Hillsboro, Kan. In a game that featured six turnovers and numerous momentum swings, the Tabor Bluejays went on the road to Ottawa and knocked off the Braves on their senior day, 31-28. The win comes one week after the Braves took out Kansas Wesleyan, who controlled the Bluejays two weeks ago at home.
"We just made plays and overcame some mistakes and our guys really didn't get down," Head Coach Mike Gardner said. "Our kids were playing with confidence and that happens when you're moving the football."
Tabor took the lead with 2:37 left on a 47-yard field goal from Nathaniel Heilig.
"Nate, he's potentially one of the best ones that I've had since I've been here. He potentially could be one of the best we've ever had at Tabor," Gardner said.
From there, the Braves converted on a 40-yard pass to set up first-and-goal at the Tabor 3. The Bluejays stuffed the run twice and forced a holding penalty, setting up a third-and-goal from the 11.
Following an incompletion on third down, Ottawa trotted out their field goal unit looking to send the game to overtime on the final play of regulation. Instead a botched snap rolled almost 30 yards into the backfield, sending the Bluejays sideline into a frenzy.
"I was just hoping that we weren't going to jump offside, seriously. Any time you put people in a situation like that, it's tough. You're not in that moment very often and they just happened to mishandle the snap. The snap was low and the kid didn't get it down and then it's ballgame," Gardner said.
Tabor got the scoring going in the first quarter with a five-yard touchdown pass from William Green (19-38, 258 yards, 2 touchdowns) to Deonte Hill (5 catches, 105 yards, 2 touchdowns). Ottawa responded on the second play of their next drive, with a 76-yard touchdown run.
After a Tabor punt, the Braves got picked off by defensive back Kendrell Ross to give the Bluejays the momentum back with great field position at the Ottawa 6. Running back Jordan Bolden (10 carries, 21 yards) punched it in on the next play to give Tabor a 14-7 lead.
Ottawa put together a scoring drive at the end of the first half to tie it up at 14 at the break.
On the opening kickoff of the second half, the Braves fumbled, giving the ball back to Tabor in Ottawa territory. The next play, Green connected with Hill again for a touchdown, this one for 37 yards to make it 21-14.
Midway through the third quarter, the Braves appeared to be putting a scoring drive together, but defensive back Brandon King stepped in front of a pass at the goal line and ran it back 68 yards, giving Tabor excellent field position again. Following a couple of completions to running back Jakob Feil (4 catches, 53 yards), Tabor extended their lead to 14 with Feil running it in from a yard out.
Ottawa scored a touchdown to open the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to seven, then as Tabor was putting together a nice responding drive, the Braves picked off a pass in the red zone and took it all the way back, tying the game up at 28 with nine minutes left.
Tabor was unable to capitalize their next drive that started with three consecutive plays resulting in first downs, but punter Brodrick Smith was able to pin the Braves inside the 10. According to Gardner, the punt also tied a Tabor record for punts inside the 10 yard line in a season with 12, which was previously set by Brian Kimsey in 2004.
The Bluejays forced a punt that would lead to the Heilig game-winning field goal and Braves special teams mishap.
The win concludes the Tabor Bluejay football season with a record of 3-8, as they look to build on this last game going into next season.
"I think we've potentially shown at times that we can play with just about anybody. We have to figure out a way to be more consistent offensively. We've gotta figure out a way to do a lot of different things on defense," Gardner continued. "We gotta do a better job rushing the passer and we do. We have to figure out a way to try to stay more healthy and I don't know how you do that in modern football. I really don't. We obviously need more depth. I was just really happy for our guys today because they played together and they played well when they needed to."
Tabor College is a Christ-centered institution located in Hillsboro, Kansas. The Bluejays are members of the NAIA and compete in the KCAC.
