No. 7 Bluejays pass stiff road test against Braves
Tabor defense saves
the day in 27-9 win
By RYAN RICHTER
Sports writer
If it wasn't evident enough early on, perhaps it is now that KCAC opponents are going to need a mighty tall ladder to get to the same level as the Bluejays.
Facing its final road game of the season on a gusty Saturday in Ottawa, the Bluejays offense found the going tougher than it's been this year, finishing 158 yards under its third-place 482 yards per game average.
Fortunately, the Tabor (7-0, 6-0 KCAC) defense came up big in helping it stay unbeaten on the year, grinding out a 27-9 win over the Braves (3-4, 4-4).
The Bluejay defense, led by Brent Overmiller, held the Braves to less than 200 yards total offense with 134 coming from their aerial attack while forcing three takeaways.
Turn the ball over against the Bluejays, expect to pay as the Braves found out on their opening possession with Tevita Kolokihakaufisi knocking the ball loose and Overmiller there to recover.
Overmiller finished the day with 12 tackles, a fumble recovery and pick to earn nomination for NAIA Defensive Player of the Week. Jake Schenk was in on nine tackles.
Six plays later, Ricky Ishida hit Jeff MacKinnon from five out to give the Bluejays the lead for good, 7-0 nearly 4:00 in.
With the Bluejay defense holding the Braves to 37 yards in the first quarter, Tabor engineered a 12-play 62-yard drive that chewed up nearly 7:00, capped off by Ishida finding John Garcia for a nine-yard touchdown.
Even with the aid of the wind, the PAT was no good, making for the 13-0 score.
But the Bluejays let Ottawa back in the game with Roger Butler being dropped in the Tabor end zone for the safety with 2:22 left in the first half.
Then the Braves put together their best drive of the game, storming 56 yards in eight plays to cut the Bluejay lead to 13-9 right before the break.
Despite being held to a season-low 70 yards on 23 carries, that didn't keep Butler from finding the end zone to give the Bluejays some breathing room for the only points in the third quarter.
Butler scored on the two-point conversion to push the Tabor lead to 21-9.
After giving up 128 yards in the first half, the Bluejay defense offered little the second, smothering Ottawa for just 68 yards.
Throwing for 189 yards on 17 completions, Ishida also carried nine times for 38 yards with 14 yards coming on Tabor's final drive, topped off by a one-yard plunge with :35 left in the game.
Layne Frick caught a team-high four catches for 53 yards.
The Bluejays return home Saturday for a 1:30 p.m. showdown with the Friends Falcons at Reimer Field.
