Unable to harness the powerful running game of the Trinity Valley Community College Cardinals, the Northeastern A&M Golden Norsemen suffered a 44-23 loss Saturday before a large homecoming crowd at Robertson Field.


While still winless through three Southwest Junior College Football Conference games, the Golden Norse are 2--4 on the season. The Norsemen travel to Kilgore, Texas, next Saturday for a 3 p.m. conference clash with the Kilgore College Rangers.
With their third consecutive victory coach Brad Smiley's Cardinals are 3-1 in the conference and 4-2 overall.
Although the game started on a rather gray, dreary afternoon, following an overnight rainfall, NEO made the most of receiving the opening kickoff.
Sophomore return specialist-wide receiver Dawson Myers caught the kick from Dylan McLain 3-yards deep in the endzone. 
Myers (5-11, 185 from Cushing) broke through the wall of Trinity Valley defenders and returned the kick 'to the house' for a spectacular 103-yard touchdown which took 0:13 seconds. Dylan Lipps added the extra point for a 7-0 NEO lead before fans were settled in their seats.
Trinity Valley used a bruising ground game on their second possession of the game to cover 88 yards in 13 plays before bogging down at the NEO 13-yard line. A 28-yard run by quarterback Ryan Polite set up the scoring opportunity.
Freshman Dylan McLain ended the drive with a 30-yard field goal at the 6:58 juncture of the first quarter to create a 7-3 deficit.
Taking advantage of a short 21-yard punt by NEO's Tony Kiefer, the Cardinals moved 46 yards in five plays to grab the lead for good.
Polite found Trinity Valley veteran wide out Trent Momon open on a 17-yard TD pass play to end the series. The point-after by McLain gave the Cards a 10-7 margin with 4:22 left in the first 15 minutes.
Entering the game with one of the nation's top run-defenses that were allowing and average of only 84 total yards per game, Trinity Valley held the Golden Norse out of the endzone on a 4th-and-goal quarterback keeper by Kiefer at the Cards 3-yard line.
Consuming the final three minutes of the first quarter, Polite utilized four different running backs to chew up most of 97 yards on 12 plays.
Just 0:01 second into the second quarter freshman Marquel McNac scored on a 3-yard touchdown run. McLain's extra point gave the Cardinals a 17-7 margin.
Freshman tailback Luis Lopez broke through the NEO defense for a 61-yard TD run just two minutes later as TVCC built a 23-7 cushion with 8:58 remaining until halftime. McLain's point-after was blocked by NEO's Zach Maynard.
Cardinals wide receiver Jataveon Green unleashed runs of 12, 15 and 23 yards to ignited a 64-yard, seven-play scoring drive as time wound down in the second quarter.
Polite found sophomore wide out Franklyn Okafor open on a crossing route for a 14-yard touchdown pass with 2:59 before half. McLain kicked the extra point for a 30-7 Cards margin.
With time running out before halftime, NEO's Lipps had a 25-yard field goal attempt doink off the right upright to squelch a 67-yard drive.
During the first half Trinity Valley generated 411 total yards in offense. The Cardinals rushed for 251 yards on 25 carries and threw for 160 yards.
Pinning Trinity Valley back on their own 21-yard line with the opening kickoff of the second half, NEO benefited  from a high snap that sailed over Green's head while he was lined up at the quarterback position.
Green retrieved the ball 5-yards deep in the endzone before being tackled by NEO linebacker Brady Krittenbrink for a two-point safety with 14:50 showing on the clock.
Three minutes later after their offensive series stalled at the Trinity Valley 23-yard line, Lipps missed a 40-yard field goal attempt just short.
The Polite-to-Okafor combination clicked again for the Cardinals on an 8-yard touchdown pass to conclude a nine-play, 83-yard drive by Trinity Valley. McLain's PAT increased the lead to 37-9 with 8:58 left in the third quarter.
Kiefer broke loose for a 17-yard touchdown run after NEO marched 65 yards in six plays on their next possession. The point-after by Lipps with 0:18 seconds left created a 37-16 deficit entering the final quarter.
Relying on the running skills of freshmen Dickerson and Jeff Harris, the Cardinals covered 61 yards in eight plays for their final score mid-way through the fourth quarter.
Dickerson (5-11, 185 from Arlington, Texas) concluded the drive with an 8-yard TD run at the 7:34 juncture. McLain kicked the extra point.
Myers took the ensuing kickoff and raced 85 yards for his second touchdown return of the day in less than 0:14 seconds. The point-after by Lipps closed out the scoring with 7:20 remaining in the game.
After managing only 128 total yards in the first half, NEO's offense finished with 245 total yards for the game. 
Kiefer rushed for 60 yards on 18 carries and one TD to lead the Norse ground game while completing 12 of 30 passes for 157 yards with one interception and no touchdowns.
Trinity Valley amassed 576 total yards on offense which included 386 yards rushing on 60 carries. Lopez led the ground game with 103 yards on only five carries and one TD. Polite contributed 83 yards on 12 carries while completing 25 of 36 passes for 190 yards and three TDs with one interception.
Two statistical oddities for Trinity Valley was that the Cardinals did not punt the entire game and they committed five turnovers (four lost fumbles and one interception).