Football team rallies to beat Tri-State, 42-26

The Olivet College football team scored 35 unanswered points to beat Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) foe Tri-State (Ind.) University, 42-26, today at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet.

Midway through the second quarter, the Thunder (0-7, 0-4 MIAA) led, 20-7. The Comets (3-4, 2-2 MIAA) rallied with two touchdowns to take a 21-20 halftime lead. Olivet added two more touchdowns in the third quarter and its final touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Tri-State scored its final touchdown late in the game.

For the game, Olivet had 463 yards of total offense, 214 on the ground and 249 through the air. Senior Travis Sleight (Battle Creek/Lakeview) led the ground attack with 13 carries for 119 yards. Freshman Erik Jackson (Romulus/Truman) carried the ball six times for 94 yards. Senior Chris Quackenbush (Waterford/Mott) completed 12-of-20 passes for 251 yards. Junior Chris Smith (Dimondale/Holt) was the top receiver with four catches for 81 yards. Senior Justin Hunwick (Sterling Heights/Stevenson) was six-of-six on PAT kicks, which gives him 100 for his career at Olivet.

Defensively, the Comets recorded eight quarterback sacks, including four by junior Ryan Adams (Middleville/Thornapple Kellogg). Senior Ryan Hayes (Livonia/Franklin) was credited with a team-high 12 tackles, including eight solo stops. Sophomore DeRan Thomas (Detroit/H.W. Notre Dame) had nine tackles, a sack and interception for 41 return yards.

The Thunder had 237 yards of offense. Jason Hochstetler and Derek Kohut finished with 14 carries apiece for 49 and 45 yards, respectively. Mike Forester completed 14-of-26 passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns. Tyler Richardson had three receptions for 47 yards. Clint Hetrick and John Moore each had two catches for 34 yards. Joe Curtis led the defense with eight tackles.

Tri-State took a 6-0 lead after the Comets fumbled a punt return. Olivet grabbed the lead back on an eight-play, 80-yard drive, which was capped off by a two-yard touchdown run by junior Jared Dell (Mendon). Hunwick made the PAT kick. Tri-State scored the next 14 points to take a 20-7 lead with 7:27 left before halftime.

On the ensuing possession, the Comets marched 68 yards down the field to make the score, 20-14. Jackson completed the drive with five-yard touchdown run and Hunwick nailed the PAT kick. The Thunder was forced to punt on their next series. Jackson's one-yard touchdown scamper and Hunwick's PAT kick gave Olivet a 21-20 lead. The score was set-up by a 48-yard run by Sleight.

Quackenbush connected with Sleight for a 41-yard touchdown at the 5:22 mark of the third quarter. From 35 yards out, Jackson scored his third touchdown of the game with 31 seconds left in the third quarter. A six-yard run by Sleight was the Comets' final touchdown. Hunwick converted all three PAT kicks.

Olivet is back in action Saturday, Oct. 29, when it hosts Kalamazoo College at 1 p.m. Kalamazoo defeated Alma College, 38-37, today at Angell Field in Kalamazoo.