Deveon Williams scored twice as Yellow Jackets unravel in second half against Taylor

UPLAND, Ind. - For the first time in 35 seasons, Defiance College reignited a lost matchup against the Taylor Trojans, ultimately resulting in a 63-12 DC demise and riddled with turnovers. 

Outscoring the Yellow Jackets (3-6) 35-0 in the second half, the Trojans (7-2) took off and never looked back with scores from five different players. 

Though the Trojans won the coin toss and deferred to the second half, they elected to begin the game with an onside kick, which they recovered and gained the first possession of the day. However, their attempt ended after a six-play, unsuccessful drive. Now with quarterback Jelani Warren and Defiance at the helm, on its third offensive play of the day, Warren was sacked by Parker Whitby who then knocked the ball free out of Warren's hands. The fumble by Warren was recovered by Taylor's Jeremiah Mansfield at the Defiance 1-yard line. 

On their second attempt to score, running back Jameson Chesser completed the 1-yard rush and followed by reaching the endzone again for a good two-point try, putting eight points on the scoreboard for Taylor. The Yellow Jackets responded with a change at quarterback by putting in freshman Garret Bogart, who threw a pick-six on his first pass attempt, which was caught and returned by Jacob Hockett. The two-point conversion try was failed by Chesser, Taylor led 14-0.

Bogart then regained control and led Defiance down the field, capitalizing with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Deveon Williams. Zeke Sanchez missed the extra point as the Yellow Jackets then trailed by two with 6:32 remaining in the first quarter. 

Nearly winding down the first-quarter clock and reaching the Defiance 15-yard line, Taylor settled for a field goal by kicker Lucas Shilts, which soared wide left, Trojans up 14-6.

The second quarter was quieter. Taylor's Dakohta Sonnichsen rushed for a 5-yard score with 7:02 remaining in the half and the Yellow Jacket's responded with a trick-pass play by wide receiver Tawann Rome to Williams for 20 yards down the field and the score. Up 21-12, Chesser rushed into the endzone for a second touchdown to go up by 16 and end the half. 

In the second half, the Trojan's began to soar on offense and defense. They held Bogart and the Defiance offense scoreless, while going off for 35 more points. Scores came from Kyle Turanchick, Nathan Parker, Chesser for a hat trick, Ethan Albert and Ben Netz, who ended the game's scoring just before the seven-minute mark. 

This was the final NAIA game of the season for the Yellow Jackets. Taylor now owns the all-time series against Defiance 10-13.

THE TURNING POINT

Though DC was never able to gain control of the matchup, it stayed consistent in the first half and was able to develop both a run and pass game. Once the second half hit and Kyle Turanchick scored under five minutes into the third quarter, the Yellow Jackets couldn't match the speed of the game. Taylor scored a touchdown on each of its five second-half possessions. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Quarterback Garret Bogart had 174 yards, a touchdown and completed 51.9% of passes — a career low

• Freshman wide receiver Caleb Johnson had a career-best 87 receiving yards on five receptions

• Freshman wide receiver Deveon Williams had a career-high two touchdown receptions

• Six Trojans passed the ball, 11 accounted for rushing touches and nine players had receptions on the day

• Davidson Leconte Jr. recorded a career-best three tackles-for-loss 

• Defiance allowed three turnovers — two interceptions and a fumble

• Taylor out rushed the Yellow Jackets 223 yards to 44 yards

• The Trojans defense cumulatively had 10 sacks

• Both teams had 12 passing first downs, while Taylor had 23 rushing compared to four Defiance rushing

UP NEXT

The Yellow Jackets have two games remaining on their schedule: Hanover (Ind.) and Bluffton. On Saturday, Defiance will close out its home slate at 1 p.m. against the Panthers at Justin F. Coressel Stadium. 

-JACKETS-