Bluejays survive scare by 'Builders
Tabor football team stays perfect with 22-20 win over Southwestern
By RYAN RICHTER
Sports writer
Any more games like Saturday's and the Bluejays might not have room for a Halloween scare.
Prior to Saturday's game, two things about the hosting Southwestern Moundbuilders had the Bluejays nervous — physical play and size. To add more suspense to the game, neither team really knew what to expect.
It wasn't easy, nor was it pretty, but Tabor (2-0, 1-0 KCAC) managed to remain the only unbeaten team in the KCAC, surviving a 22-20 scare from the Builders (0-2, 0-1 KCAC.)
"They're a bigger, physical team and it's tough to play against a team like that," said Bluejay quarterback Ricky Ishida. "We were lucky to come out of there with a win."
Tabor coach Mike Gardner knows more than enough about Southwestern running back James Kelly.
Just two years ago, while Gardner was the Bluejay defensive coordinator, Kelly was huge when the Builders slapped Tabor in Hillsboro.
Remembering that, one of the Bluejays' main goals was to neutralize Kelly.
Quarterback Braden Smith and running back Andrew Pearson, teamed with Tabor penalties, kept Tabor from being able to slam the door on the Builders.
"That was the guy (Kelly) we wanted to take out of the football game and we were fortunate enough to do that," said Gardner. "The other kid (Pearson) hurt us. The penalties are killing us."
Roger Butler carried the ball 32 times for a game-high 137 yards to pace Tabor's season-high 190 yards on the ground.
A 16-yarder and one-for-seven nearly got the Bluejays on the board first with just over 5:00 left in the opening frame.
On a second and goal at the Builder 1, Ishida took it in for the 6-0 lead. Brian Kimsey hit the PAT to put Tabor in front, 7-0 with 5:00 left.
For every Tabor scoring driving, Southwestern seemed to have the answer.
Ishida got picked off by Adrian Johnson who returned it 14 yards to set up Southwestern at the Tabor 24-yard line with just over 10:00 left in the first half.
Eleven plays later, Southwestern knotted the game after Smith hit Mitchell for a six-yard touchdown with just under 6:00 to go.
The Builders had one chance to jump on top with Ishida floating another interception, this time by Chad Jackson.
Southwestern gave it right back with Smith getting picked off by Tyler McKim, who took it 41 yards to set Tabor up with a 20-yard TD from Ishida to Mike Beach.
Ishida finished the game 16-for-31 for 176 yards passing and two picks and two scores as part of the Bluejays 366-yard offensive assault. Beach caught five passes for a team-high 51 yards.
Kimsey's PAT was no good, but Tabor still enjoyed a 13-7 lead at intermission.
The lead grew to 15-7 after Kimsey pinned Southwestern deep at its own one-yard line on its second possession of the final half.
Two plays later, the Bluejay trio of CJ Hill, Tim Stevens, and Brian Durowaiye dropped Mitchell in the end zone for a safety, barely 3:30 into the second half.
The Bluejays couldn't throw the knockout punch, surrendering a 31-yard run to Andrew Pearson to set-up a one-yard quarterback sneak by Smith.
Southwestern went for an unsuccessful two-point conversion to stay hot on Tabor's tail with 6:35 left in the third quarter, 15-13.
Adding 16 carries for 50 yards, Ted Telemaque and Butler combined for 46 of Tabor's 60-yard final scoring drive capped off by Ishida airing it out for Ben Brown on a three-yard touchdown.
The Bluejays scoring drive ate up 5:48, making time become another foe for Southwestern.
"What I liked about what we did was we controlled the tempo of the game the second-half barring one big play (79-yard pass)," Gardner said. "I thought our offense did a nice job of picking up first downs and milking the clock."
With 3:34 left in the game, the Builders had plenty of time left for another scare, one that was aided by Smith going deep for Kareem Thompson on the 79-yard completion.
One play later, the Builders matched the scoring total with Smith hooking up with Ta'Ron West for a 16-yard score with 1:13 to go.
The Bluejays gave up 313 yards total offense with Smith throwing 19-for-40 for a game-high 209 yards with 109 going to Thompson.
Holding Kelly to 20 carries for 36 yards, the Builders were limited to 104 on the ground with Pearson gaining 69.
The Bluejays return home Saturday for a 7 p.m. showdown with winless Sterling.
Although the Warriors are still searching for their first win, Gardner said Sterling is the best 0-2 team in the KCAC.
