Comeback Bid Fades in Fourth for TU in Season-Opener
BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – RV Taylor erased a 20-point first-half deficit to draw even after three quarters of play but could not finish off the comeback, as RV Olivet Nazarene closed out the evening with a 21-point fourth quarter to send the Trojans home with a 48-34 defeat.
The host Tigers (1-0) controlled the trenches all night, rushing for 273 yards and averaging 8.0 yards per carry behind 180 yards and four touchdowns on 18 rushes from Aaron Bennett. ONU also stalled TU’s potent rushing attack, limiting last season’s second-ranked ground game to just 92 yards on 2.3 yards per attempt.
In addition to struggling on the line, Taylor had an uncharacteristic three turnovers that were each followed by Olivet Nazarene touchdowns on the ensuing possession.
Two of those miscues came in the first quarter, as the hosts found the end zone on three of their first four possessions, fueled by a pair of early TU turnovers, to build a 21-7 lead in the first 12:17 of game action.
The Taylor deficit grew to 27-7 midway through the second, before the Trojans stemmed the tide with a six-play scoring drive to draw within 27-14. Alex Amburgy connected with John Irwin on a 44-yard completion to put TU in striking distance and Evan Barker closed the drive with a three-yard touchdown burst.
A defensive stand out of the intermission and some special teams trickery allowed the Purple and Gray to draw closer in the early minutes of the second half. Punter Wade Jones rushed for 10 yards on a fourth-and-nine to keep an extended drive alive, before Amburgy dialed up 24 and 15-yard strikes to Aidan Zimmer and JJ Payne. Barker found pay dirt once again, capping the drive with a one-yard touchdown run to draw TU within a single score.
Taylor’s next touch drew the Trojans even on the scoreboard for the first time, with Ethan Albert opening the possession with a 20-yard run and Amburgy hitting Zimmer for a 33-yard score to tie the game at 27-27 heading to the fourth.
It was all Olivet Nazarene in the final 15 minutes however, as the Tigers found the end zone on their next three possessions and capitalized on TU’s third turnover of the night to open a 48-27 lead they would not relinquish.
Amburgy played well off the bench for Taylor with 13 completions for 240 yards, two touchdowns and zero turnovers. Irwin, Zimmer and Payne were his top targets, with Irwin catching three passes for 86 yards, Zimmer hauling in three passes for 63 yards and a touchdown and Payne grabbing four catches for 58 yards and one score.
Jedidiah Galvin led the Trojans on the ground with 64 yards, with Barker ending with touchdowns on each of his three carries.
Grady Stanley led Taylor’s defense with a team-best eight stops, while Owen Folta and Seth Tolliver each ended with six tackles.
RV Taylor (0-1) will return to action on Saturday, September 5, when it hosts RV Saint Xavier (0-0) under the lights in a 7:00 pm start inside Turner Stadium.
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