Chris Yingling | Echo
The Taylor football team won its home opener in style on Saturday, overcoming No. 17 Saint Ambrose 23-13.
The victory moves Taylor to 4-0 in its last four home openers and 2-1 on the season.
Taylor's dominance started early as senior safety Taylor Borst pressured Saint Ambrose's quarterback out of the back of the end zone, forcing a first quarter safety. Just 10 minutes later, the offense put up its first score of the day as senior quarterback Jonathan Keith found senior receiver Griffin Lowe for a touchdown. The score placed the Trojans up 9-0 heading into halftime.
The offensive dominance picked up right where it left off after halftime. After surrendering a first possession SAU touchdown, Keith found junior tight end Hans Lundberg for a score on the ensuing possession, giving the Trojans a 16-7 lead into the fourth.
An SAU fumble at the end of the third quarter lent Taylor the opportunity to control the game early. As the fourth quarter started, Keith scrambled into the end zone for a score to give the Trojans a 16-point cushion with 12:38 to go in the game.
Taylor gave up an SAU touchdown late in the fourth quarter, but junior Michael Miller came up with the ball on an onside kick to ice the game.
Keith handled most of the quarterbacking for the Trojans against Saint Ambrose and performed well for the second week in a row. He finished 22 of 29 for 236 passing yards and two passing touchdowns. He also added a fourth quarter score on the ground.
Junior receiver Shawn Lashbrook led the Trojans with 80 receiving yards in his first game back from injury. Lundberg made a receiving impact despite a clubbed hand, bringing in six catches for 49 yards and a score. Lowe caught three balls for 43 yards and found the end zone once.
The Trojans enjoyed a great defensive game against a good SAU offense. Taylor forced three SAU turnovers along with a first quarter safety. The defense was constantly pressuring the quarterback, finishing the game with 10 quarterback hits along with four sacks.
Junior safety Adam Sauder paced the Trojans on defense, logging nine tackles, an interception, a forced fumble and a game-changing quarterback hit that resulted in an interception from junior Tyler Mills. Sauder's efforts earned him MSFA Mideast League Defensive Player of the Week.
"Our coaches prepare us very well before the games and help us to be in the right spot at the right time," Sauder said. "I played with a chip on my shoulder and hit everything that moved."
Sophomore punter Brandon Haan was also recognized by the MSFA as Special Teams Player of the Week. Haan was able to pin SAU behind the 20-yard line on four of his 10 punts. He was able to stick the Bees at their own 1-yard line on two consecutive punts in the first quarter, with the first leading to the safety.
Taylor travels to Butler on Saturday to take on the Bulldogs in Indianapolis with kickoff at 6:30 p.m.
Photograph by Josh Adams
