Football: Olivet beats Alfred State, 40-19

OLIVET, Mich. – The University of Olivet football team totaled 575 yards of offense and held Alfred State (N.Y.) College to 288 yards, as the Comets won 40-19 over the Pioneers in a non-conference game today at the Cutler Athletic Complex.

• Final Score: Olivet 40, Alfred State 19
• Location: Cutler Athletic Complex; Olivet, Michigan
• Records: Olivet 2-2 overall, Alfred State 2-3 overall

• After forcing Alfred State to punt on its second drive, the Comets used a 7-play drive to score their first touchdown when sophomore quarterback Thomas Foust rushed four yards into the end zone. The PAT kick by freshman Wesley Franco was good.
• The Pioneers quickly answered with a 69-yard touchdown pass from Justin Horvath to Jazir Francois. The PAT kick was blocked, and Olivet led 7-6 with 4:10 left in the opening quarter.
• The Comets strung together a 15-play, 92-yard scoring drive which spanned the end of the first stanza and start of the second quarter. Foust covered the final six yards of possession with a jaunt into the end zone. The PAT kick sailed wide right of the goal post.
• The Pioneers turned the ball over on downs on their next drive. Olivet took over at its own 27-yard line. The Comets marched 73 yards down the field, capped by a one-yard touchdown run by sophomore Dontal Wright to stretch their lead to 19-6 with 6:09 left before halftime.
• The score stayed 19-6 at the intermission.
• Alfred State had a 54-yard touchdown pass from Horvath to Matthew Mancuso to make the score 19-13 at the 10:37 mark of the third period.
• On a fourth and three play, Wright ran 49 yards for a touchdown and push Olivet's advantage back to 13 points, 26-13.
• The Comets sealed their win with two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. The first was a 66-yard pass from Foust to freshman Kevin Lebron-Hill and the second was a 3-yard run by Wright.
• The Pioneers closed the scoring with a 10-yard touchdown reception by Francois.

• Olivet had a balanced offense, with 249 passing yards and 326 rushing yards. The Comet defense held Alfred State to 288 yards, including a negative 27 on the ground.
• Foust completed 12-of-18 passes for 187 yards.
• Sophomore Samuel Kunnuji caught six passes for 69 yards. He also had 14 carries for 78 yards.
• Senior SirQuarius Ball hauled in four passes for 54 yards.
• Wright led the ground game with 24 rushes for 169 yards and three touchdowns.
• Junior Jeramey King topped the defense with seven tackles.
• Senior Zameer Wallace finished with six tackles.
• Senior Ricky Williamson recorded two quarterback sacks and two pass breakups.

• The Comets start Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association play next Saturday, October 7, when they travel to play Kalamazoo College. Kickoff from Angell Field is 2 p.m.