Football team loses to #14 North Central, 52-9

OLIVET, Mich. -- The Olivet College football team lost 52-9 to North Central (Ill.) College today at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet.

North Central, ranked No. 14 in the latest D3football.com Top 25 poll, won the toss and elected to receive. On the first play from scrimmage, senior Nick Glass (Flint/Powers) intercepted a Spencer Stanek pass. The Comets drive was stopped at the North Central 39-yard line, but a roughing kicker penalty kept the drive alive. Olivet then put the first three points on the scoreboard on a 40-yard field goal by sophomore Blake Iobe (Marshall). The Comets held a 3-0 lead after one quarter of action.

From there, the Cardinals scored 52 unanswered points. Olivet scored its only touchdown on the final play of the game on a nine-yard pass from junior Nick McCleary (Battle Creek/Harper Creek) to senior J.W. Seekman (Martin).

For the game, the Comets 153 yards of total offense. Junior Mike Martin (Caledonia/Wayland Union) had 19 rushing yards and 42 receiving yards, as well as returning eight kickoffs for 129 yards. Junior C.J. Gregory (Canton/Plymouth) was 10-for-18 for 94 yards. Defensively, junior Robby Jensen (Boyne City) recorded a game-high 16 total tackles, including 11 solo stops. Glass finished with 13 tackles and two interceptions.

North Central had 291 rushing and 230 passing yards for 521 total yards of offense. Jordan Tassio carried the ball 19 times for 105 yards. Brad Crackel was 10-for-17 for 191 yards and three touchdowns. Steve Hlavac led all receivers with seven catches for 146 yards.

Olivet wraps-up its non-conference schedule next Saturday when it hosts Wheaton (Ill.) College at 6 p.m.