Tabor upends Saint Mary 30-29 in regular season finale
Tabor College concluded its regular season with a heart stopping 30-29 win over the University of Saint Mary Saturday afternoon in Lansing.
Tabor struck first on a Roger Butler 11 yard touchdown run to grab a 7-0 lead and increased that lead to 10-0 in the second quarter on a Marcus Manny 31 yard field goal.
Saint Mary answered with an 11 yard touchdown strike to cut the lead to 10-7 at the halftime intermission.
The Bluejays struck back early in the third quarter with Ricky Ishida hooked up with Caleb Marsh for a 55 yard touchdown pass to stake Tabor to a 17-7 lead, but the Spires scored the next 10 points to even the game at 17.
Tabor appeared to give themselves breathing room in the fourth quarter when Butler scored from 5 yards out and Ted Telemaque followed that with a 15 yard run to push Tabor on top 30-17.
The Spires answered with a 19 yard touchdown pass, but the extra point missed wide left and Tabor still lead 30-23.
Saint Mary got the ball back again though, and scored on a 37 yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 30-29 pending the extra point kick.
But Caleb Mason blew threw the line and blocked that kick and Tabor still lead by a single point with 6:29 to play in the game.
Needing to control the ball and the game clock, Tabor's offense methodically drove the ball downfield , eventually ending up inside the Spire 10 yard line as the clock expired, giving Tabor the 30-29 win.
Tabor rolled up 474 yards of total offense with 193 coming on the ground and 281 via the air while the Bluejay defense limited the Spire rushing game to just 59 yards on 25 carries.
With the win, Tabor concludes its regular season at 9-1 overall and 8-1 in KCAC play.
Saint Mary finishes the season at 4-5.
Tabor now awaits word on Sunday afternoon whether it will be invited to the NAIA national playoffs for the second consecutive year or if its season is over.
