WINFIELD, Kan. – After dropping their first Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) bout of the 2022 season, the No. 13-ranked Southwestern College football team made it their point to get back on the winning track on Homecoming weekend in Winfield. That resolve was evidenced by an incredibly lopsided 49-6 victory for the Builders, as they dismantled the previously 4-1 Tabor College Bluejays with ease.

Early in the game, there was absolutely nothing that the visitors could do to slow down a potent SC offensive attack, as a drive that lasted 5:08 to open the game for Southwestern resulted in a 4-yard rushing score by Jaqulis Coleman. With a 7-0 lead, the Moundbuilders continued to show their strength, forcing a three-and-out on defense. They followed that up with a 68-yard march that was capped off by a Martez Jones II 44-yard TD burst. After forcing yet another punt from the Bluejays, SC was attempting to go up by three touchdowns in the opening stanza. They would do exactly that with a five-play 84-yard possession that concluded with a 1-yard rushing score from Ziyon Kenner. Then, Southwestern was able to turn over Tabor's offense with an interception by Riley Havird, setting the Builders up with a short 10-yard field. After losing four yards on the first play of the possession, Thomas Yam connected with Matthew Holthusen for his second TD reception of the season, and his first of the game. That would conclude the scoring in the opening quarter, as SC held a commanding 28-0 lead.

The second frame began with more of the same, as Tabor had the ball for just three plays to open the second quarter, and could not convert a single first down. Southwestern would take over at their own 26 yard-line and drive the ball all the way down the field and score yet again. It took just three plays to put the ball in the endzone, as Yam hooked up with Josh Edson for a 56-yard TD bomb down the near sideline. A 35-0 lead stood as an already insurmountable deficit for the Bluejays, as they continued to shoot themselves in the foot with self-inflicted mistakes. Another interception by Havird would set the Builders up at the Tabor 36, as Jones II would rush for his second TD of the day on the first play from scrimmage to make it 42-0 for Southwestern. The Builders would force yet another miscue from Tabor, as the Bluejays fumbled the ball over to SC in prime scoring position, but for the first time in the game, Southwestern failed to score. Then, after an interception by Travon Crockett of the Moundbuilders, the Builder offense coughed up the ball to Tabor, who ran it back 85 yards to the endzone for their only points of the game. It was 42-6 at the intermission.

The only scoring play of the second half of this game occurred in the early stages of the third quarter, as the Builder defense made Tabor go three-and-out again to open the half. Then, with Christian Burke now leading the offense, he finished off his first collegiate drive with a 21-yard catch-and-run screen pass to Jordyn Jackson to make it 49-6. From that point forward, it was a game of running the clock and getting the game to its impressive end for the Builder squad.

The Builders threw the ball 29 times on offense in this one, as Yam started the game but was not needed for the stretch run in this battle. He went an impressive 12-of-14 tossing the pigskin, having accumulated 218 yards and two touchdowns in just a single half of play. Burke came in in the second half of the bout and completed 9-of-15 throws for 99 yards and a TD.

Jones II was unstoppable in this one, as he carried the rock 11 times for a net of 110 yards and two scores. Sommarra Hunter had 13 totes for 72 yards, and Coleman ran the ball 12 times for 71 yards and a TD.

The receiving corps were used heavily in this one, as eight different Builder pass-catchers were able to bring in a reception. Edson led the way with six grabs for 112 yards and a touchdown grab, while Holthusen (30 yds), Jackson (28 yds) and Kenner (25 yds) had three catches apiece. Jones II got in on the act with a pair of catches for 37 yards, and Cody Wittenberg hauled in a pair of Burke's tosses. JT Bristow got his first catch of the season, as well, totaling 19 yards on the play.

It was a great day for the Southwestern defense, having not allowed a single point to be scored against them. Havird's two interceptions stand out most on the box score, as he was followed by Crockett and Caden Buoy with an interception each, as well. The squad also forced a fumble. It was the Builders' leading tackler, Darren Hicks Jr., who forced a fumble that was recovered by Taveon Williamson. Hicks Jr. also had a sack in the game, along with Shane Rodriguez and Landon Davis.

We would be remiss if we did not mention the outstanding special teams work of Gabriel Medrano, who punted for 122 yards on two punts, reaching an outlandish average of 61 yards per punt. He also knocked through all seven of his extra points.

Southwestern (6-1, 6-1 KCAC) needed a resounding victory today after suffering a difficult loss last weekend in North Newton. Luckily, the squad stepped up yet again, as they head into the bye week rejuvenated by a massive win over an up-and-coming Tabor squad.

--buildersports.com--