Moundbuilders edge out winless Bluejays
By RYAN RICHTER
Sports writer
Turnovers, lack of execution, struggling with adversity, and a challenged defense helped cripple Tabor College's chances at winning its first conference game Saturday against Southwestern College.
With the Bluejays trailing 26-20 with just more than 30 seconds left in the game, a pivotal interception by Moundbuilders' safety Jayson Steeley thwarted a possible Tabor comeback.
Tabor failed to take advantage of seven 'Builders' fumbles in the game.
For the first time this decade, the Bluejays find themselves searching for their first victory in league play as they stand at 0-7 in the KCAC, and 1-7 overall.
The Southwestern victory causes a four-way logjam for fifth place with a 3-4 record while Tabor finds itself alone in last.
The Bluejays jumped in front 7-6 after the 'Builders' Michael Coppock got free for a 50-yard touchdown on Southwestern's opening drive.
Anthony Davis found Matthew Dean for a 39-yard score to give Tabor the lead on its first drive.
Passing was the only aspect of the game that worked for the Bluejays, with the 'Builders holding the Tabor ground game to a modest 48 yards on 32 carries, just five yards coming after halftime.
Davis' 10-yard pass to Lance Stubbs built the Tabor lead to 13-6 with just less than four minutes left in the first quarter before things started slipping away for the Bluejays.
Tabor's sputtering defense couldn't stop Coppock, who ran for a game-high 141 yards on 20 carries. He also had a 14-yard run that set up a 16-yard touchdown from Jesse Lyons to Ryan Molz, which cut the lead to 13-12.
The Bluejays fumbled inside their own 30, allowing Southwestern to reclaim the lead by halftime, 18-13, with Lyons again finding Molz — this time for a six-yard touchdown with seven minutes left in the first half.
Tabor's deficit grew to a touchdown with 5:07 left in the third quarter with the 'Builders stopping Demetrius Cox in the end zone for the safety.
While Davis was the Bluejays' best weapon, throwing for a game-high 258 yards on 14-of-29 passing, he snapped the 'Builders' 14-unanswered points streak with 7:56 left to square the game at 20.
Tabor had its first chance to win the game, but failed to convert on a fourth-and-three at the Southwestern 47.
The 'Builders' eventually mailed the game in on their final drive with Lyons hitting Coppock on third-and-one at the Bluejay 31 for the winning touchdown.
Tabor faces 2-5 McPherson at 7 p.m. Saturday.
