Tabor cruises past Friends, 34-7

The No. 11 Tabor College football team cruised to a 34-7 victory at Friends Saturday.

The teams traded punts on the game?s first five possessions before Tabor punched in its first score late in the opening quarter. Joseph Donnell got the handoff on first down and took it 40 yards for a touchdown. The two-point conversion attempt failed, giving Tabor a 6-0 lead, which held through the end of the first quarter.

The Bluejays scored on their next possession, aided by a 64-yard punt return by Charles Beale that gave Tabor the ball at the Friends 5-yard line. It took three plays for the Bluejays to score, this time crossing the goal line on a 3-yard carry by Ontreveon Cooper. Jared Slavens? kick made it 13-0 with 13:19 left in the half.

Friends missed a 40-yard field goal, and Tabor managed one more score before intermission, piecing together a seven-play, 50 yard drive that culminated in a 2-yard touchdown run by D?Marco Smith, giving Tabor a 20-0 advantage that held through halftime.

Tabor added to its lead on the first possession of the third quarter, covering 88 yards in nine plays. Donnell broke loose for a 50-yard score, giving Tabor a 27-0 lead after Slavens? kick. Tabor took that margin into the final quarter of play.

Friends scored on the first play of the fourth quarter, thanks to a 60-yard touchdown pass that capped a four-play, 74-yard drive. The PAT kick made it 27-7 with 14:51 left in the game.

Tabor polished its victory with one final score with 1:58 left in the game. The eight-play, 65-yard drive was highlighted by a 37-yard pass completion from Simon McKee to Charles Beale, and the Bluejays were in the end zone three plays later on a 3-yard run by Jonah McKee. Slavens? kick brought it to the final, 34-7, margin.

A game-ending interception sealed Tabor?s victory.

Tabor rolled up 364 yards of offense, including 300 rushing yards. Donnell led the Bluejay ground game with 10 carries for 122 yards and two touchdowns. Through the air, McKee was 4-for-11 for 64 yards.

Dylan Delk and Derrick Lawrence each contributed eight tackles, including four tackles for a loss each. The Tabor defense recorded five sacks, led by Evan Sprayberry with 2-1/2.

Tabor limited Friends to 113 yards of offense. The Falcons netted -19 rushing yards on 32 carries.

Coming?Tabor (6-0, 7-1) will play at McPherson (0-6, 0-7) Saturday at 1 p.m.

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