Chris Yingling | Echo
Defense ruled Saturday as the Taylor football team closed the 2014 season with a 20-14 win over the visiting University of Saint Francis in Illinois.
Taylor's offense slogged along, unable to find any kind of momentum. A stalemate first quarter left the game scoreless with both teams vying for footing in an even matchup.
Saint Francis grabbed the first points after a second-quarter score. Taylor responded with a touchdown in the hands of senior linebacker Nathaniel Ryan on an interception return. The score brought the game closer, 6-7.
The Trojans followed up Ryan's touchdown with Taylor's longest offensive drive of the day. A 44-yard trek downfield culminated in a strike from junior quarterback Michael Miller to junior wide receiver Caleb Nicley in the back of the end zone. A conversion from Miller to junior wideout Robby Robbins brought the game to 14-7 at halftime.
Junior placekicker Wynn Coggin helped the Trojans keep Saint Francis out of contention in the second half, nailing two field goals from 38 and 30 yards out. Late in the fourth quarter, with the score standing 20-7, Saint Francis made a valiant comeback attempt but fell short to Taylor's defensive efforts.
"Our defense lead the way for us, forcing five turnovers," said senior wide receiver Griffin Lowe. "We managed the game and kept our defense out of bad spots."
Junior running back Kennedy Hill paced the Trojans on the ground with 22 carries for 51 yards behind a banged-up offensive line. Miller led the Trojans in passing, finishing 11/24 with 51 yards in the air, along with a touchdown and an interception. Miller added 20 yards on the ground to compliment Hill's achievements for the Taylor running game.
Nicley hauled in the Trojans' lone offensive touchdown in his three-catch performance. Robbins led Taylor with 32 yards on five receptions.
Junior safety Adam Sauder led all players with 13 tackles to finish the season with 116 total tackles. Junior cornerback Tyler Mills notched a career-high 10 tackles of his own in addition to three pass breakups for the Trojans.
Taylor's defense created havoc all day, forcing several Fighting Saints turnovers. Ryan, senior safety Taylor Borst, senior linebacker Dan McKenna and freshman linebacker Cameron Gray each grabbed an interception on the day. Junior defensive lineman Jake Venable notched Taylor's lone sack of the afternoon.
"We shut down their run game and forced a running quarterback to throw the ball," said McKenna. "When we threw some pressure in, we forced a lot of early throws that the quarterback didn't want to make. This led to some productive turnovers."
Taylor honored 13 seniors in its last game of the season against Saint Francis. The win brings Taylor's 2014 season to 5-6 overall with a 3-3 record in MSFA Mideast League play and a 3-1 record at New Stadium.
"We went out there and played 60 minutes of solid football," said head coach Ron Korfmacher. "We got a lot of production from guys deeper on the depth chart all year, fought through the injuries and got a win on senior day."Photograph by Josh Adams
