Football team loses a heartbreaker to Albion, 20-19

A 39-yard field goal attempt by Olivet College was blocked with 7.9 seconds remaining and Albion College escaped Olivet's Griswold Field with a 20-19 victory. It was the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association opener for both schools. For the second straight season, the Fighting Comets (3-1, 0-1 MIAA) beat the Britons in almost every statistical category, but Albion (2-2, 1-0 MIAA) again came up with the big plays.

In the game, the Comets outgained the Britons, 331-192 in total offense, including a 302-110 edge in rushing. Olivet picked up 20 first downs to just six by Albion and had a 37:10 to 22:50 advantage in time of possession.

Albion scored on its first possession to take a 7-0 lead. Olivet tied the score with a 15-yard touchdown run by sophomore Mick Faasen (Belding High School) and the point-after-touchdown (PAT) kick by junior Justin Hunwick (Sterling Heights/Stevenson High School) at the 2:49 mark of the first quarter. Albion forced a fumble at the Olivet 12-yard line with 45 seconds left in the opening quarter, and the Britons capitalized to take a 14-7 lead. Olivet freshman running back Kemp Luchie (Grand Rapids/Forest Hills Northern High School) cut the deficit to a point with a six-yard touchdown run on the Comets' next possession. The PAT kick was no good, and Albion led 14-13 at halftime.

Neither team scored in the third quarter. On a fourth down play, junior quarterback Rick Mason (Belding High School) found tight end Josh Ewing (Hopkins High School) streaking across the field from 17 yards out for a touchdown. Olivet was stopped short on the two-point conversion attempt, but held a 19-14 lead with 9:41 left in the game. After both teams exchanged possessions twice, Albion scored the game-winning touchdown on a 53-yard pass completion.

Luchie led the Olivet ground attack with 21 carries for 105 yards. He was followed by Faasen with a game-high 25 carries for 104 yards. Mason completed two passes for 28 yards. Sophomore Jarrod LaRoche (Lake Odessa/Lakewood High School) led the Comet defense with seven tackles. Juniors Brad Buelow (Jonesville High School) and Dave Trudell (Springport High School) had six tackles a piece.

Ryan Williams had 61 rushing yards for the Britons. Quarterback Steve Wasil completed nine-of-16 passes for 82 yards. Glenn Brittich recorded 11 tackles, including 10 solo stops.

Olivet looks to rebound when it travels to play defending MIAA champ Alma College next Saturday, Oct. 11. Kickoff from Bahlke Field is 1:30 p.m.