Football team defeats Wisconsin Lutheran, 28-14, for third straight win

The Olivet College football team defeated Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) foe Wisconsin Lutheran College, 28-14, this afternoon at Raabe Stadium in Milwaukee.

The Comets (5-4, 4-2 MIAA) scored on their first possession. On the second play from scrimmage, senior Travis Sleight (Battle Creek/Lakeview) ran a reverse for 52 yards down to the WLC nine-yard line. Freshman Erik Jackson (Romulus/Truman) capped the scoring drive with a six-yard run. Senior Justin Hunwick (Sterling Heights/Stevenson) made the PAT kick.

The Warriors (1-8, 1-5 MIAA) was forced to punt on their possession. Olivet answered with a nine-play, 76-yard drive. Sleight finished the drive off with an 11-yard touchdown run at the 8:24 mark of the opening quarter. Hunwick converted the PAT kick. WLC marched down the field and cut its deficit to 14-6. At the end of the first quarter, the score remained 14-6.

With 1:30 left in the first half, Olivet took a 21-6 lead when Sleight scampered into the endzone from four yards out and Hunwick nailed the PAT kick. With the touchdown, Sleight now has 300 career points. Two Warrior interceptions and one Comet interception closed the first half of action.

WLC closed to within a touchdown after scoring on its first possession of the second half. Matt Kehl scored from a yard out and the two point conversion attempt was good.

In the fourth quarter, the Olivet defense came up big. Senior Andy Storey (Battle Creek/Harper Creek) recovered a fumble at the Comet six-yard line. On the second occasion, Storey tipped a pass attempt. Sophomore Nick Johnson (Maumee, Ohio/ Springfield) intercepted the ball and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown. Hunwick made his fourth PAT kick. Lastly, senior Ryan Hayes (Livonia/Franklin) had an interception on WLC's next possession.

For the game, Olivet had 395 yards of total offense, including 339 on the ground. Sleight carried the ball 31 times for 201 yards. Jackson had nine carries for 52 yards. Senior Chris Quackenbush (Waterford/Mott) completed three-of-eight passes for 56 yards. Junior Chris Smith (Dimondale/Holt) was the leading receiver with two receptions for 48 yards.

Defensively, sophomore DeRan Thomas (Detroit/H.W. Notre Dame) recorded 12 total tackles, including four for minus nine yards. Sophomore Marc Miller (Sunfield/Lakewood) was next with nine tackles. Hayes had eight stops.

The Warriors finished with 349 yards of total offense, including 222 through the air. T.J. Bodnar completed 19-of-34 passes for 197 yards. Adam Kurkiewicz caught five passes for a team-high 53 yards. Kehl topped the ground game with 33 carries for 131 yards. Ben Seiler recorded a team-high 10 tackles.

Olivet is back in action Saturday, Nov. 12, when it hosts Albion College. Kickoff from the Cutler Athletic Complex is 1 p.m. With a win over the Britons, the Comets can claim a share of the 2005 MIAA championship.