Yellow Jackets Victorious in Nail Biter at Hanover
By Hanna Young
The Defiance College Yellow Jacket football team traveled to Hanover on Saturday to open conference play. The Yellow Jackets struck first scoring a Zeke Sanchez field goal giving them an early 3-0 lead. Nearing the end of the first quarter Sanchez was called on again to send a ball sailing through the goalposts earning Defiance a 6-0 lead. Hanover, however, scored midway through the second quarter and after a successful Point-After-Attempt the score was 6-7 in favor of the Panthers. Shortly after the Panthers tacked on another touchdown and Point-After-Attempt to extend their lead to 6-13. The Yellow Jackets were not going to go down without a fight, though. With less than a minute left Tyshaun Freeman ran the ball into the endzone putting Defiance within one after a successful Point-After-Attempt, 13-14.
When the half restarted Hanover was the first to strike, scoring on a 35 yard run to earn them a lead of 13-21. Defiance answered this nearing the end of the third quarter when Tyshaun Freeman found his way into the endzone yet again. Following a successful two-point conversion the Yellow Jackets found themselves in a tie. The fourth quarter remained silent until there was under a minute left. With 51 seconds left Jordan Ambrose found Jalen Warren who ran the ball into the endzone putting the Yellow Jackets 27-21. This is where the score would remain for the rest of the game.
Jordan Ambrose led the Yellow Jackets throwing 228 yards in his 12 completed passes. Tyshaun Freeman led the Yellow Jackets in rushing yards with 90 on his 16 attempts. On the receiving end Jalen Warren led Defiance recording 120 yards and one touchdown, he was followed by Tawann Rome who recorded 52 yards in the contest. Zeke Sanchez sent two field goals through the uprights as well as one Point-After-Attempt earning himself 7 points. Matthew Bolanos punted for 312 yards on Saturday.
On the Defensive side Jaylen Redd and Daniel Budwah each recorded 7 solo tackles. They were both followed closely by Thomas Coltrain and Richad Pope IV who both had 6. Richard Pope IV also recorded 3 sacks. Daniel Budwah also recorded an interception for Defiance. The Yellow Jacket defense recorded 51 tackles as a team. The Defiance College Football team will be back home at Justin F. Coressel Stadium on Saturday, October 7th at 1:30pm.
