Bluejays stay alive with thrilling first-round win
No. 6 Tabor wins one for
the KCAC, topping 12th-ranked Graceland, 17-14
By RYAN RICHTER
Sports writer
As a four-year starter, Bluejay linebacker Jake Schenk has made more big plays than Shakespeare.
Whether its terrorizing enemy quarterbacks, or even pulling off a trick play, the Bluejays can always count on Schenk to make the big play when they need it the most.
That's why it's no surprise the buzz-saw linebacker earned half a share of the KCAC Defensive Player-of-the-Year honors.
None were any bigger than the one he made Saturday in the first round of the NAIA playoffs at Wichita State University's Cessna Stadium on the Bluejays' final defensive stand.
With the game still hanging in the balance and the Graceland Yellow Jackets threatening on fourth down, Schenk blindsided a scrambling quarterback Clayton Braddock to deny Graceland.
The Bluejays took over on downs, picked up a first down, and ran out the clock to give the KCAC its first playoff win in seven years, and Tabor's (11-0) first ever, 17-14.
With a season-low 315 yards of offense while giving up 365, Tabor did just enough to keep the season alive.
"Unbelievable," an awestruck Bluejay coach Mike Gardner said of Schenk's play. "For him to come up and make that stop on that kid, it's just a great desire play on his part."
KCAC teams can put together a good season in the league, but once the NAIA playoffs start, they're doomed.
Former Southwestern coach Monty Lewis, now at Friends, was the last KCAC coach to pass a first round test in 1998, edging Lindenwood.
Saturday's Bluejay win was for all the KCAC schools and coaches that have fallen short.
"This a great win for Tabor College and the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference," said Gardner. "I'll tell you something else, it's a great win for all those other coaches in our league, too, because this proves that we are a competitive league.
"It's just one more example of Kansas football being competitive on a national level."
With more speed, physical play, and athleticism than the Bluejays, the Yellow Jackets found out how not to start a game, fumbling the opening kickoff and going against a potent north wind.
Tim Stevens, the defensive Player-of-the-Game, recovered the fumble and the Bluejays were off and running. Stevens also added an interception in his day's work.
The wind helped Tabor enjoy excellent field position, never starting a drive the first quarter deeper than its own 49.
Graceland spotted the Bluejays 10 points off turnovers with Ricky Ishida firing to Jeff MacKinnon for a 20-yard touchdown on Tabor's first drive, 2:03 into the game.
Ishida threw for 160 yards from 18-of-27 with no interceptions.
Braddock completed 50 percent of his passes for 245 yards, but he was throwing to the Bluejays twice the first quarter twice, the first getting picked by Joe Fenske on Graceland's next drive.
Tabor couldn't produce any points from the gift, turning the ball over on downs at the Yellow Jacket 19.
Bluejay running back Roger Butler showed why he was selected as the league's Player-of-the-Year, carrying the ball 26 times for a game-high 126 yards and pushing Tabor's lead to 14-0 with an 18-yard run.
Butler would have set the NAIA record for touchdowns, but his run was called back on a Tabor penalty.
Mike Skvor's 45-yard field goal with 1:00 left in the first quarter proved to be the difference in the game.
"It was huge, critical," Gardner said of the Bluejays quick start. "We talked about getting off to a quick start. Our kids just flew to the football on defense, it was one of those opportunities our guys had to shock them (Graceland) really.
"I don't think they expected us to do that. We mixed some things around on defense, stemmed around, did some things different. I don't know if it took them out of their game plan, but it sure did put a wrinkle in it."
The Bluejays fizzled out offensively after the first quarter keeping the Yellow Jackets within shouting distance.
Graceland cut the lead to 17-7 by halftime with Braddock going deep for Adam Perry on a 47-yard bomb.
Saturday's second half was as thrilling as any have been for the Bluejays this season.
They had three drives that lasted over 4:00, but added up to nothing, and even by forcing five turnovers, Tabor was never safe until the final horn.
Going with the wind, Braddock had another play identical to his pass to Perry, this one going to the Player-of-the-Game Anthony Ferguson for 37 yards.
Ferguson caught eight passes for a game-high 128 yards.
With :11 left in the third quarter, the Yellow Jackets were hot on Tabor's trail, down 17-14.
Tabor had a chance to gain a little more breathing room as Robert Haude picked off Braddock with under 9:00 left in the game.
The Bluejays ate nearly 6:00 off the clock, driving 42 yards to Graceland's 24.
But Skvor's field goal attempt sailed wide left, and Graceland still had life with plenty of time left.
Braddock hooked up with Eric Boatright for a 29-yard completion to get the ball to the Bluejay 30.
Three straight imcompletions brought up fourth down with the Yellow Jackets' season resting on the final play.
Flushed out of the pocket, Braddock scrambled right for seven yards before Schenk took his legs out from under him.
Despite finishing a rugged 6-for-16 in third down conversions, Butler converted the sixth, allowing Tabor to get the familiar monkey off the KCAC's back and run out the clock.
The Bluejays hope to get some payback for last season's 72-11 first round beating by then top-ranked Sioux Falls (S.D.) Cougars and keep their dream season alive Saturday.
Tabor's kickoff in Sioux Falls against the second-ranked Cougars is scheduled for noon.
