Taylor Drops Heart-Breaker at Siena Heights

Sideline Highlights

ADRIAN, Mich. – A tightly contested MSFA clash between Taylor and Siena Heights was decided on the game's final play, as the hosts hit a game-winning 31-yard field goal as time expired to turn away the Trojans in the 24-21 final.

SHU (3-3, 1-2 MSFA) stunned Taylor moments earlier, breaking loose for a 51-yard rush from its own 30-yard line on a third-and-10 with just seconds remaining in regulation. The play ended just short of the final buzzer, allowing the hosts to send its special teams unit on for the game-winning kick.

The agonizing finish spoiled a thrilling game that saw Taylor rush for 300 yards on 53 attempts in the wet and blustery conditions. TU averaged 5.7 yards per carry and moved the chains all day long for 22 first downs but could not slow a Saints offense that amassed 473 total yards on 7.5 yards per snap.

Both teams could have produced even more but Taylor lost a trio of fumbles and SHU committed two turnovers and had 10 penalties for over 100 yards.

The scoring started early, with Taylor taking the opening possession 10 plays for a touchdown and a quick 7-0 lead. The Trojans capped the drive with their second pass attempt, as Damon Hockett hit Drew Bagley for the 11-yard strike.

SHU fired back with touchdowns on its first two touches to take the lead and appeared poised to extend the gap with a 44-yard completion deep in the second quarter. Reid Wheeler stripped the ball free on the play however and recovered it to end the threat.

The Taylor offense came back to life and ignited an eventual 13-play scoring march with an 11-yard run from Brendan Lamb and a 10-yard completion to Ja Thomas. Hockett eventually punched in the game-tying score with a 14-yard rush.

Another key takeaway from the TU secondary sent the teams to the break tied at 14-14, after Jonathan Harris hauled in an interception in Taylor's end zone to turn away another promising SHU drive at the end of the opening half.

After a scoreless third quarter, the two sides traded touchdowns to open the quarter. Taylor again scored the equalizer, this time needing just four plays. The Trojans capped the drive with a 31-yard rush from Dylan Scally followed by a 25-yard touchdown scamper from Stephen Ellis.

The defense locked in from there, protecting the tie and seemingly leading to Taylor's first overtime affair of the season until the 51-yard sprint in the closing seconds set up the game-sealing field goal for SHU.

Ellis highlighted the strong ground game for Taylor with 91 yards on five tries, while Scally and Lamb combined for 119 yards on 32 carries.

David Worlds led the TU defense, piling up eight solo tackles among his team-leading 10 stops and also breaking up four passes. Wheeler was next in line with seven tackles, and Caleb Ranzau added 1.5 sacks.

Taylor (1-6, 0-3 MSFA) will play three of its final four games of the season inside Turner Stadium, beginning that final stretch with a Homecoming clash with Madonna (0-7, 0-3 MSFA) on October 21 at 7:00 pm.