Tabor defeats Southwestern, 42-3

Cody Godshall (2) tips a Moundbuilder pass in the third quarter Saturday. Anthony Daniel came down with the ball, and the interception led to a Bluejay touchdown. Tabor defeated Southwestern, 42-3. The Tabor football team cruised to a 42-3 homecoming victory over Southwestern Saturday.

The Bluejays set the tone on the game?s opening drive when Donnell Davis intercepted a Brady May pass and ran it back 33 yards for a Tabor touchdown. Jared Slavens? kick made it 7-0 just over a minute into the game.

After a Southwestern turnover on downs, the Bluejay offense took the field, with quarterback Ryan Nelson at the helm in place of injured starter Simon McKee.

That Bluejay possession ended with a punt, but on Tabor?s next drive, Nelson connected with Tyler Davis for a 36-yard touchdown pass for a 14-0 lead after Slavens? kick.

Southwestern later advanced to the Bluejay 1-yard line, but the Tabor defense held to bring up fourth-and-goal. The Moundbuilders kicked a 19-yard field goal with 10:09 left in the half for a 14-3 score.

Tabor managed two more scores in the half.

Cordell Simmons scored on an 8-yard Nelson pass to cap a 91-yard drive, and the Bluejay defense got its second touchdown of the afternoon when Terach Antoine forced a fumble that was scooped up by Zach Reed for a 34-yard score. Tabor took a 28-3 lead into the locker room at the half.

Tabor?s opening drive of the second half ended with a turnover on downs, but the Bluejay defense again came up big when Anthony Daniel intercepted a May pass that had been tipped by Cody Godshall.

The turnover turned into more points for Tabor when, on third-and-goal from the 8-yard line, Nelson handed the ball to Monroe, who threw a pass to Scott Bauer in the end zone for a touchdown. Slavens? kick made it 35-3 with 7:38 left in the third quarter.

Tabor?s final touchdown came with 11:03 left in the game. Kaden Anderson rushed 6 yards for the score, capping a nine-play, 75-yard drive for a 42-3 lead after Slavens? kick.

In one final attempt to score, Southwestern drove to the Tabor 3-yard line, but the Bluejay defense denied the Moundbuilders the end zone on fourth-and-goal.

That allowed Tabor to run the final 7:40 off the clock, and Nelson took a knee to seal the victory.

With the win, Tabor improved to 2-1 in the KCAC, 4-1 overall.

Tabor will host Kansas Wesleyan Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

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