Hillsboro, Kan. – The Friends University Falcons put together a steady performance in dispatching the Tabor College Bluejays 24-0 today (Sept. 28) in Hillsboro, Kan. The Falcons are 5-0 for the first time since opening the 2008 season with 10 straight wins.
After a fumble ended a promising initial drive, the defense stood tall and stopped the Bluejays on fourth and four to take over in prime scoring position at the Bluejay 24.
The offense capitalized fully with an eight-yard touchdown run by Jett Cheatham to take a 7-0 lead.
The Falcon defense followed with a three and out on Tabor's next possession that allowed the offense to continue to work.
Big runs by Nick Cordova (eight yards), Kerrion Hadnot (12 yards) and Treylan Gross (nine yards) set up K'Vonte Baker for a one-yard plunge to put the Falcons up 14-0.
Cole Thompson, the current KCAC and NAIA Special Teams Player of the Week, sent the Falcons into the half on a high note with a 40-yard field goal.
The Falcons again fumbled on their first possession of the second half, but the defense once more came up big with a stop on fourth and two at the Tabor 41.
The ensuing drive was mostly Gross, with the Phillipsburg, Kan. native rushing five times for 16 yards before scoring from one-yard out for what proved the final score of the day.
Lazarus Range then put a nice bow on the victory with his first career interception with 1:43 remaining.
"Very proud of how our guys played on the road," said Friends football head coach Terry Harrison. "Defense was lights out all day and really set the tone for the win. Offensively we were able to control the line of scrimmage and get a ton of guys on the field. Great day for our program!"
Hadnot led the way with a career-high 116 yards on the ground for the Falcons, with Cordova finishing just shy of the 100-yard mark with 98 rushing yards.
Baker completed 1-of-3 passing, hitting Samuel Becker for a 46-yard gain.
Moises Haynes rushed for 52 yards to lead the Bluejays and Kobie Sheriff had three catches for 32 yards.
Nolan Ewing and Marcos Torres each had a team-high four tackles to lead a defensive unit that limited the Bluejays to just 119 total yards.
Cam Pair recorded a game-high 10 tackles for Tabor, who is now 1-4 on the season.
The Falcons will now host Sterling College for Homecoming next Saturday (Oct. 5) for a 1 pm kickoff at Adair-Austin Stadium.
Purchase tickets for next Saturday's Homecoming matchup!
