FOOTBALL LOSES OVERTIME HEARTBREAKER TO TABOR

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – In one of the wildest football games in recent Avila history, the Eagles fell in an overtime heartbreaker to Tabor, 41-28 on Saturday afternoon at The Z.

A game with three blocked kicks, two special teams touchdowns and a pick-six saw Avila play its first overtime game since the 2013-14 season.

Tabor got off to a hot start, scoring on the second play from scrimmage, a 57-yard touchdown run from Sean Hunter.

Avila would then put together a 13 play, 73-yard scoring drive, capped off by a five-yard touchdown pass from Eli Williams to Jordan Cummings.

Following a Tabor punt, another huge drive from Avila ended in three points. A 14 play, 48-yard drive saw Juan Delgado-Media put the ball through the uprights to give Avila a 10-7 lead.

Tabor answered back with a long drive of its own, pounding the ball in from one yard out following a 67-yard drive. Midway through the second quarter, Tabor led 14-10.

The teams would trade punts on the next two drives. An Avila turnover on downs set up Tabor with strong field position with 80 seconds left in the first half.

Facing a third-and-nine from the Avila 42, the Eagles' Joshua Robinson picked off the Bluejays' pass to set up the Avila offense with one last chance to score before halftime.

Continuing his strong first half, Avila quarterback Eli Williams gained positive yards on next six plays before hitting Jordan Cummings for a 32-yard touchdown pass on a crossing pattern with five seconds remaining.

As the teams entered halftime, the Eagles held on to a 17-14 lead.

Early in the third quarter, Tabor blocked Delgado-Medina's 30-yard field goal attempt and returned it 70 yards for a touchdown. Tabor took a 21-17 lead.

Avila was able to take momentum back immediately on the ensuing drive.

Williams drove the Eagles down the field, chewing up nearly eight-and-a-half minutes of game time to set up a Delgado-Media 23-yard field goal to bring Avila to within one.

Tabor then took off 6:39 of the fourth quarter clock on the next drive, capping it with a 19-yard touchdown run.

With six minutes remaining, Tabor had a 28-20 lead.

A holding penalty stalled Avila's next drive, forcing a punt with 3:36 remaining.

Avila's defense immediately came up huge, forcing a punt after a Tabor three-and-out.

Another big special teams sequence was set up.

Avila's Malik Ashford blocked the Tabor punt with Isaac Yzaguirre returning the blocked kick 10 yards for touchdown.

A two-point conversion pass from Williams to Mecoast Vaughn tied the game at 28 at the two-minute timeout.

With two minutes remaining, Tabor had the ball with a chance to win.

The Bluejays used a big kickoff return to drive down the field to set up a field goal attempt from 34 yards out with two seconds remaining and a chance at a walk-off win.

Everyone in attendance knew what was coming next.

Avila blocked the potential game-winning attempt, forcing Avila's first overtime game in more than a decade.

Tabor got the ball first at the 25 in the extra period. The Bluejays faced a fourth-and-goal from inside the one with a decision to make. Tabor pushed the ball in from inches out for a 35-28 lead, giving the ball back to Avila.

On Avila's first offensive play of overtime, Williams threw a pick-six, ending the game, 41-28.

Williams completed 26 of 39 passes for 244 yards and added 92 yards on the ground on the afternoon, accounting for two touchdowns. Avila had 372 yards of total offense and 101 yards on returns. 

Joshua Robinson led the Avila defense with 11 tackles and an interception.

Avila (1-7, 0-2 KCAC), travels to Ottawa next Saturday for an 11 AM kickoff.