Football team opens 2007 season with a 20-9 loss against Illinois Wesleyan

The Olivet College football team opened the 2007 season with a 20-9 loss against Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU) today at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet.

The Comets (0-1) put the first two points on the scoreboard at the 9:05 mark of the opening quarter. A bad snap sailed over the Titans' punter's head and went out of the back of the endzone for a safety. On the ensuing possession, Olivet put together a seven-play, 43-yard scoring drive, which was capped off by a five-yard touchdown run by sophomore Brandon Seays (Clinton Twp./Clintondale). Junior Kyle Zabel (Sturgis) converted the PAT kick to make the score 9-0 with 6:09 left in the first quarter.

The Titans (1-1) scored a touchdown with 17 seconds left before halftime when Martin Ceisel caught a three-yard pass from Kraig Ladd. The PAT attempt failed when the snap was bobbled by the holder. Olivet led, 9-6, at halftime. IWU grabbed the lead on its first series of the second half, which was set-up by an interception on the Comets' first play of the half. Ceisel caught a 22-yard touchdown pass from Ladd at the 13:31 mark. Brian Tiefenbruck made the PAT kick for a 13-9 Titan lead.

After stopping Olivet on fourth down in the fourth quarter, IWU used an eight-play, 51-yard drive to take a 20-9 lead. John Meacham hauled in a three-yard pass from Ladd for the touchdown and Tiefenbruck's PAT kick went thru the uprights. Neither team scored in the final 10:06 of the fourth quarter.

The Comets outgained the Titans, 223-198, in yards of total offense. For Olivet, Seays carried the ball 20 times for 63 yards. Senior quarterbacks Rob White (Caledonia/South Christian) and Calvin McNamara (Gaylord) combined to complete 16-of-30 passes for 160 yards. White threw for 88 yards on 10-of-19 passing, while McNamara completed six-of-11 attempts for 72 yards. Senior Ryan Boone (Muskegon/Muskegon Catholic Central) caught a team-high four passes for 51 yards. Senior Chris Smith (Dimondale/Holt) had three receptions for 27 yards.

Defensively, junior Hakeem Yakubu (Kalamazoo/Central) recorded a team-high 10 tackles. Senior Marc Miller (Sunfield/Lake Odessa) had seven tackles, including a team-leading six solo stops.

For IWU, Ladd was 15-opf-31 for 148 yards and three touchdowns. Ceisel was his favorite receiver with five catches for 60 yards. On the ground, Marcus Dunlop had 23 carries for 59 yards. Dan Souder topped the defense with nine tackles.

The Comets return to action next Saturday, Sept. 15, when they host Wittenberg (Ohio) University at 1 p.m.