Black’s three touchdown passes lead football team to 27-13 win over Elmhurst

OLIVET, Mich. – Senior Braden Black threw three touchdown passes to three different receivers to lead the Olivet College football team to a 27-13 win over Elmhurst (Ill.) College in its home-opener this afternoon at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet.

THE BASICS
Final score: Olivet 27, Elmhurst 13
Location: Cutler Athletic Complex; Olivet, Mich.
Records: Olivet 1-1, Elmhurst 1-1

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Comet defense forced the Bluejays to a three-and-out on the first series of the game. Following a short punt, Olivet needed only seven plays to cover 47 yards. The drive was capped by a seven-yard touchdown pass from Black to senior Mitchell Bailey. Junior Gunnar Aper made the PAT kick.
• On Elmhurst's first play of the ensuing drive, sophomore Brian Freiberger intercepted an Orlando Hernandez pass. The Comets were able to get into red zone on their drive before a 34-yard field goal by Aper made the score 10-0 at the 8:01 mark of the opening quarter.
• With 7:57 left before halftime, Olivet stretched its lead to 13-0 on a 46-yard field goal by freshman Douglas Pollard.
• Elmhurst cut its deficit to 13-7 on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Hernandez to Connor Brewer with 4:01 left in the second quarter.
• Neither team scored any more points in the fourth quarter to make the score 13-7 at the break.
• The Comets extended their lead to 20-7 when senior Travis Lankerd caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Black with 4:27 remaining in the third quarter.
• The Bluejays answered on their second play from scrimmage when Hernandez threw a 65-yard touchdown pass to Kaylon Miller. The PAT kick was blocked to make the score 20-13.
• Olivet used a six-play, 65-yard drive to stretch its lead back to 27-13. Sophomore Marshall Ross hauled in a 13-yard pass from Black for the touchdown. Aper made the PAT kick.
• There was no scoring in the fourth quarter. Elmhurst had to punt on its first two drives and then turned the ball over on downs on its final two possessions.

FOR THE COMETS

• Olivet finished the game with 16 first downs and 259 yards of offense.
• Senior Damorria Lilly led the ground game with 24 rushes for 64 yards.
• Black was 11-of-28 for 153 yards and the three touchdowns. 
• Lankerd had a team-best 54 receiving yards on three catches.
• Bailey also caught three passes for 40 yards.
• Senior Ryan Anderson averaged 46.2 yards on five points, including a long of 63 yards.
• Junior Walter Love III and senior Robert Cuba each had seven total tackles.
• Senior Justin Madar recorded four tackles, including three for minus 18 yards.

FOR THE BLUEJAYS

• Elmhurst totaled 11 first downs and 243 yards.
• Hernandez accounted for 241 of the yards. He had 17 carries for a team-best 52 net yards and completed 10-of-25 passes for 189 yards.
• Miller had five receptions for 139 yards.
• Andy Warsen topped the defense with 11 tackles.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• The last time Olivet made two field goals in one game was Sept. 26, 2009, when Graham Lockwood booted two against North Central (Ill.) College.
• Today's win was the first-ever in school history against Elmhurst.
• The Comets improve to 12-2 against non-conference opponents since the start of the 2013 season.

UP NEXT

• Olivet will travel to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, next Saturday to play Wisconsin Lutheran College at 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT.