Football team opens MIAA play with 10-5 loss against Albion

The Olivet College football team opened Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play with a 10-5 loss against Albion College today before a capacity Homecoming crowd at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet.

The Britons (2-3, 1-0 MIAA) put the first three points on the scoreboard when Mychal Galla's 37-yard field goal attempt split the uprights with 4:50 left in the second quarter. On their ensuing possession, Olivet turned the ball over downs. Albion capitalized with a 9-play, 63-yard drive. The drive was capped by a 26-yard touchdown pass from Donovan Dooley to Dave Wunderlich with 49.9 seconds left before halftime. Galla's PAT kick was good, and the Britons led, 10-0 at the break.

The Comets (1-4, 0-1 MIAA) trimmed their deficit down to seven points, 10-3, when senior Kyle Zabel (Sturgis) made a 26-yard field goal with 1:08 remaining in the third quarter. Olivet scored its final two points on a safety when the Albion quarterback ran out of the end zone in the closing seconds of the game.

Offensively, the Comets had 269 yards of offense – 226 on the ground and 43 through the air. Junior Pat Clasgens (Livonia/Stevenson) had 20 carries for 93 yards, while freshman Mike Martin (Caledonia/Wayland) had nine carries for 67 yards. Junior quarterback Lukas Linn (Harbor Beach) completed eight passes for 43 yards. The leading receiver was senior Nathaniel Woodson (Battle Creek/Lakeview) with two catches for 25 yards.

Junior Hakeem Yakubu (Kalamazoo/Central) led Olivet's defense with 13 total tackles, including eight solo stops and 2.5 for loss. He also had a quarterback sack and an interception. Junior Alex Hill (Berrien Springs) was second with eight tackles.

The Britons finished with 255 yards of total offense. Aaron Dolkowski carried the ball 30 times for 76 yards. Dooley completed 19-of-32 passes for 180 yards. Wunderlich topped the receiving corps with seven catches for 77 yards. Charles Green led the defense with nine tackles.

Olivet will be on the road for their two straight games, beginning next Oct. 11, when it plays at Kalamazoo College. Kickoff from Angell Field is 1 p.m.