Sleight becomes Olivet's career points and touchdowns leader

The Olivet College football team defeated Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) foe Wisconsin Lutheran College, 52-28, this afternoon at the Cutler Athletic Complex. With the win, the Fighting Comets (7-2, 4-2 MIAA) won their fourth straight game, and the seven victories are the most since 1991 when they also won seven games.

The Warriors (1-8, 1-5 MIAA) took the opening kickoff, and jumped out to a 7-0 lead when Phil Hahm completed a 28-yard pass to Rob Forshall. Olivet answered with a 16-play, 74-yard scoring drive with a one-yard run by junior Travis Sleight (Battle Creek/Lakeview High School). Junior Justin Hunwick (Sterling Heights/Stevenson High School) converted the PAT kick to tie game, 7-7. The score remained 7-7 after one quarter.

Both teams were forced to punt on their first possession of the second quarter. After WLC's punt, Olivet took a 14-7 lead on sophomore Jared Dell's (Mendon High School) eight-yard touchdown run. The Comet defense again forced the Warriors to punt the ball away. On a fourth down play for Olivet, senior quarterback Rick Mason (Belding High School) completed a 40-yard touchdown scoring strike to Sleight. With that touchdown, Sleight became Olivet's career points leader with 204 points.

Another big play for the Comets came on WLC's next possession with 1:32 remaining before halftime. Freshman Craig Duncan (Apopka, Fla./Apopka High School) forced Matt Kehl to fumble, and junior Andy Storey (Battle Creek/Harper Creek) recovered the ball. Olivet took advantage of the turnover as Hunwick nailed a 39-yard field goal. The field goal gives him seven this year to tie the school single-season record, which he set last year. At halftime, the score was 24-7.

In the third quarter, the Warriors cut into the Olivet lead with a four-yard touchdown run by Kehl. The Comets answered with 26 seconds left in the quarter on a five-yard scamper into the endzone by Sleight. With this touchdown, he broke the school single-season record with 13 touchdowns. Sleight breaks the record of 12 by Tim Baker in 1974 and Dan Shrewsberry in 1990. On the first play of the fourth quarter, WLC quarterback T.J. Bodnar connected with fullback Ryan Solie for a 65-yard touchdown completion to make the score 31-21.

Olivet put the game away with touchdowns on its next two possessions. Dell scored from a yard out, and sophomore Marcus Robinson (Albion High School) tossed a 12-yard touchdown pass to junior Josh Ewing (Hopkins High School). After WLC added a 25-yard touchdown pass by Phil Hahm to Pete Hahm, sophomore Drew Neilsen (Belding High School) had a 25-yard touchdown run with 41 seconds left in the contest. Freshman David Zenner (Kingsley High School) made the PAT kick.

For the game, the Comets outgained the Warriors, 479-311, in total offense, including a 422-99 edge in rushing yards. Junior Dwight Houston (Detroit Denby High School) led the ground attack with 13 carries for 123 yards. Sleight carried the ball 19 times for 97 yards along with 40 receiving yards. Mason completed two-of-three passes for 45 yards. Hunwick was six-for-six in PAT kicks, and breaks his own school single-season record. He now has 39 PAT kicks this season.

Defensively, sophomore Eric Smith (Nashville/Maple Valley High School) topped the team with five solo tackles. Freshman Dan Heasley (Hamilton High School) was next with four tackles. Sophomore Chris Quackenbush (Waterford/Mott High School) had a quarterback sack for minus seven yards.

For WLC, Kehl finished the ghame with 83 rushing yards. He also caught two passes for 11 yards. Phil Hahm completed 12-of-19 passes for 147 yards. Forshall was the top receiver with thre catches for 48 yards. Defensively, Mike Olsen recorded 17 tackles, including 14 solo stops. Jake Lepke had 12 tackles.

Olivet concludes its 2004 season next Saturday, Nov. 13, at Albion College. Kickoff from Sprankle-Sprandel Stadium & Morley Fraser Field is 1 p.m.