Football team beats Manchester (Ind.), 40-7

The Olivet College football team snapped a two-game losing streak with a 40-7 win over non-conference foe Manchester (Ind.) College today at Carl W. Burt Memorial Stadium in N. Manchester, Ind. After a scoreless first half, the Comets (1-2) scored 33 unanswered points in the third quarter.

With 10:59 left in the third quarter, the Comets blocked a Manchester punt. Sophomore DeRan Thomas (Detroit/H.W. Notre Dame) picked-up the loose ball and returned it 17 yards for a touchdown. Senior Justin Hunwick (Sterling Heights/Stevenson) converted the PAT kick. Midway through the quarter, senior Travis Sleight (Battle Creek/Lakeview) had a 47-yard touchdown run and Hunwick made the PAT kick.

The Olivet defense forced the Spartans to punt on their next possession. On Olivet's first play from scrimmage, freshman Lonnie Jones (Niles) broke loose for a 42-yard touchdown run. On Manchester's next series, sophomore Craig Duncan (Apopka, Fla.) forced and recovered a fumble. Needing only five yards for a touchdown, senior Chris Quackenbush (Waterford/Mott) ran in for the score.

On their next possession, the Spartans could not get a first down and were forced to punt. The Comets capped a six-play, 48-yard drive with a touchdown as Quackenbush connected with Sleight for an 18-yard scoring strike. Hunwick added his third PAT kick of the game.

Both teams scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Olivet's came first when junior Marcus Green (Kalamazoo/Comstock) had a 14-yard touchdown run. Manchester had a 10-yard scoring pass by Joel Hawkins to Justin Wulf.

For the game, the Comets had a 352-189 advantage in total offense. Dell led the ground attack with 12 carries for 94 yards. Sleight finished with 106 all-purpose yards, 90 rushing and 16 receiving. Quackenbush, who made his collegiate start at the quarterback position, completed five-of-10 passes for 58 yards.

Defensively, Thomas topped the team with 15 tackles, including 11 solo stops. Sophomore Marc Miller (Sunfield/Lake Odessa) contributed nine tackles. Senior Ryan Hayes (Livonia/Franklin) registered two tackles for loss while junior Ryan Adams (Middleville/Thornapple Kellogg) had two quarterback sacks for minus nine yards.

Brent Ash finished with 96 rushing yards for Manchester. Three quarterbacks combined to complete nine-of-28 passes. Jared Markham and Nick Nicodemus had eight tackles apiece.

Olivet travels to play Alma College in its Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) opener next Saturday, Oct. 1. Kickoff from Bahlke Field is 1 p.m.