Hillsboro, Kan. – The Tabor College football team used a big third quarter to rally past the Moundbuilders of Southwestern College by the score of 17-13, Saturday afternoon at Joel H. Wiens Stadium in Hillsboro, Kan.

After dropping its first six conference games to start the season the Bluejays have now won two straight in as many weeks after holding Southwestern to just 265 yards of total offense and forcing four turnovers on the afternoon.

Freshman quarterback Simon McKee led a Bluejays offensive attack that totaled 271 yards of offense with 122 yards rushing on 27 carries and one score. McKee also totaled 27 yards through the air as he completed 3 of 6 pass attempts. Sophomore James Monroe Jr. also had a strong day on the ground with 13 carries for 47 yards.  Junior Nate Harrison ran nine times for 27 yards as the Bluejays totaled 210 yards on the ground for the game.

Defensively the Bluejays were stout, led by senior Travis Sanford with 11 solo tackles and one forced fumble. Junior Chris Sanborn added nine total tackles, while sophomore Terach Antoine chipped in with seven total tackles including one sack and a forced fumble.  

Tabor's defense didn't take long to make an impact as senior Darien McCollins recovered a Southwestern fumble on the sixth play of the game to give the Bluejays the ball on their own 37-yard line.

On the ensuing possession the Bluejays would appear to be heading into the end zone on a 33-yard touchdown run but a fumble on the one-yard line cut Tabor's scoring drive short.

Despite the turnover the Bluejays would get the ball back and march 30-yards in 8-plays ending in a 20-yard field goal by freshman Anthony Pacheco to give Tabor the first lead of the game at 3-0.

Southwestern would answer Tabor's drive with a scoring drive of its own as they went 57-yards in 8-plays ending in a 9-yard touchdown pass to take its first lead of the game at 7-3 in the second quarter. The Moundbuilders would tack on three more points late in the second quarter on a 50-yard field goal to extend their lead to 10-3 heading into the halftime break.

Trailing by seven, the Bluejays would fumble the ball on the opening possession of the second half to give Southwestern the ball on the Bluejays 25-yard line. Despite the turnover Tabor's defense would hold the Moundbuilders to a field goal as they now trailed by 10 at 13-3.

After a three-and-out by Tabor on the ensuing possession the Bluejays would get the spark they were looking for. Sophomore Justin Vargas would recover a fumbled punt return to put the Bluejays offense back in business at the Southwestern 48-yard line.

Eight plays later the Bluejays would cash in on the turnover on a 14-yard run by McKee to pull Tabor within three at 13-10.

Vargas would spark Tabor once again on the ensuing possession as he intercepted a Southwestern pass and returned it 26-yards for a touchdown to give the Bluejays the lead back at 17-13. The 17 points would be all the Tabor defense would need as they stifled the Moundbuilder offense for the rest of the game to earn the come-from-behind victory.

Tabor (2-6 KCAC, 3-6 Overall) will look for its third straight victory Saturday Nov. 12 in Wichita, Kan. as the Bluejays take on Friends University in their season finale.  Kickoff for the game is set for 1:30 p.m.