Football team beats Tri-State, 41-21

Six different Olivet College football players scored a touchdown as the Fighting Comets defeated Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) foe Tri-State (Ind.) University, 41-21, this afternoon at Shive Field in Angola.

The Thunder (1-6, 1-3 MIAA) took a 3-0 lead midway through the first quarter on a 25-yard field goal by Justin Hoover. The Comets (5-2, 2-2 MIAA) quickly responded and took a 7-3 lead when sophomore quarterback Marcus Robinson (Albion High School) connected with sophomore tight end Ryan Adams (Middleville High School) from 25 yards out. Junior Justin Hunwick (Sterling Heights/Stevenson High School) made the PAT kick. The score remained 7-3 after one quarter.

Robinson capped off a 12-play, 70-yard scoring drive with a six-yard pass to junior Dwight Houston (Detroit Denby High School) at the 12:11 mark of the second quarter. Hunwick nailed the PAT kick for a 14-3 lead. After Tri-State was forced to punt, senior Mick Faasen (Belding High School) scored from a yard out. Olivet then took advantage of a Thunder fumble. Sophomore fullback Drew Nielsen (Belding High School) finished the 30-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run. Sophomore Chris Quackenbush (Waterford/Mott High School) ran the ball into the endzone for the two-point conversion, and the Comets led 28-3 at halftime.

Olivet received the second half kick off and quickly scored. On the first play from scrimmage, Robinson completed an 83-yard scoring strike to junior tight end Josh Ewing (Hopkins High School). The Thunder scored 12 unanswered points to trim their deficit to 35-15.

Sophomore Kemp Luchie (Grand Rapids/Forest Hills Northern High School) closed the scoring for Olivet with a two-yard touchdown run with 10:26 remaining in the contest. Derek Kohut scored for Tri-State with 2:30 left.

For the game, the Comets outgained the Thunder, 418-293 in total offense. Luchie led the ground attack with 16 carries for 91 yards. Nielsen had 53 yards and Faasen finished with 37. Robinson completed six-of-10 passes for 164 yards. Houston had two catches for 27 yards. Defensively, senior Ryan Hayes (Livonia Franklin High School) was credited with a team-high 10 tackles, including eight solo stops and one for minus five yards.

Tri-State was led by Terrance Summers, who carried the ball 22 times for 119 yards. Andrew Beyer completed four passes for 41 yards while Mike Forester had four completions for 24 yards. Cliff Sandee was the top receiver with four catches for 31 yards. Joe Kuzmicz topped the defense with 15 tackles.

Olivet will next play at Kalamazoo College on Oct. 30. Kickoff from Angell Field is slated for 1 p.m.