Taylor Caps Record-Setting Season with Senior Day Win

UPLAND, Ind. – Taylor hosted a determined Concordia squad that was playing its final game in school history on Saturday. After honoring its 16 seniors, TU battled past the Cardinals for an emotional, 20-14, triumph inside Turner Stadium to secure sole-possession of second place in the MSFA Mideast League.

The win closed a historic and record-setting turnaround season for Taylor on the gridiron, as the Trojans rallied from a 2-9 overall record in 2023 to finish at 9-2 overall one year later. The nine wins are TU's most since winning a program-best 10 in 1999, as those two seasons mark the only two times in Taylor's history with nine-or-more victories.

On their way to posting the second-best win total in school history and securing second place in the MSFA Mideast League, the Trojans rewrote their offensive record book. TU set new program-bests with 48.4 points per game, 486.4 yards per game, 311.7 rushing yards per game, 54 rushing touchdowns, 75 total touchdowns and 532 total points.

Jameson Chesser was in the middle of most of those record totals, as he ended his own record-setting individual season out of the Taylor backfield with a program-best 20 rushing touchdowns. Chesser also finished with 1,174 rushing yards for the third-highest individual total in school history.

It was the Trojan defense that led the way to victory on Saturday however, as TU held Concordia to just 240 total yards of offense and stuffed the Cardinals on 10-of-13 third-down attempts.

Aven Jones led the stingy defensive performance with 11 more tackles and a forced fumble, finishing his MSFA Mideast League Defensive-Player-of-the-Year candidacy with a NAIA-leading 132 total stops.

Parker Whitby and Thad Thoman posted the only sacks of the afternoon for Taylor, with David Worlds anchoring the secondary with a trio of pass breakups. Jeremiah Mansfield added a pair of quarterback hurries, with Jacob Hockett adding eight tackles and Wade Jones turning in six hits.

On offense, Taylor leaned on Chesser to pile up 285 rushing yards on 5.3 yards per carry. Chesser led the way with 27 carries for 131 yards and one rushing touchdown, while also catching a touchdown pass. Dakohta Sonnichsen also chipped in with eight carries for 61 yards and one reception for 40 yards.

Lucas Shilts provided eight points with his leg, splitting the uprights from 27 and 33 yards out and converting on both of his point-after tries.

It took a bit for the game to tilt in Taylor's favor however, as the Trojans gave up a long scoring drive to start the day and managed just 16 yards in the opening quarter.

The TU offense came to life in the second quarter however, piling up 186 yards on 24 plays and putting 10 points on the board to send the Trojans to the break with a narrow, 10-7, edge.

Chesser provided the needed spark, igniting the offense with 83 rushing yards in the quarter which included a 60-yard burst down the sidelines to set up Taylor's game-tying score.

After the 60-yard run moved the Trojans into scoring position, Damon Hockett hit Chesser through the air for 23 yards and the touchdown to tie the score at 7-7 with 4:53 left in the half.

Hockett then engineered the go-ahead drive on TU's next possession after taking over at its own 23-yard line with 1:29 left before intermission. A 24-yard Hockett scramble followed by a 24-yard connection with Hutson Hohlbein led to a 27-yard field goal from Shilts as time ran out.

The Taylor defense continued to hold the Cardinals (5-6, 3-2 MSFA) at bay, forcing six-straight CU punts after the game-opening scoring drive to allow TU's lead to grow to 20-7 with 10 more points.

Concordia ended its drought in the early moments of the fourth with a touchdown to draw within 20-14 but Taylor drained 5:20 off the clock on its next touch and then got a key defensive stand to get the ball back.

With a third down on Tayor's 46-yard line, Worlds batted away his third pass of the afternoon and then a Hockett tackle ended Concordia's drive to give the ball back to the Trojans with 3:10 remaining.

The Taylor offensive did the rest, getting key third-down conversions on a seven-yard pass to Nathan Munson and a game-sealing three-yard run from Chesser to let TU run out the clock on the 20-14 win.

Taylor closes its 2024 season at 9-2 overall and 4-1 in MSFA Mideast League play.