Football team loses close game to Trine, 50-49

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College football team fell to defending Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) champion and nationally-ranked Trine (Ind.) University, 50-49, this afternoon at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet. The Thunder entered the game ranked No. 14 in the most recent American Football Coaches Association and No. 15 D3football.com Top 25 poll.

Final score: Trine 50, Olivet 49
Location: Cutler Athletic Complex; Olivet, Mich.
Records: Olivet 4-2 overall, 2-1 MIAA; Trine 6-0 overall, 3-0 MIAA

• The Thunder scored on their first drive of the game.
• The Comets answered by scoring a touchdown on its next three drives. Senior quarterback Lane Porter capped the first two drives with four-yard scampers into the end zone. Facing a fourth down on the third drive, Porter completed a 38-yard touchdown catch to senior Jacob Jodway.
• Trine responded with 28 straight points – three touchdown runs by Lamar Carswell and a one-yard touchdown pass on fourth down – to take a 35-21 lead with 5:23 left before halftime.
• Olivet closed the gap to seven points, 35-28, at the intermission when Porter ended an 11-play, 82-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run.
• Neither team generated much offense early in the third quarter.
• Freshman punter Tyrain Connor pinned the Thunder down at their own 2-yard line at the 4:07 mark.
• On Trine's first play, sophomore Jeylin Rogers tackled Carswell in the end zone for the safety.
• Following the free kick, the Comet offense took over at its own 48-yard line. On the seventh play of the drive, Porter snuck into end zone. The two-point conversion attempt was missed but Olivet led 36-35 with 51 seconds left in the third period.
• The Thunder took the lead back with a 13-yard touchdown run by Andrew Duckett. Trine made the two-point conversion attempt to make the score 43-36.
• The Comets answered with a 12-play drive to tie the game. On fourth down, Porter threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Jodway.
• Trine used a 55-yard return on the kickoff to set-up the drive and eventual go-ahead touchdown with 3:29 remaining in the game.
• Facing a fourth and 15 on the ensuing drive, Porter completed a 48-yard pass to Jodway. Five plays later, senior Chris Talbott caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Porter. Instead of going for the tie, Olivet went for the two points and potential win. The Thunder stopped the Comets to keep the score at 50-49.
• The on-side kick attempt was batted out of bounds, allowing Trine to escape with the close win.

• Olivet had a balanced offensive attack – 252 yards in the air and 257 yards on the ground.
• Porter accounted for all seven touchdowns, as he ran for four and threw for the other three.
• Porter was 16-of-23 for 252 yards and no interceptions.
• Jodway caught 10 passes for 212 yards.
• Sophomore Matthew Ellis had 31 carries for 172 yards, and three receptions for 18 yards.
• Rogers, freshman Andrew Campbell, sophomore Thomas Kusterer and senior Mo Young each had seven tackles to lead the defense.

• Trine finished with 454 yards of offense.
• Carswell needed 32 carries to gain 199 rushing yards.
• Brandon Winters completed 7-of-13 passes for 156 yards, and Duckett was 2-of-3 for 32 yards.
• Jeffery Barnett hauled in six passes for 147 yards.
• Sam Cavanaugh topped the defense with 12 total tackles.

• Olivet goes on the road to play Hope College next Saturday, Oct. 20. Kickoff at Ray & Sue Smith Stadium in Holland is 5 p.m.