MIAMI — After splitting two non-conference games to start the 2015 football season, Northeastern A&M's Golden Norsemen start play in the Southwest Junior College Football Conference against No. 15 ranked Blinn College at 7 p.m. next Saturday in Brenham's Cub Stadium.
Coach Ryan Held's Norsemen enter conference play with a 1-1 season record. Last Thursday the Golden Norse cruised to a 53-23 victory over the Texas Institute of A&T Drillers at Red Robertson Field.
Second year head coach Keith Thomas has guided the Blinn Buccaneers to a 2-0 record.  The Bucs opened the season with a 29-19 victory over ASA College of Miami, Florida in Brenham before defeating Texas A&T by a 38-3 score on Aug. 29.
Blinn traveled to Lindale (Texas) High School for a 7 p.m. SWJCFC opener Saturday against No. 8 rated Tyler Junior College.
Last season Blinn finished 4-4 overall and 2-4 in the conference.
Sophomore running back Cameron Booty, from Jenks, returned to the starting lineup against Texas A&T after sitting out the season opener because of disciplinary problems.
Booty scored on touchdown runs of 4 and 1 yard while also catching a 65-yard touchdown pass from Mackland Waldman. Booty led the Norse ground game with 77 yards on 11 carries.
Waldman, a transfer from Northern Illinois University and a native of Highland, Illinois, made his first start as a replacement for sophomore Zac Cater, from Durant. Cater has been sidelined with a hip pointer.
During the first quarter against the Drillers, Waldman threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to wide out Mike'Quan Deane before scoring on back-to-back touchdown runs.
A 19-yard field goal by Gabriel Rui allowed NEO to carry a 24-0 shutout into the second quarter against Texas A&T.
The Drillers responded with a 23-yard field goal by Alexis Saldizae and a 34-yard touchdown run by Ladarrian Ellis-Jones to trail 41-10 at intermission.
Along with Booty's two TD runs, the Norse received a 38-yard field goal by Rui accounted the second quarter points.
Waldman's 65-yard TD bomb to Booty and a 1-yard touchdown run by the Drillers' Josh McKinney were the only points scored during the third quarter.
Less than a minute into the fourth quarter, Rui booted a 44-yard field goal to give NEO a 51-17 cushion.
Drillers' quarterback Alfred Scott fired a 12-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson with 3:37 left in the game.
Scott attempted to connect with Johnson on the two-point conversion pass, but NEO cornerback Chris Bishop stepped in front of the play and returned the ball 100 yards for two-points for the Golden Norse.
NEO generated 414 yards in total offense that included 195 yards on the ground and 219 via the pass. The Golden Norsemen had no turnovers in 85 total plays.
Although NEO's receiving corps recorded six dropped passes, Waldman completed 22 of 40 passes for 219 yards.
Spreading around the wealth, Waldman completed passes to 11 different NEO receivers.
Texas Institute A&T accumulated 435 yards in total offense. The Drillers amassed 326 yards rushing as Scott gained 144 yards on 17 carries and Chris Williams added 103 yards on 10 carries.
 Scott completed 12 of 31 passes for 108 yards and one TD with three interceptions.
Texas Institute A&T;0;10;7;6 — 23
Northeastern A&M;24;17;7;5 — 53
Scoring summary
First quarter
NEO — Deane 6 pass from Waldman, Rui kick. (13:24)
NEO — Waldman 7 run, Rui kick (10:58)
NEO — Waldman 7 run, Rui kick (8:59)
NEO — Rui FG,19, (1:10)
Second quarter
TAT — Saldizae FG, 23 (14:17)
NEO — Booty 4 run, Rui kick (9:46)
TAT — Ellis-Jones 34 run, Saldizae kick (8:38)
NEO — Booty 1 run, Rui kick (5:48)
NEO — Rui FG, 38 (2:07)
Third quarter
NEO — Booty 65 pass from Waldman, Rui kick (10:10)
TAT — Josh McKinney 1 run, Saldizae kick (7:34)
Fourth quarter
NEO — Rui FG, 44 (14:08)
TAT — Johnson 12 pass from Scott, conversion pass intercepted (3:37)
NEO — Bishop 100 interception return of conversion pass (3:37)
Team statistics
TAT;NEO
First downs;20;28
Rushes-yards;50-326;45-195
Passing yards;109;219
Return yards;3;140
Passes-Com-Att-Int;12-31-3;21-40-0
Punts-avg.;4-22.8;5-35.2
Fumbles-lost;2-0;1-0
Penalties-yards;4-40;4-30
Individual statistics
RUSHING: Texas A&T, Scott 17-144, C. Williams 10-103, Ellis-Jones 10-54, McKinney 12-45; NEO, Booty 11-77, Gregory 7-55, Spead 15-32, Beasley 5-24, Waldman 7-7.
PASSING: Texas A&T, Scott 12-31-3-108; NEO, Waldman 21-40-0-219
RECEIVING: Texas A&T, Freeman 4-27, Ellis-Jones 2-27, Williams 1-25, Johnson 1-12, Turner 1-8, McKinney 1-6, Brown 1-3, Sevilla 1-1;  NEO, Smith, 4-35, Filer 3-29, Warren 2-16,  Nevel 2-15, Calhoun 2-13, Robinson 2-9, Deane 2-7, Booty 1-65, McKinney 1-13, Gregory 1-9, Beasley 1-8.