Football: Comets come up short against Elmhurst, 33-27

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College football team jumped out to a 20-0 lead before Elmhurst (Ill.) College scored 33 straight points to beat the Comets, 33-27, today at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet. Despite the loss, Olivet junior quarterback Braden Black threw for 302 yards to become the school's career passing leader with 3,275 yards.

Both teams turned the ball over on their first possession of the game. Olivet capitalized on the Elmhurst turnover when Black completed an 11-yard touchdown pass to senior Dominik Givens on fourth down. After forcing the Bluejays to punt, the Comets needed seven plays to score their next touchdown. Black threw a 55-yard pass over the middle to freshman Mitchell Bailey for the score. Senior Patrick Lamp made the PAT kick.

On Olivet's second play from scrimmage in the second quarter, Black tossed an 81-yard touchdown strike to freshman Tavonte Bazue. Lamp converted the PAT kick, and the Comets led 20-0 with 14:49 left before halftime.

Elmhurst scored its first touchdown on a 6-yard run by Josh Williams. The Bluejays took advantage of a Comet turnover late in the half to score a touchdown and trail by six, 20-14, at the break.

Elmhurst took its first lead of the game midway through the third quarter on a one-yard quarterback sneak by Joe Camiliere. The Bluejays stretched their lead to four, 24-20, on a 37-yard field goal by Brett Bayer. Late in the third stanza, Elmhurst put two more points on the scoreboard when a Comet punt was blocked out of the end zone.

The Bluejays capped their comeback with a 9-play, 67-yard drive in the fourth quarter. Camiliere finished the drive with a 13-yard touchdown run. Black completed a 27-yard touchdown pass to junior Jason Barbosa to trim Olivet's deficit down to six points, 33-27, with 5:13 left in the game. On its ensuing possession, Elmhurst got two first downs to run out the clock.

For the game, the Comets netted only 14 first downs and 393 yards. Sophomore Damorria Lilly topped the ground game with 13 carries for 77 yards. Black was 19-of-32 for 302 yards with two interceptions and four touchdowns. Bezue caught four passes for 112 yards. Sophomore Javon Moore led the defense with 13 tackles, including 11 solo stops.

Elmhurst had 25 first downs and rolled up 505 yards of offense. Williams accounted for 349 yards, as he ran for 300 yards and caught three passes for 49 yards. Camiliere was 9-of-21 for 124 yards. John Eliades recorded seven tackles to lead the defense.

Olivet goes on the road for the first time this season next Saturday, Sept. 13 for a 1 p.m. CT game at Aurora (Ill.) University.