HILLSBORO, Kan – Saturday, September 16, 2023 (9)Southwestern college (4-0) defeated Tabor College (1-3) 20-10.

Three fumbles, two interceptions and a weather delay was not the design for success the Builders prepared for. But the SC defense holding Tabor to only 74 total yards of offense and SC was still able to produce 229 rushing yards behind 134 yards from Sam Hunter and 244 passing yards completing 22 of 33 passes.

"The defense was once again amazing tonight." Said Head Coach, Brad Griffin. "They really kept us in it when we turned it over, it wasn't pretty, but winning isn't easy."

It was the Builder defense that opened the game holding the Blue Jay's offense to a first drive punt.

The offense taking over deep on the SC 11 yard line, Braden Howell's first snap was a 22 yard inside slant to wide receiver, Andre Jones.

The second snap of the game for the Builders from the 33 yard line, another Howell to Jones 8 yard quick out.

Snap three, a quick out to the trips side, this time, Matthew Holthusen was able to gain the second first down of the game for the Builders on only their third play from scrimmage.

After a 6 yard rush from Sam Hunter, the Builders follow up with another quick cross from Howell to Holthusen for yet another first down.

The Builder offense was marching.

A mishandled snap seemed to be the only opportunity Tabor's defense had on the initial drive, but Howell was able to escape with only a loss of two yards after a scramble to the Southwestern sideline.

With the ball on the SC 35 yard line, fourth and one, Griffin elected to go for it with a Howell play action keeper to the Tabor sideline, and gained four yards on the carry to keep the drive alive.

And with all the momentum, from inside the Tabor 35 yard line now, running back, Jaydon Sundgren's football came loose after being tackled and Tabor recovered it with less than six minutes left in the first quarter. It was a sign of things to come.

Now, Trevor Strong's Builder defense would step up and hold Tabor to a three and out to force a punt.

Still scoreless, Tabor was able to pressure Howell on first down and lineman Darriene Gibs was able to sack Howell for a loss and put SC into a second down and 25 situation.

Sam Hunter up the middle got 24 yards back, for an SC third down and one to go. If it's not broke, Hunter again for the first down gained 17 yards. So Griffin goes back to Hunter for a third time and a gain of seven.

Now with the ball on the Tabor 27 yard line, Hunter again with a first down and a gain of 12 yards.

SC, first down on the Tabor 22 yard line, was now the closest they've been to putting points on the board carried by the legs of Hunter and looking to score.

After a false start penalty, first down and 15, Howell goes back to the air and finds Jones on a quick five yard inside route, Jones turned to the Tabor sideline and got to the 10 yard line before getting hit and the football was out on the field and recovered by Tabor's Cole Hernandez for the second time, leaving SC empty handed inside the red zone and scoreless after the first quarter.

The Builders would start the second quarter forcing Tabor to punt, but not before losing starting linebacker, Cameron Cornelius on a personal foul, targeting call that would be reviewed and upheld at halftime.

Howell would find Newton's Josh Edson on a deep route down the middle to bring SC into the redzone. Sam Hunter would finally punch it in the endzone, a snap later, and after the Preston Fansher extra point, Builders were up 7-0 with 12:19 left in the second quarter.

So now, minus Cornelius, the Builder defense would look to hold Tabor once again. Builder defensive backs were electric to the ball, with run stopping tackles from Deago Stubbs, a pass break up from Stubbs and Caden Bouy who both seemed to make the interception, but the ball hit the turf.   

Bakari Jackson and Richard Holmes were making open field tackles holding Tabor catches to minimal yards after the catch.

Taking over after the punt with 9:16 left in the second quarter, on the SC 24 yard line, second down and six yards to go, Howell avoided a nearly devastating interception that hit Tabor's No.6 in the arms, who out in the flat covering Jayden Sundgren. Bullet dodged, looking at third down and six, Howell hits Holthusen again up the middle for an 11 yard catch and first down.

