Chris Yingling | Echo
Freshman defensive back Dovi Gamble was the difference-maker in Taylor's 21-7 victory over Siena Heights last Saturday. The Mid States Football Association (MSFA) Mideast Special Teams Player of the Week recorded two blocked punts and nearly a third as he and the Trojan special teams made one big play after another.
Taylor got rolling early, dominating the visiting Saints' defense, as junior quarterback Jonathan Keith completed five passes for 75 yards on the opening drive of the game. Assisted by senior wide receiver Griffin Lowe's three receptions for 37 yards on the drive, Keith was able to find sophomore receiver Shawn Lashbrook for a catch and run touchdown.
"I had a one-on-one with a linebacker, so I was able to make a move and get past him," Lashbrook said. "I got to the 10-yard line, realized it'd be tough to get past, so I put my head down and was able to get into the end zone with a couple of guys on my back."
The score marked the fifth time in seven games that the Trojan offense was able to score on the opening drive.
The stout play of the defense held Siena Heights at bay. Following the opening drive, the Trojan defensive unit forced two consecutive three-and-outs on the Saints offense, keeping the game at a close 7-0.
Freshman defensive back Dovi Gamble and the Taylor special teams crew made their presence known at the end of the first quarter. Gamble was able to get a hand on the football to block a Siena Heights punt and land on the loose ball in the end zone. The play lifted the Trojans to a 14-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
"They came out in their normal formation, and then motioned into a new formation which put me on the edge," Gamble recalled. "I used my speed to beat the kicker from punting it as the ball was snapped."
The 14-0 lead held until halftime, marking the sixth time in seven games this season that the Trojans went into half with the lead.
However, Taylor's shutout hopes were short-lived as the Saints marched back into the game with an impressive seven-play drive capped by a 35-yard touchdown pass to make the game 14-7.
On the Saints' next possession, a three-and-out led to another punting scenario. Gamble applied pressure again, forcing the punter to scramble right into the arms of Griffin Lowe for a fourth-down stop deep in Saints' territory.
Keith took advantage of the short field with a three-yard touchdown run. The run brought the score up to 21-7 with 2:24 left in the third quarter and the Trojans defense would maintain its dominance until the end of the game.
Keith put up 190 yards on the day with a touchdown throw and a score on the ground. He also turned in a 67.9 completion percentage.
Lashbrook came up big again in the Trojans' receiving core for the third week in a row, turning in 107 receiving yards off of four receptions and a touchdown catch. Griffin Lowe led in receptions, hauling in eight balls for a total of 71 yards.
Junior defensive back Adam Sauder turned in an excellent performance for the Taylor secondary on Saturday, tallying nine solo tackles in the game while also forcing a fumble and grabbing an interception. Sauder was named the MSFA Mideast Defensive Player of the Week.
Senior lineman Taylor Kinzer picked up two sacks on the day while fellow senior lineman Jake Shapley recorded one. The defense recorded 11 tackles for loss while adding four forced fumbles.
"Our guys finished plays behind the line of scrimmage and contained the running back," said head coach Ron Korfmacher. "Dovi got his hands on two punts, taking one back for a touchdown. Our entire special teams units were great all around."
Taylor will travel to Marian University this Saturday at 1 p.m. before returning home on Nov. 9 to face Saint Francis in the last scheduled home game of the regular season. The Trojans are now 4-3 on the season.
Photography by Timothy P. Riethmiller
