Sterling keeps Tabor winless, 47-21

By RYAN RICHTER

Sports writer

The Bluejays’ best chance for getting their first win will require being able to grab an early lead and extend it.

While Tabor did overcome a 24-3 deficit earlier in the year against Bethany, the Bluejays were unable to hang on, stumbling 41-37 — Tabor’s closest game on the year.

When the Bluejays were finally able to get on the scoreboard Saturday in the third quarter at Sterling, Tabor was already buried under a 41-0 avalanche.

Tabor had a rough start, spotting the Warriors a touchdown, fumbling the opening kickoff, and it didn’t get any better with Sterling dealing the Bluejays their sixth straight loss, 47-21.

With Southwestern surprising Bethany Saturday, the Warrior loss dropped Tabor to 0-6 overall and 0-5 in KCAC play for 10th place.

For the third time in four weeks, the Bluejays struggled offensively, finishing below 200 total yards with 191.

After one quarter, Tabor had only managed 10 yards while the Warriors scored on their first four drives to take a 27-0 lead by halftime.

The Bluejays defense surrendered 427 total yards with the Warriors running for 269 yards.

Derek Washington was back in action after being sidelined with illness, leading the Tabor rushing with a team-high 41 yards and one touchdown to help it finish with 75 yards.

Marc Amos threw for a team-high 91 of Tabor’s 116 yards passing, completing 10 of 23.

The sole time the Bluejays were past midfield the first half — the Warrior 48 — Tabor fumbled again as part of a four turnover evening.

Sterling added two more touchdowns to go up, 41-0, before Amos authored an eight-play, 80-yard drive.

Amos was a perfect 3-for-3 on the drive, and Washington punched it in from the 2 to get Tabor on the board with a little more than 5:30 left in the third quarter.

Amos was picked off on Tabor’s next two drives, but Sterling only managed a field goal.

Tabor pieced together another good drive — 63 yards in six plays — with Joey Erickson keeping it for a 5-yard score with 3:15 left in the game.

Sterling turned over the ball twice with Teal Stutzman recovering a fumble and scoring on a 1-yard run for the 47-21 final.

The Bluejays will host North Newton for the annual “Menno Bowl” against archrival, the struggling Bethel Threshers, 1:30 p.m. Saturday.