Only legendary games like Texas A&M beating LSU 74-72 in seven overtimes in 2018 or the 2013 Iron Bowl when Chris Davis returned a missed Alabama field goal for a 109-yard game-winning touchdown earned the title of “Instant Classic,” but Taylor and Olivet matched it.
On Sept. 7, 2024, in Bourbonnais, Ill., the Taylor Trojans defeated the Olivet Nazarene Tigers 58-51 in OT in an instant classic.
The Trojans started slow, finding themselves in a 14-0 hole early in the first quarter after a pair of rushing touchdowns from senior running back Evan Leake. Taylor replied with a pair of touchdowns. A 14-yard pass from junior quarterback Damon Hockett was completed to senior wide receiver Dakota Sonnichsen in the end zone. Sonnichsen then scored the second touchdown for the Trojans on a four-yard run late in the first.
Scoring would come fast and furious throughout the rest of the second quarter as Taylor and Olivet combined for five total touchdowns, highlighted by sophomore defensive back Reid Messer’s 45-yard pick six. At the end of the first half the score was 34-28 Taylor.
Just five plays and 2:11 into the third quarter, Taylor struck again as Hockett threw a 58-yard bomb to freshman tight end Nathan Munson. Olivet responded with a 26-yard touchdown pass of their own to make the score 41-35.
Taylor matched Olivet’s touchdown with Hockett’s fourth touchdown, this one another pass to Munson.
Hockett is in his second year as starting quarterback for head coach Aaron Mingo and has grown into the leader of the team.
“I’ve never been more confident than I am right now with the guys around me and how we are able to perform,” Hockett said.
Olivet refused to go down and began pouring it on, scoring 16 unanswered points. The Tigers’ junior quarterback Jack Miller found the end zone twice, and despite missing an extra point, three points came on a 39-yard field goal from junior kicker Josiah Johnson.
Up 51-48 late in the fourth quarter, Olivet forced Taylor to punt, giving the Tigers the ball with less than a minute left. On the next play, senior defensive lineman Parker Whitby capitalized on a bad snap and fell on the loose ball, giving Taylor a chance.
“We were in a four-minute defense and we knew we had to get the ball back,” Whitby said. “I saw them muff the snap and I knew I had to fall on the ball.”
After Whitby's fumble recovery, junior Lucas Shilts sent the game into overtime with a 31-yard field goal.
Taylor opened the extra period with the ball and scored easily as senior running back Jameson Chesser waltzed into the endzone to put the Trojans up 58-51. Chesser ended the day with 27 rushes for 206 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner. Taylor then forced a turnover on downs on the 11-yard line to end the game and defeat the Tigers.
“I give big props to our o-line for winning the line of scrimmage and giving me big holes to run through all day,” Chesser said. “All the credit goes to them.”
Following this win, Taylor swept the MSFA Player of the Week awards. Chesser was named the MSFA Mideast League Offensive Player of the Week. Messer was named the MSFA Mideast League Defensive Player of the Week after coming up with two key interceptions and Shilts took home MSFA Mideast League Special Teams Player of the Week honors after taking care of 10 points for the Trojans.
“It’s Taylor versus Taylor,” Mingo said. “As long as we don’t beat ourselves, I know this team can compete with just about any team in the country.”
