Taylor Routs TIU for Best Start Since 2011
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UPLAND, Ind. – Taylor turned in its most balanced offensive attack of the season and saw its defense frustrate a pass-heavy Trinity International squad on Saturday evening, as TU rolled to a 41-19 win to improve to 3-1 on the season and match the program’s best four-game start since also opening 3-1 in 2011.
The Trojans piled up 462 total yards of offense, with 239 coming through the air and 223 coming on the ground. The output marked TU’s best since going for 469 total yards in a 43-31 win at Indiana Wesleyan on September 1 of 2018. The game also marked the first time Taylor had eclipsed 200 yards in the air and on the ground since doing so against the Wildcats in that same contest and the 239 passing yards were TU’s most since posting that same total against Saint Francis on November 9 of 2019.
Dakohta Sonnichsen was in the middle of most of the action against TIU (0-3), hauling in four passes for 73 yards, taking carries of 19 and 23 yards and averaging 14.8 yards per punt return over four tries.
The shifty sophomore had plenty of help, as Elijah McCloskey and Hutson Hohlbein connected five times for 87 yards, with Hohlbein and Sonnichsen each averaging over 17 yards per catch in the game.
McCloskey ended the night with a career-high 16 completions for 239 yards, while Brendan Lamb tore off 6.9 yards per touch for 76 yards on 11 carries.
Sonnichsen, Dylan Scally, Ja Thomas, and Lamb all found the end zone on rushes, with Thomas doing so twice and Zane Shilts closed two other scoring drives with field goals from 35 and 42 yards out. Shilts also went five-of-five in point-after attempts to remain perfect in his kicking duties through the season’s first four outings.
Taylor piled up 26 first downs in the victory, converted three fourth-down attempts and scored on all five trips to the red zone, with four of those drives ending in the end zone.
TIU entered Turner Stadium ranked No. 27 in the NAIA in passing offense, but had much more trouble moving the ball against the Taylor defense, and closed with only 105 yards through the air and just 231 total yards on the night.
Jacob Hockett and Hojun Yun led the Trojans in tackles posting 10 hits each, with Luke Corsten making several key plays and ending with a role in two sacks and four hits for lost yardage among his seven total stops.
As a defensive unit, Taylor posted season-highs with four sacks and eight tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
Taylor never trailed in the game, jumping to a 14-0 lead and then rattling off 17-straight points after seeing that margin cut to 14-12 deep into the second quarter. The Trojans then scored the final 10 points of the game to put the margin well out of reach.
Taylor (3-1, 1-0 MSFA) will remain at home to host Olivet Nazarene (0-2, 0-0 MSFA) on Saturday, September 24 at 7:00 pm inside Turner Stadium.
