Football team loses heartbreaker at Benedictine, 43-37

LISLE, Ill. – The Olivet College football team fell to Benedictine University, 43-37, in a non-conference contest today at the Village of Lisle Sports Complex in Lisle, Illinois.

THE BASICS                                                                                                                                                  
Final score: Benedictine 43, Olivet 37
Location: Village of Lisle Sports Complex; Lisle, Ill.
Records: Olivet 4-3 overall, Benedictine 4-3 overall

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Eagles led 7-0 behind a 51-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Sample to Brandon Moore.
• The Comets put three points on the scoreboard with 3:39 left in the first quarter when sophomore Douglas Pollard converted a 40-yard field goal.
• On a nine-play drive spanning the end of the opening quarter and start of the second quarter, Olivet took its first lead after junior quarterback Lane Porter scored from four yards out. The PAT kick was good.
• Benedictine answered with a 13-play touchdown drive to go back on top, 14-10.
• The Comets took the lead back on a one-yard sneak by Porter. The PAT kick was blocked but Olivet led 16-14 at the 5:02 mark.
• The Eagles led 21-16 at halftime when Sample rushed into the end zone from six yards out.
• The Comets did not waste any time to take lead back, as sophomore Jamaul Martin returned the second-half kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown.
• Olivet's defense forced Benedictine to punt on its first series of the third quarter.
• The Comets stretched their lead to 30-21 when senior Jerome Washington scored a touchdown from a yard out.
• The Eagles cut their deficit down to two points, 30-28, when Sample threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Matt Fleming.
• Olivet used a 20-play, 69-yard drive spanning 10 minutes and 38 seconds of clock time to gain a nine-point lead, 37-28. The drive was capped by a six-yard touchdown run for Martin.
• Benedictine scored the final 15 points of the game to pull out the 43-37 come-from-behind win.

FOR THE COMETS

• Olivet was balanced offensively – rushing for 240 yards and throwing for 219 yards.
• Washington led the ground game with 32 carries for 152 yards.
• Porter completed 15-of-28 passes for 219 yards.
• Senior Kornelius Saxton had five receptions for 134 yards. With his first catch of the game, he broke Olivet's all-time receiving yards record.
• Seniors Chase Cavric and Walter Love III, and junior Mo Young topped the defense with eight tackles apiece. Two of Young's were for negative 13 yards.

FOR THE EAGLES

• Benedictine recorded 422 yards of offense.
• Sample threw for 317 yards and three touchdowns on 24-of-46 passing.
• Matt Fleming caught five passes for 157 yards.
• Moore hauled in seven passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns.
• Grant Jochums had nine carries for a team-best 44 yards.
• Tyreese Fontanez registered a game-high 13 tackles.

UP NEXT

Olivet is on the road to play Alma College Saturday, Oct. 28. Kick-off at Bahlke Field in Alma is slated for 1 p.m.