Football team defeats Adrian, 33-22

The Olivet College football team snapped an eight-game Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) losing streak with a 33-22 win over Adrian College this afternoon before 1,735 Homecoming fans at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet. Olivet last won a MIAA contest on Nov. 16, 2002. For the game, the Fighting Comets (4-2, 1-2 MIAA) outgained the Bulldogs (4-2, 1-2 MIAA) in total offense, 485-238, including a 442-135 edge on the ground.

Olivet scored on its first possession of the game when junior Travis Sleight (Battle Creek/Lakeview High School) capped a 14-play, 75-yard drive with a two-yard run. Adrian was forced to punt on its first series. The punt was only 15 yards, and the Comets took advantage of the short field. Sophomore fullback Drew Nielsen (Belding High School) scored his first touchdown of the day from nine yards out with 4:52 left in the first quarter. The score remained 12-0 after one quarter.

The Bulldogs scored on the first play of the second quarter to make the score 12-6. Neilsen quickly answered Adrian's touchdown as he rumbled 61 yards for a score on the first play from scrimmage. On Adrian's ensuing possession, sophomore Chris Quackenbush (Waterford/Mott High School) intercepted a pass at the OC 20-yard line with a 14-yard return. Olivet took advantage of the turnover with Sleight finishing the drive off from a yard out. Sleight now has 29 career touchdowns, which ties the Olivet record. At halftime, the Comets held a 26-6 lead.

The Olivet defense forced Adrian to punt on its first series of the second half. Olivet took nearly seven minutes off the third quarter clock with a long scoring drive as Neilsen scored from 10 yards out on a fourth down play. Junior Justin Hunwick (Sterling Heights/Stevenson High School) made the PAT kick for a 33-6 lead.

Adrian scored the final 16 points of the game on two touchdowns and a safety. After the Bulldog's final touchdown, the Comet Wing-T rushing attack killed more than eight minutes of the fourth quarter clock.

Neilsen led Olivet with 35 carries for a career-high 251 yards and three touchdowns. Sleight had 19 carries for 86 yards, and sophomore Kemp Luchie (Grand Rapids/Forest Hills Northern High School) had 70 rushing yards. Sophomore quarterback Marcus Robinson (Albion High School), who was making his first collegiate start, completed four-of-five passes for 42 yards. Sophomore tight end Ryan Adams (Middleville High School) caught three passes for 33 yards.

Defensively, sophomore Eric Smith (Nashville/Maple Valley High School) was credited with a team-high eight tackles, all solo stops. Sophomores Josh Hart (Gaylord High School) and Cliff Sims (Reed City High School) had six tackles apiece.

For Adrian, Chris Clay carried the ball 21 times for 128 yards and three touchdowns. Matt Patterson completed 10-of-20 passes for 103 yards. Joe Musielewicz was the top receiver with three catches for 38 yards. Taz Wallace led the defense with 25 tackles.

Olivet will be on the road for its next two games. Next Saturday, Oct. 23, the Comets travel to Angola, Ind. to play Tri-State University at 1:30 p.m. ET. On Oct. 30, Olivet plays at Kalamazoo College at 1 p.m.