[Football] Defense, Timely Offense Carry the Night in Football Falcons' 17-7 win at Tabor
Hillsboro, Kan. – The Friends University Falcons used a stout defensive effort while making key offensive plays to jump into the win column this season with a 17-7 victory at the Tabor College Bluejays tonight (Sept. 19) in Hillsboro, Kan. It's the first Falcon win over the Bluejays since winning 14-11 on the road in 2014.
The Falcons kept the Bluejays out of the end zone defensively and limited them to just 283 total yards for the game.
Carrying a 10-7 lead into the half, the Falcons maintained that margin until putting together a critical, game-deciding 13 play, 76 yard drive that was capped with a five-yard touchdown run by Laken Clowdus (FR/Bartlesville, Okla. ) for a two-possession edge with just 55 seconds left.
The scoring run came on third and five and was the Falcons' third third down conversion of the drive.
"I am really proud of the fight in this group," said Dion Meneley, Friends University football head coach. "We were in some tough situations defensively and they handled most of them really well. Our offense scored early and we had to score again late to finish the game with a seven minute drive, I am very proud of that."
The connection of quarterback Dan Dawdy (SR/Haysville, Kan.) and wide receiver Cade Nagy (SO/Broken Arrow, Okla. ) proved fruitful on the opening drive of the game, as the duo got together for four receptions, including a 21 yard touchdown on third and 13 to put the Falcons on top.
On the Bluejays first two possessions, the Falcon defensive unit forced a punt and then held firm on fourth and one on the three yard line thanks to a big tackle by Jason Weah (JR/Madison, Wis. ) for a one yard loss.
The Falcons then put together a time-consuming drive that lasted 16 plays and chewed up 5:35 of the game clock and resulted in a 40-yard field goal by Bobby Schmidt (JR/Sapulpa, Okla. ) that stretched the lead to 10-0.
After the Falcons forced a three and out, the Bluejays scored their lone touchdown of the game when Wyatt Leppke recovered a fumble at the Falcon six yard line and ran it into the end zone to suddenly make it 10-7 with 6:51 left in the first half.
With the score remaining at 10-7 into the fourth quarter, it was again Weah involved in making a big play for the defense as the junior linebacker broke up a fourth and five pass attempt prior to the Falcons' game-clinching offensive drive.
Dawdy finished his night with 22 completions in 35 attempts for 172 yards, with one touchdown and one interception for the Falcons (1-1).
Juan Salazar (SR/Vernon, Texas) paced the Falcon offensive effort with a career-best 117 yards on the ground, while Nagy hauled in a career-high 12 receptions for 99 yards and the one score.
Trey McGee was 24-of-38 for 215 yards and one interception for the Bluejays (0-2).
David Akao (JR/Wichita, Kan.) and Nick White (SR/Covington, Ga. ) led the Falcons with seven tackles, with Akao and Jagger Blubaugh (SO/Wichita, Kan. ) registering one sack on the night.
Akao and Robert Garcia (SR/Wichita, Kan.) also each recorded a pair of tackles for loss.
Brooks Gardner led the Bluejays' defense with a game-high 12 tackles.
The Falcons will next host Avila University for their 2020 home opener Saturday night (Sept. 26). Kickoff is scheduled for 7 pm at Adair-Austin Stadium.
"It's only one win, but it's a big deal to get the first," Meneley said.