Football team opens MIAA play with 20-14 loss to Alma

OLIVET, Mich. – A late rally came up short, as the Olivet College football team celebrated Homecoming and opened Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play with a tough 20-14 loss to Alma College today at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet.

The Comets and Scots combined to score 27 points in the second quarter. In the third quarter, both teams were forced to punt after drives. On a drive spanning the third and fourth quarter, Olivet was stopped on a fourth and one play. The Comet defense came up with a blocked punt on Alma's first drive of the final quarter, giving Olivet possession at the Alma 8.

A Comet interception in the end zone stopped that scoring chance. After the Scots ran six plays, they were forced to punt the ball. Olivet marched 83 yards on a 10-play scoring drive to make the score 20-14 with 1:00 left in the game. Senior quarterback Tony Phillips (Lansing/Waverly) capped the drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass to freshman Aaron Haynak (Clare).The Comets did an on-side kick, but the Scots recovered the ball. Alma took two kneel-downs to end the game.

The Scots dominated the first quarter, with 134 yards of offense and holding the ball for almost 11 minutes. They finally broke through on the scoreboard on the second play of the second quarter when Aaron Hahn ran into the end zone from one yard out.

Olivet answered with an 11-play, 57-yard scoring drive. Freshman quarterback Braden Black (Battle Creek/Harper Creek), who made his first collegiate start, scored from eight yards out. Senior Blake Iobe (Marshall) made the PAT kick.

Alma came right back on its ensuing possession to take a 13-7 lead on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Jarrett Leister to Garret Cook. The Scots attempted to run the ball in for a two-point conversion, but failed. The Comets turned the ball over their first play from scrimmage. Alma capitalized on the turnover, scoring a touchdown when Leister completed a 36-yard pass to Nate Wade.

Olivet finished the game with 231 net yards of offense. Freshmen Chance Nightingale (Colon/Mendon) and Kevin Fisher (Grass Lake) each had seven carries for 29 and 25 yards, respectively. Black completed 5-of-13 passes for 44 yards, while Phillips was 7-of-15 for 91 yards. Haynak was the leading receiver with four catches for 47 yards.

Defensively, freshman Noah Keefer (Fayette, Ohio/Archbold) topped the team with 12 total tackles. Freshman Nate Roberts (Grand Rapids/Forest Hills Central) recorded eight tackles, including game-high seven solo stops.

The Scots had a balanced offensive attack, running for 168 yards and throwing for 145. Aaron Hahn carried the ball 19 times for 95 yards. Leister completed 9-of-19 passes, with Mike Lenneman catching four for 48 yards. Adam Nelson, Eric Strickler and Austin McClelland led the defense with eight tackles apiece.

Olivet will travel to play Hope College next Saturday, Oct. 6. Game time at Holland Municipal Stadium is 2 p.m.