteete has guided the Golden Norse to a 0-4 record in the SWJCFC and a 2-5 season record. Last weekend the Norsemen lost 35-21 at Kilgore, Texas.
Sixth-year head coach Scott Taylor's Cisco Wranglers are 0-4 in the conference and 1-5 overall. Last weekend during homecoming activities, the Wranglers suffered a 49-23 loss to the Tyler Junior College Apaches on Cisco's Chesley Field. 
Cisco started the season with 45 returning sophomores and redshirts from a team that compiled a 2-4 record in the Southwest Junior College Football Conference and a 3-6 overall mark.
One of the highest scoring series in the history of Golden Norse football, NEO holds a 24-7 record against Cisco. Last year the Golden Norsemen posted a 49-21 victory at Chesley Field.
Three touchdown passes of 10, 19 and 56 yards by NEO quarterback Clayton Mitchem along with a 55-yard interception return by Devron Moore propelled the Golden Norse to a 28-14 halftime cushion. Casey Curtis led the NEO ground game with 103 yards on 14 carries and one TD. Elliot Hawkins contributed 61 yards on four carries as the Golden Norsemen rushed for 211 yards on 38 carries. Mitchem completed 17 of 27 passes for 231 yards and four touchdowns with one interception.
The Wranglers rank last in both overall offensive and defensive production in the conference. Cisco manages an average of 316 yards per game offensively while allowing an average of 437.7 yards per game on the defensive side.
Three players have alternated at the quarterback position for the Wranglers.
Freshman Jonathon Bowen (6-3, 195 from Cy Lakes, Texas) has completed 20 of 51 passes for 355 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions. Bowen also leads the team in rushing with 339 yards on 50 carries and one TD.
Another freshman, Jacorey McQueen (6-2, 220 from Lubbock, Texas) has completed 15 of 46 passes for 341 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. He has gained 82 yards on 14 carries.
In limited action, freshman Tanner Rodgers (6-1, 210 from Blanco, Texas) has completed 3 of 5 passes for 42 yards while rushing for six yards on three carries.
"Where last week Kilgore threw a whole lot of different looks at us offensively, Cisco gives you a lot of different variations with their defense," Poteete said. "They are pretty vanilla with their offensive approach."
Leading the Wranglers ground game is freshman tailback Airron Cowthran (5-9, 195 from Dallas Adamson, Texas). Cowthran has gained 336 yards on 45 carries with three touchdowns. He has also caught four passes for 44 yards.
"One of the most interesting things about Cisco's defense is that they may show you three defensive linemen, or four or even afive-man front sometimes," Poteete said. "So, that means that we'll have to prepare for a lot of different looks."
Middle linebacker Benson Chidester (5-10, 220 from Friendswood, Texas) leads the Wranglers with 55 total tackles. He has also recorded two tackles behind the line of scrimmage for minus-5 yards and one quarterback sack for minus-18 yards.
Outside linebacker Brian Hine (6-1, 230 from Austin, Texas) has posted 46 total tackles with five tackles behind the line for minus-14 yards and nine quarterback hurries.
Weakside linebacker Nick Sierra (5-9, 205 from San Antonio, Texas) has recorded 38 total tackles with two tackles behind the line for a minus-7 yards and four quarterback hurries.