HILLSBORO - Kansas Wesleyan's defense stood tall all day long, particularly when it mattered most.
Joseph Fowlkes' interception at the KWU 30-yard line with 47 seconds left in the game propelled the Coyotes to a 21-13 Kansas Conference victory over Tabor on Saturday at Joel H. Wiens Stadium.
It was the second interception of the day for the defense and finished off a dominant effort and included a whopping 11 sacks that cost the Bluejays 83 yards.
Wesleyan (4-1) won for the fourth consecutive time and sets up next Saturday's 1 p.m. showdown against Ted Kessinger Division favorite and No. 24-ranked Evangel at JRI Hospitality Stadium in the Graves Family Sports Complex.
Jonathan Scheffler's 45-yard field goal got Tabor within 21-13 with 4:58 left in the game. After a KWU punt, the Bluejays drove deep into Coyotes territory and had a first down at the 13-yard line.
The defense stiffened and held on downs as quarterback Jerome Stewart misfired on four consecutive passes, the fourth with 1:21 remaining. Tabor got the ball back for the final time with 1:01 left. After an incomplete pass on first down Fowlkes, a freshman from Killeen, Texas intercepted Stewart's final toss - the Coyotes' ninth of the season.
Their first interception of the day came with 12:38 left in the second quarter. Yamnoel Oyola-Bernier, a freshman from Wichita, picked off a Stewart pass and returned it 57 yards for a touchdown that gave KWU a 14-3 lead. It was Oyola-Bernier's fourth interception and second pick six of the season.
The offense needed just four pass plays to score on its first possession of the game. Caleb Deal found Alexander Elam for a 28-yard touchdown that capped a quick 53-yard drive.
The Coyotes led 14-3 at halftime after sacking Stewart seven times. Elam caught 10 passes during the first 30 minutes.
Tabor (1-4) narrowed the deficit to 14-10 at the 5:41 mark of the third quarter on Grady Gebhardt's 21-yard run.
Defensive end Troy Sylve, operating out of the Mule Train formation, gave KWU a 21-10 lead on a 1-yard run with 12:49 left in the fourth quarter. It was Sylve's seventh touchdown of the season and came on the ninth play of a 68-yard drive.
KWU finished with 245 total yards. Deal was 28 of 33 passing for 180 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. Elam caught 13 passes for an even 100 yards.
Tabor had 217 yards that included 35 yards rushing on 33 carries. Stewart was 13 of 31 for 182 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions.