Trojans Shackle Pioneers 23-17
October 10, 2009
The Taylor football team (3-2, 1-1) posted a 23-17 MSFA Mideast victory over Malone University (2-3, 0-2) on Saturday behind a balanced team effort that stopped the Pioneers when they needed to and controlled the ball effectively.
The Trojan defense stood tall against a Pioneer offense that had been averaging 32 points per 
game. TU held Malone to 209 yards on the ground, 20 less than their average, and only 137 yards through the air on 11 of 26 passes.
On the offensive side of the ball the Trojans put up 268 yards in the air on 23 of 41 passes and added 79 rushing yards.
Malone jumped out to a 7-0 lead as they took the opening kickoff 72 yards for a score.
The following six possessions ended in punts, with TU finally taking possession on thier own 27 yard line. The Trojans drove 67 yards in 10 plays and got on the scoreboard with a Cameron Parker 23 yard field goal.
The Pioneers went for a 4th and 4 on their own 39 yard line, but the Trojans repelled them to give the offense a short field to work with. The offense did their part as they went 40 yards in 6 plays capped off by a 9 yard rush into the end zone by Cory Anderson. The PAT was blocked, but TU held a 9-7 lead.
Two possessions later Malone picked off a Shaun Addison pass at the Taylor 38 and returned it to the 19 yard line. From there Pioneer Joseph Peters put Malone back on top 14-9 when he found paydirt.
Late in the second quarter the Trojans began a drive that ended with a 28 yard pass and catch from Addison to Ryan Magnuson. Taylor made good on a 2-point conversion when Addison hit tight end Matt Orvis with a pass and a 17-14 lead.
Malone tied the score at 17-17 with a field goal following an 80 yard drive to open the fourth quarter of action. On the ensuing kickoff, Trojan Pagel Williams returned the kick 52 yards to the Malone 37. A personal foul on the Pioneers moved the ball to the 22 and from there the offense went to work.
Addison ran for two yards, then missed an attempt aimed at Orvis. On third down the junior came up big as he connected with Travis Tomaszewski for a 20-yard touchdown pass and a 23-17 lead.
MU could only muster a six play drive before punting. The ball was downed on Taylor's five yard line, giving the Pioneers hope that a three-and-out would give them one more opportunity.
But the Trojan offense went to work and crunched out a 11 play, 49 yard drive to drain the remaining 5:51 off the clock giving Taylor their third win of the season.
Coach Ron Korfmacher was elated with the win, "It was a total team win. Each side did exactly what was needed. Our defense did not give up a second half touchdown, while our offense possessed the ball when necessary. Both lines played great today and Addison and the receiving corps were definitely in sync."
Addison ended the game 23 for 41 for 268 yards with 10 completions going to Magnuson for 159 yards. A major stat for TU was going 8 of 17 on third down conversions.
The defense held Malone to nearly 100 yards less than their average in total yards. Reed Smith topped the defense with eight stops, while Garrett Wheeler had seven.
Korfmacher was also pleased with the way his club finished each half. "We were strong at the end of the first half and again at the end of the game when we really needed it."
Next week the Trojans host Walsh for Homecoming at 1 p.m.