Football team beats Manchester (Ind.), 49-13

The Olivet College football team defeated non-conference foe Manchester (Ind.) College, 49-13, this afternoon at the Cutler Athletic Complex. The Fighting Comets out-gained the Spartans, 458-270 in yards of total offense, including a 352-77 edge on the ground.

The Comets (3-0) scored first when sophomore Kemp Luchie (Grand Rapids/Forest Hills Northern) scampered into the endzone from 20 yards out at the 8:46 mark. Following a Manchester (0-4) punt, Olivet used a short field as junior Dwight Houston (Detroit Denby High School) had a two-yard touchdown run.

The Spartans cut their deficit in half with an 11-play scoring drive with 24 seconds left in the opening quarter. On the ensuing kickoff, sophomore Chris Quackenbush (Waterford Mott High School) was tripped up at the Manchester two-yard line for a 76-yard return. Luchie had a two-yard run to stretch the Comet back to 14 points at 21-7.

Manchester opened the second quarter with a touchdown at the 14:20 mark. On Olivet's first series of the quarter, Luchie capped a nine-play drive with a 14-yard run. After stopping the Spartans on fourth down, senior Mick Faasen (Belding High School) scored from five yards out for a 35-13 Comet lead with 3:55 left in the first half. Olivet extended its lead to 42-13 at halftime when senior quarterback Rick Mason (Belding High School) connected with junior Travis Sleight (Battle Creek/Lakeview High School) for a 74-yard touchdown.

Olivet closed out the scoring in the game when sophomore back-up quarterback Marcus Robinson (Albion High School) rushed from 10 yards out.

For the game, the Comets used 12 different ballcarriers with Luchie gaining a team-high 90 yards, followed by Faasen with 53 and sophomore Jared Dell (Mendon High School) with 50. Mason completed three-of-five passes for 16-6 yards. Junior Josh Ewing (Hopkins High School) had two catches for 32 yards.

Defensively, junior Pat Wierenga (Grand Rapids/Forest Hills Northern High School) topped the team with six tackles, including four solo stops. Junior Justin Hunwick (Sterling Heights/Stevenson High School) was a perfect seven-of-seven on PAT kicks. He is now the Olivet career leader with 57 PAT kicks made. The previous record was 50 by Eric Pocan (1999-2002).

Andrew Schrock led the Spartan ground game with 14 carrues for 35 yards. Joe DeCraene completed 17-of-34 passes for 193 yards. Brandon Tugmon was the top receiver with seven catches for 92 yards and two touchdowns. Kris Hueber led the Manchester defense with nine solo tackles.

Olivet will next play Saturday, Oct. 2, when it hosts Alma College for its Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association opener. Kick-off is slated for 1 p.m.