Taylor Loses to No. 9 USF on Senior Day
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UPLAND, Ind. – The 2018 home schedule came to a close on Saturday for the Taylor football program, as the Trojans fell in a 20-0 deficit early and dropped a 40-20 decision to No. 9 Saint Francis on Senior Day inside Turner Stadium.
The Cougars (8-2, 4-2 MSFA) set the tone early, scoring on their first three drives of the afternoon to bolt to the 20-point cushion. All three drives were completed in nine plays or fewer and took less than four minutes off the clock.
Taylor settled in from there and went toe-to-toe with USF over the final 40-plus minutes of the contest but could get no closer than 13 points the rest of the way.
The Trojans posted 108 rushing yards and 188 yards through the air in the contest, snapping off nine more plays than Saint Francis and holding the ball for 2:18 more of game time. TU also committed only one penalty, while USF was flagged for 10.
Everett Pollard led the way on the ground, scampering for 45 yards on 13 carries from his quarterback position, with Drew LeFever netting 3.9 yards per touch over nine tries for 35 yards. Josh Saltzgaber collected TU’s lone rushing score of the day.
Zac Saltzgaber excelled in the passing game, splitting time with Pollard under center. Saltzgaber completed 12-of-21 passes for 132 yards and one touchdown, while Pollard completed eight passes for 56 yards and one score.
TU had 11 different players catch at least one pass, led by three catches each from Ben Davis, Daniel Boy, Kyle Kempton and Spencer Crisp, with Davis and Josh Saltzgaber each hauling in a touchdown reception.
John Ragan continued his late-season surge, posting a career-high seven tackles to lead the Trojans, while also recording his first collegiate sack and recovering a fumble.
Sam Bartu also notched a personal-best with six tackles, with Tyler Gerig also posting six stops. Tyler Watson anchored the secondary with four pass breakups and TJ Swore registered his first collegiate sack.
Grant Gerig provided the lone highlight on special teams with a 41-yard kickoff return.
Taylor (3-6, 1-4 MSFA) will close its 2018 campaign on November 10 at Missouri Baptist (3-7, 1-4 MSFA).