GAMEDAY CENTRAL | Taylor vs Defiance | Game Nine

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UPLAND, Ind. - Taylor will renew an old rivalry on Saturday, when it welcomes Defiance to Turner Stadium for a 1:00 pm start in the final non-league outing of the year for the Trojans.

SCOUTING TAYLOR: At 6-2 overall, fourth-year head coach Aaron Mingo has Taylor positioned to post one of the best seasons in the 77-year history of the program. TU needs just one win to join nine other teams in program history to reach the seven-win mark. In addition to finishing at seven wins in 2015, 2009, 1997, 1989, 1967 and 1957, Taylor won eight games in 1998 and 1988 and a program-best 10 games in 1999.

SCOUTING DEFIANCE: In their first season back in the NAIA, the Yellow Jackets have continued their improvement under third-year head coach Bill Nickell. After earning just one win in three-of-four seasons prior to Nickell stepping in, DC has picked up 10 wins under Nickell and is on the verge of winning four games in consecutive seasons for the first time since doing so in 2010 and 2011.

LAST MEETING: Taylor took a 45-28 win over Defiance during Jim Law's final season on the sidelines in 1989. The Trojans finished that season with seven wins, two losses and one tie.

SERIES HISTORY: Taylor is 24-13 all-time against Defiance on the gridiron, and 0-0 against the Yellow Jackets under the direction of fourth-year head coach Aaron Mingo.

LAST TIME OUT: Taylor fought off a comeback bid from Lawrence Tech to take a 48-30 win last Saturday. The Trojans were fueled by 194 all-purpose yards from Dakohta Sonnichsen in the contest, as Sonnichsen rushed for 121 yards and two scores on just four touches, while also catching one pass for 46 yards, returning one kick 27 yards and converting one two-point conversion.

CHESSER APPROACHING MILESTONE: TU's Jameson Chesser has 885 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns through eight games. With those numbers, Chesser is on track to become the sixth player in Taylor history to reach 1,000 rushing yards and is just one score shy of becoming the program's sole record-holder for rushing touchdowns in a single season.

JONES PACING THE NAIA: Taylor's Aven Jones enters week nine leading the entire NAIA with 101 total tackles and 12.6 tackles per game. Jones has had at least nine hits in all eight games this season, posting at least 10 in all but one.

LIGHTING UP THE SCOREBOARD: With 58, 52 and 67 points in successive wins against Olivet Nazarene, Judson and Kentucky Christian, Taylor made history by putting at least 50 points on the scoreboard in three-straight games for the first time in program history. TU has scored at least 34 points in all but one of its eight games this season and its current clip of 44.8 points per game would shatter the program record of 38.0 set in 2015.

RUNNING WILD: Through the first eight games of the season, Taylor has surpassed 300 yards rushing in all but two of those contests. TU's 313.9 rushing yards per game this season rank the Trojans No. 2 in the NAIA, while their 38 rushing touchdowns lead the NAIA.

TROJANS IN THE NAIA RANKS: There are also multiple Trojans ranking near the top of the NAIA, as Aven Jones leads the NAIA with 101 tackles and 12.6 hits per game, Jameson Chesser is third with 15 rushing touchdowns, fourth with 90 points, sixth with 885 rushing yards and eighth with 110.6 rushing yards per game, Reid Messer is fifth with four interceptions and Carter Loveless is seventh with 40.6 yards per punt.

TICKET INFORMATION: Fans looking to purchase tickets to any Taylor game can do so by visiting TaylorTrojans.com/tickets.

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