Trojans Score Most Lopsided Victory Since 1963
LIVONIA, Mich. – The Taylor football team blasted Madonna, 63-0, on the road Saturday, turning in the program’s most lopsided win since a 68-0 victory against Hanover on October 26, 1963.
The 63-point outburst was the program’s most since a 63-10 win against Lindenwood on October 21, 2017 and its most points in a road game since a 63-21 win at Siena Heights on October 17, 2015.
Taylor found the end zone on eight-of-12 possessions against Madonna (1-7, 0-5 MSFA) and added a defensive score in the rout. The game was over early, as Taylor forced punts on MU’s first three possessions and followed with touchdowns on its first three drives to bolt to a 21-0 lead.
TU extended the cushion to 35-0 in the third quarter, before striking for four more touchdowns in the final quarter to push the spread to 63-0.
The Trojans posted eye-popping numbers in the win, rattling off 34 first downs on 5.9 yards per play. Taylor was unstoppable on the ground, rushing for 304 yards and 5.6 yards a pop. The outing marked a second-straight game with over 300 rushing yards for the Taylor offense, which had not reached that mark a single time in the last 18 seasons.
Jacob Cleaver set the tone early out of the Trojan backfield and finished with 19 carries for 88 yards and two touchdowns. Rylan Arihood took over later in the affair and closed with 18 carries for 65 yards and three touchdowns. Stephen Ellis also provided a spark, averaging 9.9 yards over his eight touches for 79 yards and three scores and Dakohta Sonnichsen had two carries for 51 yards.
Zac Saltzgaber moved the ball through the air as well, completing 13-of-16 pass attempts for 122 yards, with Grant Gerig catching four passes and Reid Gerig adding three receptions.
Zane Shilts stayed busy and was accurate with nine converted point-after tries in as many chances.
The Taylor defense also posted its best showing of the year, recording seven sacks, 11 tackles for lost yardage and four interceptions during the dominant shutout performance. TU controlled the trenches on defense as well, limiting Madonna to just 16 rushing yards in the contest.
Reid Wheeler led the way by picking off one of the interceptions, running it back 44 yards for a touchdown and posting 1.5 sacks.
Collin Woolford, Evan Kitt and Hojun Yun also collected interceptions, with Woolford joining Aven Jones with a team-leading 10 tackles. Parker Whitby also got in on the action with two sacks.
Taylor (2-5, 1-3 MSFA) will now return home to host Saint Francis (2-4, 0-3 CL) on Saturday, October 30 in a 1:00 pm start inside Turner Stadium.
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