Tabor College responded to an embarrassing upset loss last week to lowly Bethany College by pounding rival Bethel College, 76-19 Satur?day at Joel H. Wiens Stadium.
It appeared the Threshers, who entered the game 0-7 in the KCAC and 1-8 overall, might make a game of it, as they matched Tabor touchdown for touchdown in the early going. But with Tabor clinging to a 14-12 lead 2 minutes into the second quarter, the Bluejays punched in the throttle, scoring on four consecutive possessions — including a pick 6 by Tabor?s Nik France — for 42-12 lead. Jared Slavens? field goal as time ran out bumped the lead to 45-12 at intermission.
Tabor took then second-half kickoff and march 75 yards in 10 plays, scoring when Hillsboro product Ben Bebermeyer raced into the end zone from 20 yards out for a 52-12 lead at the 11:25 mark.
Tabor went on to build the lead to 76-12 on two more rushing touchdowns by James Monroe Jr. — to give him four for the day — and one by Cody Coleman, who also scored four TDs. Bethel added a meaningless touchdown with 5:33 left in the game to break a string of 62 unanswered points.
For the game, Tabor rolled up 571 rushing yards on 80 carries with three backs breaking the 100-yard mark: Coleman, 157 yards on 18 carries; Monroe, 113 yards on 23 carries; and Bebermeyer, 111 yards on seven carries.
?During a halftime ceremony, Monroe was congratulated for setting a new career mark for rushing yards by the man whose record he broke — Tabor College and NAIA Hall of Famer Rolland ?Bay? Lawrence, who went on to be a All-Pro defensive back in the National Football League. Lawrence set the record at 3,008; Monroe now has 3,579 yards after today?s game.
With the win, Tabor improves to 6-2 in the KCAC and 8-2 overall. Next week the Jays travel to Ottawa to take on the nationally ranked Ottawa Braves, who began the day 6-1 in the KCAC and 7-2 overall.
