Staff writer
The Tabor College football team lost its starting quarterback for the season last Tuesday, but the offense did not miss a beat Saturday against Southwestern College, scoring four touchdowns.
Coach Mike Gardner said starter Simon McKee tore his ACL making a cut during a non-contact drill in practice.
“It was just one of those weird deals,” Gardner said.
McKee’s backup, senior Ryan Nelson threw for 212 yards Saturday, 16 yards short of what McKee had accomplished in the first four games of the season.
“Simon’s a good runner, and really runs the option well,” Gardner said. “For us, we’re going to miss him, but unfortunately, football demands that you have to get up and go on.”
The Bluejay defense set the tone on the opening drive when corner Donnell Davis picked off a Brady May pass, returning it 33 yards for a touchdown.
Gaining possession back on its own 36-yard line, the offense went back to work, mixing runs and passes on a five-play drive ending with a 36-yard touchdown pass from Nelson to Tyler Davis.
A bad punt early in the second quarter gave Southwestern the ball in Tabor territory, and after getting a first down at the Bluejay 1, the Moundbuilders could not get into the end zone.
The field goal Southwestern kicked afterward scored the team’s only points on the day.
Tabor ran away with the game at that point, scoring on passes by Nelson and running back James Monroe, a fumble recovery by defensive lineman Zach Reed, and a run by Kaden Anderson for a 42-3 final score.
Monroe led Tabor with 86 yards rushing on 19 carries. Scott Bauer and Cordell Simmons led the receivers with four catches and a touchdown each.
The Bluejays play Kansas Wesleyan University next at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Hillsboro.