Leavenworth, Kan.— University of Saint Mary (0-7) erased an early 13-point deficit but fell 41-21 to Tabor (3-4) in their final non-Bissell Division game on Saturday, Oct. 3, in Leavenworth on Homecoming weekend. Two third-quarter touchdown runs gave the Bluejays a 34-13 advantage, providing the separation after the Spires had pulled even in the second quarter.

Kameron Smith led USM with 161 rushing yards on 23 carries and added 63 receiving yards on three catches. Damarkus McCoy contributed 91 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, along with four receptions for 30 yards. The Spires finished with 292 rushing yards and out gained Tabor 475-416 in total offense.

Tabor opened the scoring on Gebhardt's 50-yard touchdown run on its first offensive play. Scheffler added field goals of 54 and 29 yards to make it 13-0 after the first quarter. The Spires answered with a 10-play, 75-yard drive capped by McCoy's 1-yard touchdown run with 12:15 remaining in the second quarter. Joshua Bingham's extra point cut the deficit to six.

Jake Skahan and Jaden Selmon combined for an 8-yard third-down sack to force a punt before the Spires' tying drive. Zavian Martinez connected with Tyrrell Nelson for a 16-yard touchdown to finish a seven-play, 87-yard possession at 6:08, but Sandoval blocked the extra point, leaving the score 13-13. Tabor regained the lead on Stewart's 31-yard touchdown pass to Dozhier at 2:23. Reves then blocked Bingham's 43-yard field-goal attempt, preserving Tabor's 20-13 halftime lead.

Gebhardt scored from 29 yards just 45 seconds into the third quarter after McNeal's 53-yard kickoff return. Miller added a 23-yard touchdown run at 8:39 to extend the margin to 21. The Spires ensuing 14-play drive ended on an incomplete fourth-down pass from Tabor's 33.

The Spires cut the deficit to 34-21 with 12:48 remaining when Smith scored on a 6-yard run and added the two-point conversion. McCoy's 26-yard third-down run helped sustain the 10-play, 81-yard drive. A later possession ended at Tabor's 25 when Garrett Hunnicutt gained 12 yards on fourth-and-19. King intercepted Hunnicutt at 2:15 and returned the ball 27 yards, setting up Gebhardt's 14-yard touchdown run at 2:02.

Gebhardt finished with 165 rushing yards and three touchdowns for Tabor. Saint Mary held a 26-20 advantage in first downs and converted eight of 15 third-down attempts while limiting the Bluejays to three conversions in 11 tries. Wyatt Ramsey led the Spires with 12 tackles and a pass breakup, while Amir Akins, Deante Nobles and Amari Akins recorded seven tackles apiece.

Coming Up…

KCAC football will take a bye week this upcoming weekend, Saturday, October 10^th before officially kicking off divisional play. The Spires will hit the road for their first Bissell Division match up on Saturday, October 17^th at Kansas Wesleyan University. Kick-off is slated for 4 p.m. on the Coyotes Homecoming Weekend in Salina.