Now looking to score before halftime, first and 10, Howell finds Jones on a six yard catch who is hit as he catches it and shakes off the tackler to gain another six yards for another Builder first down.

Building momentum, with 7:07 left in the second quarter, but sitting at third down and 16 from the SC 46 yard line, Howell throws just behind Conner Stover across the middle and as the ball is tipped, Tabor linebacker, Brooks Gardner intercepted it and returned it to the SC 21 yard line.

So Coach Young's Defense would be called once again in the first half to hold the Tabor offense. On third down and a yard, SC was able to stuff the run and force a fourth down and one yard to go from the SC 12 yard line. But the qb sneak gained the yard and Tabor was threatening to score for the first time in the game.

As Tabor's Tyson Dozhier dropped back to pass, Bakari Jackson broke loose and sacked Dozhier to force a second down an 18. After an incomplete pass, Dozhier was able to run to three yard line, but with fourth down and three, Tabor hits the field goal before halftime with 2:16 left, 7-3.

But the turnover bug would flare up again, Brandon King sniffed out a quick hitter from Howell to Jones, and he jumped the route at the SC 25 yard line for the interception and pick six, 7-9 Tabor before the Nathaniel Heilig point after, 7-10.

In their hurry up offense, SC marched down the field within striking distance. With 33 seconds left, Howell threw a dart to the corner of the endzone past two Tabor defenders where Ziyon Kenner couldn't quite hold on for what could have been the score before the half, but now the Builders were faced with second down and 10 from the Tabor 31 yard line.

The exchanged was dropped between Howell and Jarious Burnett, but the Builders avoid another turnover as Burnett dropped on the ball. Third down and 15 with 27 seconds left, Howell targeting Jones again deep in the endzone but was unable to connect.  
            
So with one more shot, 19 seconds left, fourth down and 15 from the Tabor 37, the Builders decide to pooch punt it to the Tabor 6 yard line with 12 seconds left to get into halftime safely.

Coming out of halftime, with 7:50 left in the third quarter, inclement weather delayed the game sending both teams into the locker rooms for about 45 minutes.

The third quarter would lack rhythm for both teams ending drives in punts.

With 13:26 left in the fourth quarter, first and 10 from the SC 29 yard line, Howell would strike, a 28 yard pass completion to Holthusen into Tabor territory at the 36 yard line.

Two plays later, Holthusen again would take the handoff this time for a seven yard run to the Tabor 10 yard line.

They would set up the Howell keeper, right up the middle for the untouched touchdown and the point after by Fansher, to regain the lead, 14-10, with 11:02 left in the fourth quarter.

Feeling back in control, the fumble bug was about to strike once again. With 9:13 left in the fourth quarter, Joe Smyth on the hand off near the Tabor sideline, ran into Ziyon Kenner who was down field blocking and the football was on the ground yet again as Tabor recovered it.

But, in a familiar theme for the game, the Builder defense would rise to the call once again forcing Tabor to punt with 7:27 left in the game and SC ahead 14-10.

This set the stage for the Builders to work some clock management on what would be the final drive and they did.

An 11 play drive capped off by a Burnett touchdown run, 20-10. But a penalty flag after the touchdown that was assessed on the point after backing SC up to the 18 yard line. So to avoid a turnover and a possible touchdown without the clock running, SC chose to take a knee, still up 20-10 with 1:02 left.

The Builder defense would finish it on the field as they started it.

"Our guys never flinched." Said Defensive Coordinator, Strong. "A lot of adversity tonight and the guys just approached it one play at a time, it was a great team win."
 
The undefeated Moundbuilders will be at home Saturday, Sept. 23 at 6 pm hosting Sterling College.

For comprehensive information on Moundbuilder athletics, including a schedule of upcoming sporting events, please visit www.buildersports.com. To explore more about Southwestern College, visit www.sckans.edu.