Trojans Run Over Madonna on Way to Homecoming Rout

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UPLAND, Ind. – An overflow crowd inside Turner Stadium was treated to a dominant victory by the Taylor football team, as the Trojans overpowered the visiting Madonna squad, 54-14, to cap TU's 2023 Homecoming Weekend.

Taylor was not threatened, bolting to 14-0 lead by the midway point of the opening quarter and eventually pushing the spread to 40-0 early in the final frame.

The Trojans piled up 520 total yards of offense for its most under third-year head coach Aaron Mingo, and also ran for the program's most rushing yards in a game in recent history with 391 to approach the all-time TU record of 440 set against Hanover in 1963.

The 391 yards on 49 carries were good for 8.0 yards per rush in the contest and gave Taylor back-to-back 300-yard rushing games and three such efforts this season. The output also pushed TU up to No. 7 in the NAIA with 229.0 rushing yards per game this season, as the Trojans continued to close in on the all-time program record of 247.5 in 1998.

It was group effort by Taylor in the ground game, led most notably by a seven yard touchdown carry by offensive lineman, Clay Adams for a 21-0 lead in the second quarter.

In addition to Adams finding the end zone, Kyle Turanchick, Jacob Cleaver, Stephen Ellis and Dylan Scally also ran to paydirt.

Turanchick entered late but made a lasting impression in his breakout performance in front of the home crowd, taking his first carry of the night 65 yards for a score. The freshman added a 34-yard score later and ended with 102 yards and two scores on three touches.

Cleaver also excelled with 87 yards and a touchdown on six carries, while Ellis opened the scoring with a 52-yard sprint.

Damon Hockett complimented the ground attack with 10 completions for 123 yards and a touchdown connection with JJ Payne, as the freshman wide receiver ended with three catches for 54 yards and his first collegiate score.

Lucas Shilts was busy as well, hitting field goals from 35 and 44 yards out to push TU's lead from 21-0 out to 27-0 and added six extra-points to end the contest with 12 points.

The Trojan defense carried a shutout into the fourth quarter before Madonna (0-8, 0-4 MSFA) finally broke through. TU picked up three sacks and 14 tackles for negative yardage.

Aven Jones highlighted the defense with 13 tackles, while Jacob Hockett, Levi Brown and Braxton Green each notched one sack.

Taylor (2-6, 1-3 MSFA) will play at home once again on October 28 at 1:00 pm when it hosts No. 5 Marian (7-0, 4-0 MSFA).