Taylor University (4-3, 1-0) started their conference schedule with a convincing 42-10 win over Defiance College (2-5, 0-1).
The Taylor defense made an immediate impact as on the eighth play of the first drive, senior defensive back Reid Messer came down with an interception and returned it 50 yards.
After turning the ball over on downs on the Defiance three yardline, the rest of the first quarter was slow going for both teams. It wasn’t until the 14:18 mark in the second quarter that the Yellow Jackets scored on a 27-yard field goal to go up 3-0. It would be the only lead for Defiance throughout the contest.
Taylor answered back with a two yard rushing touchdown from sophomore running back Ethan Albert after an eight play, 76-yard drive that eclipsed 3:49. After the Trojan defense forced a quick three and out, the Trojans got in the endzone again. This time it was an outside run from junior wideout Devin Stupples for 24 yards, putting the Trojans on top 14-3.
The Taylor defense proved strong again as they forced another three and out. The offense followed it up by driving down the field but were turned away as freshman quarterback Alex Amburgy threw an interception as time expired on the half. Amburgy says his teammates help build him up when mistakes happen.
“My teammates have really helped me,” Amburgy said. “I’ve experienced some success so far due to being around good players.”
The freshman QB has been as expected in a situation that no one saw coming. He has completed over 50% of his passes for 650 yards and five touchdowns in four games.
Amburgy started the season third on the depth chart, but due to two key injuries, he has found himself at the helm of the Trojan offense and has been as advertised head coach Aaron Mingo says.
“His (Amburgy) mental processing is exceptional and his poise is equally as exceptional,” Mingo said. “It (his poise) puts him in a spot that allows him to utilize those physical gifts that he has.”
Coming out of halftime, Taylor went back to their bread and butter - the triple option. The Trojan defense caused yet another three and out and the offense didn’t look back as they capped off an eight play, 85-yard drive with an 11-yard touchdown run from sophomore running back, Nathan Parker.
Both teams traded drives where they scored and Defiance had the ball after a Taylor punt with 1:20 left in the third quarter. They were tackled by a whole squadron of Trojans for a two-yard loss before sophomore linebacker Grady Stanley intercepted the ball and ran it back eight yards for the pick-six, putting the Trojans up 28-3.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Defiance tried out a new quarterback but to no avail as junior linebacker Luke Graft intercepted the pass. Alex Amburgy finished the drive and ran it into the endzone from 40 yards out to increase the gap to 35-3.
After another Yellow Jacket punt, Ethan Albert broke off a 49-yard run that went the distance for another Taylor score on the ground extending the lead to 42-3. Defiance would finally break through and put a touchdown on the board in garbage time to try and make the score respectable at 42-10. Taylor did break off another large run as senior wideout David Wells found a hole and rushed for 18 yards before Taylor knelt the rest of the clock out, ending with a win.
