Football team defeats Franklin (Ind.), 63-62

In a wild game at Stewart "Red" Faught Stadium on the campus of Franklin (Ind.) College, the Olivet College football team defeated the host Grizzlies, 63-62. For the game, the Fighting Comets had a single-game school record 678 total offensive yards, including 591 yards from the Wing-T ground attack. Both teams combined for 1,117 total offensive yards. The 125 combined points scored missed breaking the NCAA Division III record of 129.

The game ended in dramatic fashion as well. Olivet senior fullback Mick Faasen (Belding) gave Olivet a 63-56 lead with his school-record tying fourth rushing touchdown from 33 yards out with 5:04 left in the contest. Franklin marched down the field and scored with 37 seconds left in the game. The Grizzlies attempted a two-point conversion for the victory, and Ryan Hayes (Livonia Franklin) tipped the ball away, giving the Comets a narrow victory.

The Olivet defense forced Franklin to punt on its opening possession of the game. On the first Comet possession, Faasen capped an eight play, 84-yard drive with a six-yard touchdown run. The Grizzlies answered the score by returning the kickoff for a score. Olivet took a 13-7 lead when Faasen rumbled 71 yards and junior Justin Hunwick (Sterling Heights/Stevenson) added the PAT kick. Franklin took a 21-13 lead with 6:01 left in the opening quarter.

The Comets then scored 14 unanswered points when senior quarterback Rick Mason (Belding) connected with junior Travis Sleight (Battle Creek/Lakeview) from 60 yards out and a four-yard run by Faasen. Following a Grizzlie touchdown, junior Dwight Houston (Detroit/Denby) had a 38-yard touchdown run. Franklin responded with a quick drive to take another one-point lead. Hunwick booted a 28-yard field goal for a 37-35 Olivet lead at halftime.

In the second half, the Comets stretched their lead to 50-35 on a 11-yard run by sophomore Kemp Luchie (Grand Rapids/Forest Hills Northern) and a five-yard jaunt by Sleight. Early in the fourth quarter, the Grizzlies closed to within two points on a 65-yard interception return for a touchdown. The momentum swung back to Olivet eighteen seconds later when Luchie broke loose for a 69-yard run to make the score 56-48. Franklin knotted the score at 56-56 with 7:12 left setting stage for what proved to be the game-winning drive for Olivet.

Faasen led the Comet ground attack with 21 attempts for 194 yards, followed by Luchie with 187 and Houston with 110. Sleight had 70 rushing yards and 77 receiving yards. Mason completed three-of-eight passes for 87 yards. Defensively, sophomore Cliff Sims (Reed City) was credited with a team-high six tackles. He also intercepted a pass with a 38-yard return. Hayes had five tackles, including two stops for minus 11 yards. Olivet sacked the Franklin quarterback four times for minus 30 yards.

The Comets return to action next Saturday, Sept. 18, when they host non-league foe Ohio Wesleyan University. Kick-off from the new Cutler Athletic Complex is 1 p.m.