Football team loses to Albion, 49-21

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College football team fell to Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) rival Albion College, 49-21, this afternoon at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet. Despite the loss, the Comets remain in first-place in the MIAA standings with a 4-1 record.

Olivet received the opening kickoff and got all the way to the Albion 5 before getting stopped on a fourth down play. The Comets started their next drive in the Briton half of the field until they were forced to punt. Albion then put together a 13-play, 87-yard drive to go up 7-0 with 1:44 left in the opening quarter.

In the second quarter, Olivet had another drive stalled at the Briton 38. The teams traded three and outs, with Olivet punter Ryan Anderson booting a 69-yard punt to pin Albion at its own 1. The Britons needed 11 plays to cover the remaining 99 yards to take a 14-0 lead with 5:30 left in the second quarter.

Following an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, Olivet got the ball at midfield. The Comets cut their deficit in half on a one-yard touchdown run by junior Damorria Lilly. Sophomore Gunnar Aper made the PAT kick to make the score 14-7 at halftime.

Albion seized a 28-7 with a pair of passing touchdowns in the third quarter. The Britons scored another touchdown on their first play of the fourth quarter to take a 35-7 lead. Sophomore Jerome Washington capped a 17-play drive with a  one-yard run into the end zone to make the score 35-13 with 8:54 left in the game.

After a failed on-side kick attempt, Albion scored on its second play for a 42-13 advantage. Olivet put its final eight points on the scoreboard on an 8-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Braden Black to senior Kyle Bryson. Sophomore Travis Lankerd caught a two-point conversion pass.

The Britons ended their scoring with a rushing touchdown with 5:37 left in the game. After the Comets punted the ball back, Albion got a pair of first downs to run out the clock.

Olivet was held to 361 yards of offense. Lilly had 23 carries for 130 yards. Black threw for 145 yards on 17-of-27 passing. Bryson and sophomore Kornelius Saxton each caught six passes for 50 and 71 yards, respectively. Five different players -- Curtis French, Walter Love III, Andrew Pabst, Jaquan Short and Anthony Skuratovich -- had six tackles apiece.

Albion totaled 629 yards of offense. Dominic Bona completed 33-of-44 passes for 373 yards and five touchdowns. His favorite receiver was Joe Alandt who had 14 receptions for 78 yards. Joe Mayone had 177 receiving yards on seven catches. Colin Parks rushed 19 times for 118 yards. David Simon topped the defense with 11 tackles.

The Comets will take a break from MIAA play next Saturday, Nov. 7, when they travel to play Concordia (Wis.) University at 1 p.m. ET.