ORIGINALLY WRITTEN TOM STOPPEL
The dream of an undefeated conference season is over for the Tabor Bluejays after the Bethany Swedes came to Reimer field with a 2-5 record and left with a double overtime 28-27 victory.
Tabor’s first possession ended with a Brian Kimsey punt which was blocked and recovered for a Bethany touchdown just two minutes into the game.
Tabor answered with a 33 yard field goal by Marcus Manny and a three yard Roger Butler touchdown run to take a 10-7 lead at halftime.
The Swedes came back in the third quarter and took a 14-10 lead on a one yard plunge with 9:36 left in the quarter.
Tabor sliced that lead to 14-13 when Manny hit from 32 yards out with 6:26 to play in the third quarter.
Bethany extended that lead to 21-13 on the first play of the fourth quarter on a four yard touchdown run.
Tabor eventually pieced together a 10 play, 35 yard drive capped by a Ricky Ishida one yard touchdown run to cut the lead to two at 21-19.
Tabor evened the score on the two point conversion run by Butler to tie the score at 21 with 5:24 to play.
Neither team scored the rest of regulation to send the contest into overtime where Tabor got first possession.
Their attempt to scored stalled on the 11 yard line, but Manny’s 28 yard field goal sailed wide right.
Bethany was similarly stopped on its try in overtime, at the 5 yard line, but their kick skimmed wide left to send the game into the next overtime period.
This time Bethany got the first crack and scored on a 13 yard pass. The PAT kick was good and Tabor trailed 28-21.
Tabor answered the call when Butler scored from 12 yards out to cut the lead to one at 28-27.
As they did last week, Tabor opted to go for the win, but Butler was stopped just inches short of the goal line and Bethany celebrated the 28-27 win over 12th ranked Tabor.
Tabor managed 308 total yards in the game while Bethany was held to just 188 but it was the Swedes who went away with the victory.
Tabor falls to 8-1 overall and 7-1 in the KCAC while Bethany breaks a five game losing streak and improves to 3-5 overall.
Tabor drops first game of the season, loses to Bethany
