Football team opens season with 21-6 loss at Illinois Wesleyan University

The Olivet College football team opened its season with a 21-6 loss today at Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU) at Wilder Field in Bloomington, Illinois.

On the Titans' first possession, junior Marc Miller (Sunfield/Lake Odessa) blocked the punt and returned the ball 15 yards to the IWU 10-yard line. The Comets were stopped and attempted a 19-yard field goal. The kick was blocked and returned by Steve Groetsema for an 80-yard touchdown.

Later in the first quarter, the Comets' punt was blocked out of the endzone for a safety. In the second quarter, IWU (1-1) took advantage of two Olivet turnovers by putting nine more points on the scoreboard. Three points came on a 43-yard field goal by Mike Berry, and six more were on a touchdown pass from Brandon Cotter to Marcus Dunlop. At halftime, the Titans led, 18-0.

The Comets (0-1) got on the scoreboard midway through the third quarter. Junior quarterback Calvin McNamara (Gaylord) connected with sophomore Carl Mulder (Battle Creek/Lakeview) for a 53-yard touchdown reception. There was no more scoring until late in the fourth quarter when Berry made a 34-yard field goal.

IWU outgained the Comets, 243-166, in total offense. Sophomore Lonnie Jones (Niles) led the Olivet ground attack with nine carries for 26 yards. McNamara completed 8-of-25 passes for 107 yards. In a back-up role, junior Rob White (Caledonia/South Christian) had 22 passing yards on five completions. Mulder was the leading receiver with five catches for 86 yards. Defensively, junior Nate Hughes (Marshall) had a team-high nine tackles. Thomas recorded eight tackles, while sophomore Michael Terranova (Lansing/Lansing Catholic) had seven.

Dunlop was the only running back for the Titans, and he led the team with 29 carries for 117 yards. Cotter completed 14-of-22 passes for 143 yards. Martin Ceisel had seven catches for 74 yards. Five other players had at least one catch. Mike Mastro tallied a team-high eight tackles.

Olivet is back in action Thursday, Sept. 14, when it hosts Manchester (Ind.) College. Kickoff from the Cutler Athletic Complex is 7 p.m.