Football team improves to 5-1 with 31-14 win at Albion

ALBION, Mich. – The Olivet College football team rolled up 343 yards of offense and allowed eight net rushing yards to beat Albion College, 31-14, this afternoon at Sprankle-Sprandel Stadium in Albion. With the win, the Comets defeated the Britons for the first time since 2007.

THE BASICS          
Final score: Olivet 31, Albion 14
Location: Sprankle-Sprandel Stadium; Albion, Mich.
Records: Olivet 5-1 overall, 3-0 MIAA; Albion 0-6 overall, 0-3 MIAA

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Comets were forced to punt on their first series; however, a 61-yard punt by senior Ryan Anderson pinned the Britons down at their five-yard line.
• After gaining three yards on first down, senior Thomas Gary-Homes stepped in front of a Chad Hamilton pass and returned the interception 11 yards for a touchdown.
• Junior Javon Walker intercepted a Hamilton on the second play of Albion's ensuing drive.
• Olivet took over at its own 45-yard line. On a fourth down play, senior Braden Black completed a 36-yard touchdown pass to senior Mitchell Bailey. The PAT kick was missed, and the Comets led 13-0, with 9:02 left in the opening quarter.
• The Britons got on the scoreboard for the first time at the 3:29 mark of the first quarter when Hamilton threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Sykes.
• Olivet stretched its lead to 21-7 with 9:56 remaining in the second quarter. On the fifth running play of a 56-yard drive, sophomore Jerome Washington rushed two yards into the end zone. Black connected with sophomore Chris Talbott for the two-point conversion.
• Albion answered with a touchdown on its next drive, as Hamilton hooked-up with Sykes for another touchdown, this one from 13 yards out.
• Neither team scored any more points in the second stanza, so the Comets took a 21-14 lead into the locker room.
• Olivet doubled its lead, 21-14, at the 6:54 mark of the third quarter when Washington rumbled nine yards into the end zone for a touchdown.
• The Comet defense held the Britons to a three-and-out. Olivet then extended its lead to 31-14 on a 27-yard field goal by junior Gunnar Aper.
• The teams failed to score any points in the fourth quarter. Both teams punted the ball three times. Albion turned the ball over on downs on its final possession with 2:03 left, and the Comets got a first down before running out the clock.

FOR THE COMETS

• Olivet had 204 rushing yards and 139 passing yards for its 343 yards.
• Black was 11-of-25 for 139 yards.
• Washington led the ground game with 13 carries for 90 yards.
• Freshman Tyler Mojet had 18 rushes for 66 yards.
• Bailey was top receiver with five receptions for 88 yards.
• Anderson punted the ball nine times for a 49.8 average, with four touchbacks and four landing inside the 20.
• Defensively, Walker led the Comets with 10 total tackles, including six solo stops.
• Junior Walter Love III had eight tackles.
• Senior Justin Madar recorded four tackles, with 2.5 being for a negative 24 yards.

FOR THE BRITONS

• Albion finished the game with 220 total yards – 212 through the air and eight on the ground.
• Hamilton completed 26-of-43 passes for 212 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
• Collin Poore rushed for 56 yards on 13 attempts.
• Sean Koski caught eight passes for 86 yards, while Sykes had 11 catches for 72 yards.
• Jose Rodriguez led the defense with 13 total tackles.

UP NEXT

• Olivet steps out of MIAA play next Saturday, Oct. 22, when Benedictine (Ill.) University visits the Cutler Athletic Complex for a 1 p.m. game.