Football team loses to Hope, 47-14

The Olivet College football team fell to Hope College, 47-14, before a standing room only Homecoming crowd today at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet. The loss snapped the Comets’ five-game win streak.

Box Score

Team Stats

Football team loses to Hope, 47-14
October 12, 2013

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College football team fell to Hope College, 47-14, before a standing room only Homecoming crowd today at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet. The loss snapped the Comets' five-game win streak.

The Flying Dutchmen scored on their first possession of the game and then took advantage of two Olivet mistakes to take a 21-0 lead with 9:56 left in the opening quarter. The Comets got on the scoreboard for the first time on their ensuing drive. Freshman Christopher Jones (East Lansing) capped 15-play, 74-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown run. The PAT kick was blocked and Hope's Kirby Crook returned it for a defensive PAT to make the score 23-6.

Hope answered with two more touchdowns in the second quarter to take a 37-6 lead. Sophomore Trevor Garbow (Alto/Caledonia) set-up Olivet's next scoring drive with a 35-yard interception return. Freshman Alante Sims (Lansing/Waverly) ended the six-play, 45-yard drive with a six-yard run into the end zone.

The Comets converted the two-point conversion attempt when sophomore quarterback Braden Black (Battle Creek/Harper Creek) threw the ball to freshman Garrett Reid (Nashville/Maple Valley). The Flying Dutchmen added a touchdown on their first series of the second half and capped their scoring with a 41-yard field goal on the first play of the final quarter.

For the game, Olivet totaled 346 yards of total offense. Jones was the leading ball carrier with 21 rushes for 77 yards. Black completed 8-of-18 passes for 117 yards, while sophomore Chance Nightingale (Colon/Mendon) was 4-of-11 for 75 yards. Sophomore Jason Barbosa (Trenton) caught six passes for 141 yards. Sophomore Curtis French (Carleton/Airport) topped the defense with 10 tackles.

Hope piled up 450 yards of offense. Shawn Jackson rushed for 104 yards on 20 carries. Michael Atwell threw for 247 yards on 14-of-23 passing. Vincent Boddy had six receptions for 131 yards. Augie Mata led the defense with eight tackles.

The Comets have their bye week next Saturday and then play back-to-back road games. The first one will be Oct. 26 at Adrian, starting at 5 p.m.