Football: Last-second field goal lifts Albion past Olivet, 30-28

ALBION, Mich. – A last-second 37-yard field by Cody Lehman lifted Albion College past Olivet College, 30-28, today at Sprankle-Sprandel Stadium in Albion.

Olivet scored on its first possession of the game. After an incomplete pass, the Comets ran eight straight running plays, with sophomore Damorria Lilly running the final four yards into the end zone for a touchdown. Olivet stretched its lead to 14-0 on a 19-play, 89-yard scoring drive on its next series. Lilly capped the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run.

The Britons got on the scoreboard for the first time on a drive, which spanned the end of the first quarter and start of the second quarter. Dominic Bona completed a 22-yard pass to Mikal McCoy for the score, and the PAT kick was no good.

The Comets were forced to punt on their next two possessions, with the last one going only 10 yards and being downed at their own 44-yard line. Albion took advantage of the short field, and on their second play from scrimmage, Michael Czarnecki scampered 38 yards for a touchdown. The two-point conversion pass attempt failed. The Britons had a chance to take the lead at halftime but a 31-yard field goal hit the crossbar.

Albion gained a 27-14 lead with two touchdowns in the third quarter. Olivet took advantage of two Bona interceptions to take a 28-27 lead. Following the first pick by sophomore Zechariah Jenkins, the Comets used a 13-play, 66-yard scoring drive, ending with a 10-yard touchdown pass from junior Braden Black to freshman Kornelius Saxton to make the score 27-21.

After the second interception by sophomore Javon Moore, Olivet needed only seven plays to cover 38 yards to tie the game at 27-27 on a five-yard touchdown run by Black. Freshman Gunnar Aper nailed his fourth PAT kick to put the Comets ahead 28-27 with 8:10 left in the game.

Both teams went three and out on their next possession. Olivet punted the ball back and Albion took over at its own five-yard line with 3:50 remaining in regulation. On the 17th play of the drive, the Britons made the winning field goal.

For the game, the Comets had 346 yards of total offense. Lilly led the ground game with 34 rushes for 139 yards. Black completed 18-of-29 passes for 126 yards. Junior Jason Barbosa caught six passes for 61 yards, while Saxton had seven catches for 31 yards. Jenkins led the defense with nine total tackles.

Albion rolled up 443 yards of offense. Czarnecki had 11 carries for 109 yards. Bona threw for 263 yards on 24-of-40 passing. Tyler White had seven receptions for 75 yards. Chris Jakubik topped the defense with 16 tackles, including 12 solo stops.

Olivet will play its final non-conference game next Saturday, Nov. 8, when Concordia University-Chicago visits the Cutler Athletic Complex for a 1 p.m. contest.