Football team loses to Kalamazoo, 35-24

The Olivet College football team fell to Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association foe Kalamazoo, 35-24, before 4,125 fans on Homecoming at Griswold Field in Olivet.

In the first quarter, the Fighting Comets (3-3, 0-3 MIAA) jumped out to a 21-0 lead on 17- and five-yard runs by sophomore Travis Sleight (Battle Creek Lakeview High School) and an 80-yard run by freshman halfback Kemp Luchie (Grand Rapids/Forest Hills Northern High School). Sophomore Justin Hunwick (Sterling Heights/Stevenson High School) made all three point-after-touchdown kicks.

The Hornets battled back to tie the score at 21 with three touchdowns in the second quarter. Kalamazoo blocked an Olivet punt with just 22 seconds left in the first half, which led to the tying touchdown on a 24-yard pass from Jeff Green to James Woodfork.

Olivet took a 24-21 lead in the closing seconds of the third quarter on a 40-yard field goal by Hunwick. Kalamazoo grabbed the lead back at 28-24 with 11:29 remaining and scored its final touchdown on a 10-yard pass at the 1:25 mark.

In the game, the Comets outgained the Hornets, 391-323 in total offense. Olivet picked-up 384 yards on the ground and just seven passing yards. Luchie led all ball carriers with 141 yards on 13 carries. Sophomore Mick Faasen (Belding High School) added 85 yards and sophomore Dwight Houston (Detroit Denby High School) had 78. Sophomore quarterback Rick Mason (Belding High School) completed one pass to sophomore Andy Storey (Battle Creek/Harper Creek High School) for seven yards.

Defensively, sophomore Jarrod LaRoche (Lake Odessa/Lakewood High School) led Olivet with 12 tackles, including nine solo stops. Senior Mike Wilson (Detroit/St. Agatha High School) recorded three quarterback sacks for minus 10 yards.

For the Hornets (5-1, 2-1 MIAA), Bryan Gynp completed 14-of-24 passes for 134 yards and four touchdowns. Green was top receiver with five catches for 41 yards and two touchdowns. Andy Graham had four receptions for a team-best 48 yards. Dwight White led the ground attack with 25 carries for 138 yards. Kyle Bainbridge recorded a team-best 11 tackles.

Olivet looks to bounce back when it travels to play Adrian College next Saturday, Oct. 25 at 1 p.m.