Hillsboro, Kan.     In a game that was much closer than the end score would indicate, the Tabor Bluejays were on the wrong end of a couple of big fourth quarter plays that allowed the Avila Eagles to pull out the 35-17 win.

Tabor had managed to trim a 21-7 deficit to 21-17 with eight minutes left. They had a 3rd-and-7 play at the Avila 16, but the pass was intercepted along the sideline on a quarterback rollout.

After an Avila punt, the Bluejays went three-and-out on their next possession. Rather than go for it on 4th-and-7 at their own 49 with five minutes left, Head Coach Mike Gardner stated that the team was trying to force Avila into a longer drive rather than giving them field position near midfield. Avila would score a touchdown with 3:24 to go to make it 28-17.

Much of Tabor's success early on started with a strong running game.  Now facing a two-score deficit with just over three minutes left, the Bluejays were forced to abandon that strategy on their next drive, which led to an interception and a late touchdown to make it 35-17.

The Bluejays had success in the running game for most of the game, as running back Jordan Bolden carried the ball 27 times for 174 yards and a touchdown.

Following a scoreless first quarter and an Avila touchdown to open the second quarter, the Bluejays found their offense on a 14-play, 65-yard drive. Bolden had 19 yards on the drive and quarterback William Green (13-29, 139 yards) completed four out of five passes for 30 yards to set up a 1-yard sneak touchdown from Green.

The Eagles responded with a touchdown to make it 14-7 with 14 seconds left in the half. A 28-yard run from Bolden and an Avila personal foul penalty gave the Bluejays a chance at a 48-yard field goal before half, but it fell short.

Avila scored on a 55-yard touchdown to open the second half to take the aforementioned 21-7 lead, but Tabor had a quick response. Bolden would score his lone touchdown on a burst up the middle from 31 yards away to cap the drive, cutting it to 21-14.

Tabor forced a couple of empty possessions following the touchdown, giving the offense a chance to tie the game. The offense relied heavily on the run game, as all 39 yards of the drive came on the ground, leading to a 33-yard field goal from Nathaniel Heilig, making it a 21-17 game.

Punts would ensue on the next few possessions, before the promising drive that ended in a costly interception for Tabor.

Up next, the Bluejays will host the Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes on Senior Night next Saturday, Oct. 29 with kickoff at 1 p.m.

"We just need to show up and try the best we can," Gardner said.

Tabor College is a Christ-centered institution located in Hillsboro, Kansas. The Bluejays are members of the NAIA and compete in the KCAC.