Football team routs Finlandia, 72-7, in MIAA-opener

OLIVET, Mich. – Eight different players scored a touchdown, and the Olivet College football team started Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play with a 72-7 victory over Finlandia University at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet.

Final score: Olivet 72, Finlandia 7
Location: Cutler Athletic Complex; Olivet, Mich.
Records: Olivet 3-1 overall, 1-0 MIAA; Finlandia 0-3 overall, 0-1 MIAA

• The Comets got the ball first to start the game. On the eighth play of the drive, senior quarterback Lane Porter completed a six-yard touchdown pass to junior Tyler Bandy. On the PAT attempt, the snap was low, and Bandy picked-up the ball and threw it to senior Nick Thomas for the two-point conversion.
• The Lions were forced to punt on their first possession. Thomas blocked the kick and took over at the Finlandia 5-yard drive. On the Comets' first play, senior Jamaul Martin rumbled into the end zone. The PAT kick was blocked but there were two penalties against the Lions. With the ball moved to inside the one-yard line, Olivet went for two and Porter completed the pass to Thomas to make the score 16-0.
• The Comet defense forced Finlandia to three-and-outs on each of its next four drives and each time, the Olivet offense capitalized by putting points on the scoreboard and make the score 44-0 at halftime.
• The touchdowns were a 37-yard reception sophomore Matthew Ellis, four-yard run by Ellis, six-yard run by junior Noah McMinn and 22-yard catch by sophomore Anthony Higginbotham.
• Using three different quarterbacks and multiple reserve players, the Comet offense scored a touchdown on its four series in the second half.
• In the third quarter, McMinn rumbled into the end zone from four yards out and sophomore David Coffey sneaked in from a yard out to make the score 58-0.
• Finlandia scored its only points with 34 seconds left in the third quarter when Eric Kostreva had a 38-yard touchdown run.
• Olivet's fourth-quarter points were on a five-yard touchdown run by junior Gary Tompkins III and six-yard rush by senior Chase Cook.

• For the game, Olivet had 31 first downs and 560 yards of offense.
• Ten players had at least one carry. In one half of play, Tompkins had 13 carries for 102 yards. McMinn finished with 83 yards.
• Three of the four quarterbacks to play in the game combined to complete 16-of-17 passes for 204 yards. Porter was 12-of-13 for 133 yards and three touchdowns.
• Eleven receivers had a reception. Thomas hauled in three passes for 32 yards, while freshman Justin Meeks finished with a team-high 43 receiving yards.
• Defensively, freshman Andrew Campbell and senior Jamie Shaffer each had four tackles.
• Senior Mo Young tallied three tackles, including two and one-half for minus 10 yards.

• Finlandia totaled 123 yards, with 80 of the yards coming in the second half.
• Kostreva had nine carries for 66 yards.
• Two quarterbacks were 2-of-15 for 16 yards and two interceptions.

• Olivet's 72 points scored are the fifth-most points for a game in school history.
• The 560 total yards are the 10th-most for a game.
• The 123 yards allowed is the fewest in a game since Nov. 8, 2014, when Concordia University Chicago had 106 yards.
• The last time the Comet defense allowed two or less pass completions was Nov. 4, 2006, against Hope College.

• Olivet travels to play Adrian College next Saturday, Oct. 6. Kick-off at Docking Stadium is 4 p.m.