TU Football Stymied by No. 17 Olivet Nazarene
BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – Taylor produced 21 first downs in Saturday evening’s clash at No. 17 Olivet Nazarene, but the hosts scored 24-unanswered points over the final half to pull away with a 34-7 victory.
The game started eerily similar to Taylor’s turnover riddled loss to NCAA Division I FCS Butler one week prior, as the Trojans lost an unforced fumble on their opening possession and Olivet Nazarene (2-1) found the end zone moments later for a 7-0 lead.
The hosts pushed their lead to 10-0 on their next possession, before the Taylor offense put together four-straight productive drives to close the half. TU only managed seven points from those possessions however, as two missed field goals and a turnover on downs inside the 20-yard line spoiled three of the drives.
TU’s lone scoring march of the game started at its own 36-yard line with 5:52 remaining in the second quarter. The nine-play, 64-yard drive was highlighted by a 37-yard connection from Zac Saltzgaber to Dakohta Sonnichsen and later capped by a one-yard touchdown run from Dylan Scally.
Taylor would get no closer, as a potential game-tying field goal at the end of the half was off the mark and ONU put 17 points on the board in its first three drives out of the intermission to put the game out of reach.
Taylor was out-gained in yardage by a 441 to 285 gap on the night, with the biggest difference coming on the ground, where TU averaged just 2.8 yards per carry compared to 7.2 yards per rush by the Tigers.
TU was hurt once again by turnovers, as one lost fumble and two interceptions further hindered the Trojans.
Aven Jones led the Taylor defense with career-high 17 tackles and Collin Woolford hauled in TU’s lone takeaway with an interception.
Taylor (1-2) will open MSFA Mideast League play at home on Saturday, October 2 with a 1:00 pm start time against No. 8 Marian (3-1).
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