MIAMI — Two teams in search of their first Southwest Junior College Football Conference victory collide Saturday as the Northeastern A&M Golden Norsemen entertain No. 21  ranked Blinn College at 7 p.m. as part of Parent's Day activities on Robertson Field.


While both teams enter the game with a 1-1 season record, coach Ryan Held's Golden Norsemen are just beginning their conference chase. Last weekend NEO defeated Houston's Southeast Prep Academy 45-19 in a non-conference contest in Miami.
Ranked second in the nation with an average of 643 total yards per game, first-year head coach Keith Thomas' Buccaneers sustained a 72-65 loss last weekend to No. 13 rated conference foe Tyler Junior College in Brenham, Texas.
"Our objective on defense will be to make them feel a little uncomfortable," Held said. "In their first two games, they just had guys running down field making plays.
"We've got to keep their offense off the field as much as possible," Held said. "That will be accomplished by the way we execute on offense.
"We've got to keep the clock moving by mixing up our run and pass plays," Held said. "That will be a critical element in being able to take care of the football on offense and forcing them to turn the ball over with our defense.
Dez Stegall will handle the quarterbacking chores for the Norsemen while freshman Cameron Booty will start at tailback in the Golden Norse offense.
Stegall has completed 23 of 49 passes for 320 yards and two touchdowns with five interceptions. He ranks second on the team in rushing with 123 yards on 21 carries and one TD.
Booty leads the Norsemen with 228 yards rushing on 31 carries and two touchdowns. He has caught two passes for 20 yards.
Veteran wide out Samory Collier leads the Golden Norse receiving corps with five catches for 107 yards.
Freshman wide receiver Corey Robinson has made three receptions for 85 yards and one touchdown.
Veteran tight end DeAndre Jennings has three catches for 12 yards. 
"We've been working real hard on our special teams play and so far it's been pretty good for us," Held said. "Our extra point team wasn't very good last week so we've shored that up.
"But, we had two nice kickoff returns and blocked another punt," Held said. "I think this will be an area that can help us against Blinn."
Against Southeast Prep, penalties reared it's ugly head as the Golden Norsemen came within two yards of setting a school record. NEO finished with 209 yards on 20 penalties. The current school record is 210 yards against Kilgore, Texas set in 1969.
"We're never happy with any amount of penalties, but looking at the film there were some that are very, very fixable," Held said. "There were some effort ones and then there were some bonehead ones.
"For us as coaches, we've got to hold kids accountable and show them their mistakes on film," Held said. "I walked off the field more upset than after I watched the video last Sunday.
"Some of those were effort penalties," Held said. "For an example, one of our defensive lineman lost his helmet during a play. Rather than stop right there, he chased the runner and was hit with a 15-yard penalty.
"Let's be honest, a guy is going to go chase the ball, he isn't just going to just stop," Held said. "The rule says you must stop and not be involved in the play."
Sophomore linebackers Brady Krittenbrink, Chris Baccus and Jacob Allen lead the Golden Norse defensive effort. 
Krittenbrink has recorded 15 unassisted tackles and five assists with one quarterback sack for minus-3 yards and one tackle behind the line of scrimmage for minus-3 yards.
Baccus has posted 12 solo tackles and seven assists with one sack for minus-16 yards and one tackle behind the line for minus-3 yards.
Allen has made 10 solo tackles and eight assists.
"Our defensive mindset against Blinn will be to be very careful about trying to bring pressure every single down," Held said. "If you do that, you're going to open up a lot of voids.
"So, we'll have to be timely in our pressures," Held said. "We're going to do what we do, we just might bring pressure in different areas and be more conservative in certain down-and-distances."
Although Blinn has two talented quarterbacks and a bevy of talented receivers, Held understands that stopping the running game is still top priority.
"Not only does Blinn have a talented running back, but they use the shovel pass and trap plays to keep you off guard," Held said. "We can't get lulled to sleep and think they're going to throw it every down cause they can pop a big run on you."