2008 Season Review
The Taylor University football program underwent a coaching change in June with the hiring of Ron Korfmacher as the new head coach.
While new to the head coaches' seat, Korfmacher has spent 25 years on the TU coaching staff as well as playing four years for the Trojans.
Korfmacher and the Trojans opened the season on the road against long-time rival Anderson for the rights to the ‘Wagon Wheel'. TU had not taken the Wheel home for the past five years, but change was in the air.
It was not an easy path to victory for the Trojans as AU put up 10 points in the first eight minutes of play following two Taylor fumbles, but this Trojan team seemed determined from the outset to start the season anew and both sides of the ball came through in magnificent fashion.
Following the Ravens' second score, TU drove 75 yards in eight plays with Josh Cook taking it into the end zone from eight yards out to narrow the gap to 10-7.
From this point until the 7:40 mark of the 4th quarter, the Trojan defense would not allow Anderson into the end zone, and the offense continued their prowess with 27 straight points.
TU racked up 261 yards on the ground and another 190 through the air, while the defensive line limited a normally potent AU offense to just 303 yards.
Game two found the Trojans hosting Olivet Nazarene in what would be a thrill-a-minute contest.
Trojans came out on fire and with only three minutes gone in the second quarter had built a 17-0 lead.
In the second half it was all Olivet Nazarene as they scored 14 more points to take a 20-17.
The Trojans called upon kicker Nick Davis' leg, and to the delight of the team and fans Davis delivered from 48-yards out to tie the game at 20-20 as time ran out forcing TU into their first overtime game in 10 years.
In the first overtime both teams missed field goal opportunities from 35 and 37 yards out respectively.
ONU had possession first in the second OT and drove to the Taylor ten-yard line before Forneris hit Chris Lacher in the end zone to put the Tigers ahead.
The Trojans connected on two short passes on their possession, but the next two fell incomplete and TU's hopes melted away as ONU claimed a 27-20 victory.
St. Francis was the next opponent, and the Cougars proved why they held a top five ranking in the NAIA as they shut down TU in a 55-7 victory.
Taylor scored the only touchdown that USF had given up at this point in the season.
At William Penn the Trojans forged a 10-0 lead at halftime, but failed to find the end zone in the second half while William Penn put up 13 points for a 13-10 victory.
TU wasted no time in taking a lead as the defense forced a three-and-out in the first possession allowing the offense to drive 68 yards in 16 plays to the Wm Penn five-yard line where the drive stalled. The Trojans called in Nick Davis who drilled the ball through the uprights, giving Taylor a 3-0 lead.
TU quarterback Shaun Addison hit wide receiver Ian Brown on the first play for a touchdown to put TU on top by 10-0 following Davis' PAT.
The Statesmen came back with 13 second half points to take the win.
After going ten years without an overtime game, the Trojans faced their second OT of the season, this time pulling off at 14-13 victory over Urbana.
A muffed snap on an extra point attempt was all the margin that TU needed to claim a 14-13 overtime victory at Urbana University on Saturday afternoon.
The Trojans stuffed Urbana's normally strong running game by holding them to only 91 yards on the ground, but the Blue Knights went to the air for 322 yards including a 96-yard pass play for the only offensive touchdown scored in regulation.
TU got on the board when Chaa Stuart broke through the line to block a field goal attempt, which was picked up by Brandon Onuselogu and returned 90 yards for a touchdown. A Nick Davis PAT evened the score at 7-7.
Urbana mounted another attack, this time to the Taylor 10, but were thwarted again as Jeremy Prudhomme blocked the field goal attempt.
In overtime the Trojans had their shot first and made the most of it. Shaun Addison hit Travis Tomaszewski for an eight yard gain, and then Josh Cook ran for two yards to put the ball on the Urbana 15-yard line. From there Addison was forced out of the pocket as he dropped back to pass, but then raced into the end zone to put the Trojans up 13-7. Davis added the point after that proved to be vital.
Urbana worked the ball to the TU five then completed a pass for a TD and draw within one point of forcing a second overtime. However, the snap for the extra point was fumbled and the Trojans came away with a 14-13 victory and raising their record to 2-3.
When the 25th ranked Malone came to Upland, the Trojans knew it would take a great effort on their part to snag a win. Unfortunately, three costly turnovers gave the Pioneers all the advantage they needed in a 42-17 win.
Josh Cook continued his attack on the 1,000-yard barrier with another 100-yard day.
A trip to Ohio Dominican was next on the schedule, and the Trojans put forth a great effort but came up short in a 24-6 decision. TU controlled the ball for 33 minutes and had more first downs than the Panthers, but inefficiency in the red zone cost Taylor dearly.
Against Marian, the Trojans held a 23-22 lead late in the third quarter, but the Knights posted 10 straight points to claim a 32-23 win.
A blocked field goal, a blocked punt, and an interception returned for a touchdown were miscues that hurt the Trojans' chances.
The Trojans faced the 19th ranked St. Xavier next and fell behind 26-0 in the first half before rallying to outscore the Cougars 15-3 in the second half, but it was too little, too late as SXU took a 29-15 decision.
In the season's finale, the Trojans again held a second half lead but failed to hold on to it as Walsh scored 14 unanswered points to gain a 24-17 victory, closing TU's record at 2-8 for the season.
Josh Cook ran for 166 yards and raised his season's total to 1,074 yards, the fourth best rushing season in Taylor history, and the first 1,000-yard season in ten years.
Cook was the led the MSFA in rushing with a 107.4 yards per game average and was accorded First Team All-MSFA honors. Also gleaning Honorable Mention All-MSFA accolades were: Ross Hayden, OL; Cameron Heasley, DL; Jeremy Prudhomme, DL; Chris Wheeler, DL; Paul Passiales, LB; Marcellus Burton, DB; and Travis Smith, DB.
Passiales ranked third in total tackles and tackles for loss, while Burton tied for the league lead in interceptions with six and was fifth in passes defended with 11.