Lincoln Reed | Echo
After a dramatic win over Robert Morris on Saturday, the Taylor football team increased its overall record to 4-3.
Taylor's offense quickly put the Trojans on the scoreboard with two touchdowns in the first half. Junior quarterback Michael Miller ran for a 1-yard touchdown with 1:10 left to play in the first quarter and began the second quarter with a 17-yard rushing touchdown. Head coach Ron Korfmacher credits the Trojans' fast start as a crucial part of the victory.
"We knew it would be a 60-minute battle," Korfmacher said. "One of our objectives was to get a fast start. We hadn't been getting many fast starts this year offensively and that Saturday we came out and chunked away."
Turnovers hurt the Trojans as Robert Morris responded with two touchdowns in the second quarter to even the score, 14-14. The Trojan defense continued fighting to keep the Eagles from scoring in the third quarter. Junior safety Adam Sauder led the Trojans with 12 tackles and senior linebacker Nathaniel Ryan added nine tackles of his own.
"We played as a family," said sophomore defensive lineman Jay Johnson. "We didn't get down on each other . . . we played as a unit. Even though they scored two touchdowns in a row, we still kept our heads high."
Taylor broke the tie after junior wide receiver Robby Robbins ran for a 10-yard touchdown in the third quarter. Robert Morris evened the score at 21 in the fourth quarter and looked to score the winning touchdown in the waning minutes of the game.
That's when the unexpected happened.
Johnson knocked the ball loose from the Eagles' running back on the 2-yard line on a last-ditch attempt to run out the clock. Senior linebacker Dan McKenna recovered it, sending the game into overtime.
"We had our share of miscues as far as giving the ball away, but their one penalty was very timely. We fell on it and went to overtime," Korfmacher said.
Robert Morris was the first to attempt scoring during overtime. Taylor's defense prevented the Eagle offense from reaching the end zone, leaving Morris to settle for a field goal.
"In overtime, the defense was tough, and they gained very few yards," Korfmacher said. "It was a 41-yard field goal. They made it."
Miller, named the Mideast Offensive Player of the Week by the Mid-States Football Association, said the entire team was filled with energy after the fumble recovery.
"Once the defense got the stop, you could just feel on the sideline we were going to take it," Miller said. "We weren't going to settle for a field goal. You could just feel it through everybody. It was crazy."
The Taylor offense advanced within eight yards of the end zone in two plays. Miller connected with junior tight end Hans Lundberg for the game-winning touchdown.
The win over Robert Morris increases Taylor's record to 2-0 in the Mideast League standings. The Trojans travel to Siena Heights on Saturday to take on the 3-3 Saints. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.
Photograph by Josh Adams
