Football team falls to Albion, 42-28

ALBION, Mich. – The Olivet College football team lost 42-28 to Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) rival Albion College this afternoon at Sprankle-Sprandel Stadium in Albion.

Albion secured the opening possession of the game and needed only eight plays to cover 55 yards to score the first touchdown when Michael Czarnecki rushed seven yards into the end zone. Olivet tied the game on its second series of the game when freshman Tyler Lassic (Fishers, Ind.) scored from two yards out. Freshman Jared Gensler (Whitehall) made the PAT kick.

Early in the second quarter, the football sailed over the Briton punter's head and Olivet took over at the Albion 19-yard line. The Comets capped the six-play drive with one-yard sneak by sophomore Braden Black (Battle Creek/Harper Creek). Gensler converted the PAT kick for a 14-7 Olivet lead.

Albion added another touchdown to tie the game with 4:24 left in the second quarter. The Britons forced the Comets to punt and took over with 54 seconds left before halftime. They took a 21-14 halftime lead on a 30-yard touchdown pass from Dominic Bona to Justin Losey.

Albion went ahead 28-14 midway through the third quarter. Olivet scored with three minutes left in the quarter when Black connected with sophomore Kyle Bryson (Rives Junction/Leslie) for a seven-yard touchdown pass.

The Britons went back ahead by two touchdowns late in the third quarter when Bona threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Zachary Brewer. The Comets cut their deficit to seven points at the 7:10 mark of the fourth quarter on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Black to Bryson.

Albion punted the ball back to Olivet with 5:25 remaining in the game. The Comets were able to get down to the Briton 45 before turning the ball over on downs. Darrin Williams closed the game's scoring with a 53-yard touchdown run.

Olivet totaled 396 yards. Lassic had 26 carries for 112 yards. Black threw for 203 yards on 22-of-37 passing. Sophomore Anthony Skuratovich (Brownston/Carlson) caught six passes for 68 yards, while sophomore Tyre Alexander (Mason/Okemos) had six receptions for 50 yards. Sophomore Trevor Garbow (Alto/Caledonia) led the defense with nine tackles. Junior Ryan Armstrong (Rives Junction/Leslie) had six tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss.

The Comets will host Trine (Ind.) University next Saturday, Nov. 9, at 1 p.m.