By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Last Saturday will always be a special memory for Washburn senior quarterback Jared Taylor and his entire family.
Washburn senior quarterback Jared Taylor came off the bench last Saturday to help the Ichabods pull out a 21-17 MIAA win at Northeastern State. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Taylor came off the bench in the fourth quarter after Ichabod starter Kellen Simoncic went down with a season-ending shoulder injury, engineering the Ichabods' game-winning drive as Washburn rallied from an 11-point halftime deficit to take a 21-17 MIAA victory over Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Okla.
At the same time, Jared's father, Kansas State athletic director Gene Taylor, was in Manhattan watching the Wildcats dismantle nationally-ranked Oklahoma State, 48-0.
Jared's mother, Cathy, was in Tahlequah to watch what turned out to be a memorable day for her son while keeping Gene and Jared's sister, Casey, apprised of what was going on in the WU-Northeastern State game.
"My mom made the trip,'' Jared said. "I had told her early in the week, 'Mom, it's a long drive, and Oklahoma State's coming to town and it's a big game,' and she was like, 'You know, if you get in and play this game and I don't make the trip I'm really going to kick myself.'
"So she was sitting in the stands cheering me on while I got in and was texting everybody back home. My dad and sister were watching the (K-State) game in the suite and had my game pulled up. It was a pretty cool moment watching K-State beat Oklahoma State at home and watching me get to come in for the fourth quarter of our game.''
And as soon as both games ended Jared got a special call from his father.
"He was the first phone call I got right after the game was over, which was really cool because it was a big win for him and their football team and he was just so excited for us and me,'' Jared Taylor said. "It was a pretty emotional call from dad, so that was cool.''
Taylor had served as Simoncic's backup all season after transferring from Division II Northern State in Abeerdeen, S.D. last spring, but said he wasn't really nervous when it was time to go in the game on Saturday.
"Nerves weren't really a worry of mine,'' said the 6-foot-4, 225-pounder. "I felt like with learning the offense and competing with Kellen through the spring and fall I've been really prepared for being able to step in if he were to go down.
"That's not how you want to get your chance to play is seeing somebody else get hurt, but I felt really ready to go in there and roll with it when I did get my chance.''
Washburn coach Craig Schurig also had confidence that Taylor could do the job.
"We've had so many closes games that he hasn't played as much as I would have liked, but he just runs things very maturely and he's very knowledgeable,'' Schurig said. "You go through a roller-coaster of emotion because you feel terrible for Kellen but you can't dwell on it.
"You're like, 'OK Jared, now it's your shot,' and you're excited for him.''
After spending the bulk of his career at Northern State and seeing action in 12 games, Taylor decided it was time to make a move for his final season and eventually ended up at Washburn, with an assist from Topekans Connor and Natalie Crimmins and his sister, Casey.
"I had one year left and had finished my undergrad at Northern State,'' Jared Taylor said. "They had brought in a transfer last year who beat me out for my spot so I thought I was going to try to find a place that I'd get another chance to be the guy, and then I found Washburn through the transfer portal.
"My sister and Connor's sister, Natalie, both work in the K-State athletic department and they were actually roommates, so when I put my name in the portal my sister was at home talking to her roommate and was like, 'Connor's a baseball coach at Washburn, maybe you should reach out to the football coach.' It was a funny connection.''
Jared also briefly considered joining the rest of the family in Manhattan, but decided Washburn was his best option.
"I had thought about that and that was kind of my deciding factor even coming out of high school for choosing Division II,'' Taylor said. "I had some opportunities to walk on at Division I schools like a lot of kids do, but I wanted a real chance to feel like I could contribute and play so that's why I went Division II instead of trying to walk on at K-State.
"Coach Schurig reached out and this spring I got a real good chance to compete with Kellen in spring ball and make each other better and I've had a lot of fun this past year.''
After taking over Simoncic last week, Taylor went 6 of 10 passing for 57 yards, incluing a crucial 25-yard strike to James Letcher Jr. on a 3rd-and-7 play that helped lead to Taylon Peter's game-winning 3-yard touchdown run with 1:49 remaining.
Taylor said that being able to help the 6-3 Ichabods pull out the 4-point win was definitely something he'll always remember.
"I'm hoping it gets one-upped this weekend here with another highlight, but it definitely feels good coming in and being able to help our team get a win like that,'' Taylor said. "It was definitely a highlight of mine so far.''
Taylor will get his first start at Washburn in Saturday's 1 p.m. Senior Day game againt unbeaten Pittsburg State and feels like he's up to the challenge.
"I think I just do what I've done and try and sharpen things up a little bit,'' Taylor said. "I think naturally your role changes a little bit. You're taking more reps with the ones, meeting with the coaches a little bit more, have a little bit more input in the gameplan I guess and things you like and things you like seeing, but my approach mentally has been the same since Game 1 here, to be as prepared as you can to play and help your team win. And I'm just going to do that again this week.''
Adding luster to Saturday's game will be the fact that both of Jared's parents are planning to be in attendance to share in the Senior Day festivities.
"Being able to be closer to mom and dad was definitely a deciding factor in me coming here, and getting my first start on Senior Day at a place that has treated me no well since I've been here, all those things are so special,'' Jared said. "It feels like it's all coming to a head here at the end and it does feel really special, so I'm really excited.''
