Football team defeats Eureka, 42-23, in season-opener

EUREKA, Ill. – The Olivet College football team scored a touchdown on its first three drives to defeat Eureka (Ill.) College, 42-23, in its season-opener this afternoon at Pete FioRito Stadium.

Final Score: Olivet defeated Eureka, 42-23
Location: Pete FioRito Stadium; Eureka, Illinois
Records: Eureka 0-2 overall, Olivet 1-0 overall

• The Comets scored on their first possession when Cortaveon Barnett rumbled 55 yards into the end zone.
• The Red Devils fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and Olivet took advantage of the short field. Freshman quarterback Evan Ormsby threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Broussard.
• The Comets scored on its third drive when Ormsby tossed an eight-yard touchdown pass to Barnett.
• The Red Devils got on the scoreboard on its first play of the second quarter. The PAT kick was blocked.
• Olivet increased its lead to 28-6 when Barnett rushed 36 yards into the end zone at the 4:53 mark of the second stanza.
• Eureka made a 30-yard field goal as the first-half clock expired to make the score 28-9 at halftime.
• The Comets received the ball to start the second half. On their first play from scrimmage, Barnett ran 75 yards for a touchdown.
• The Red Devils answered with a touchdown on its next drive.
• Olivet capped its scoring on a 29-yard touchdown pass from Ormsby to Nick Pagano.
• Eureka scored its last touchdown with 13:36 left in the game.

• For the game, Olivet totaled 454 yards of offense, including 275 on the ground.
• Barnett had nine carries for 185 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught two passes for eight yards.
• Jeremiah Sterling rushed 15 times for 45 yards.
• In his collegiate debut, Ormsby completed 16-of-26 passes for 172 yards and three touchdowns.
• Akeem Benjamin hauled in four passes for a team-leading 58 yards.
• The Comet defense recorded 13 tackles for loss, including seven quarterback sacks.
• Logan Fee, Ta'Mar Heart-Wilkins, Ricky Williamson and David Curl each had five total tackles.
• Heart-Wilkins' five tackles included two sacks for negative 13 yards.

• The Red Devils had 197 total yards, with a -12 rushing yards.
• Nathan Garard threw for 207 yards on 14-of-34 passing.
• Pierce Bradford was the leading receiver with five catches for 89 yards.
• Defensively, Colton Walsberg had nine tackles.

• Olivet hosts Manchester (Ind.) University for its home-opener next Saturday, September 18. Kickoff at the Cutler Athletic Complex is 1 p.m.