Football team routs Concordia Chicago, 59-0

The Olivet College football team scored on nine of its first 10 possessions en route to a 59-0 shutout victory this afternoon at Concordia University Chicago. The 59 points is the largest shutout victory for Olivet since a 65-0 win against Adrian in 1917.

For the game, the Comets outgained the Cougars in yards of total offense, 598-191. Junior Pat Clasgens (Livonia/Stevenson) carried the ball 15 times for 187 yards and three touchdowns. Freshman Mike Martin (Caledonia/Wayland) had 55 rushing yards, while fullbacks Sean Misko (Casco/Richmond) and Kirk Byrens (Marshall) each had 47 rushing yards.

Junior Lukas Linn (Harbor Beach) completed 6-of-9 passes for 116 yards, while in a back-up role junior Dustin Kapral (Lapeer/East) was 3-of-4 for 108 yards. Senior Carl Mulder (Battle Creek/Lakeview) led the receivers with three catches for 66 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, junior Hakeem Yakubu (Kalamazoo/Central) had a team-leading four tackles, including a pair for loss. On special teams, senior Kyle Zabel (Sturgis) was a perfect 8-of-8 on PAT kicks.

Three different Comets scored a touchdown in the first quarter as they built a 21-0 lead. Clasgens had a 33-yard run, Misko had a two-yard plunge and Linn had a one-yard quarterback sneak. Zabel made all three PAT kicks.

In the second quarter, Linn connected with Mulder for a 15-yard scoring strike. Olivet took advantage of two Cougar fumbles to put 14 points on the scoreboard late in the first half. The Comets first put together a 14-play scoring drive, capped off by a five-yard run by Clasgens. After the second fumble, Zabel booted a 21-yard field goal for a 38-0 halftime lead.

On the first play from scrimmage of the second half, Clasgens broke loose for a 51-yard touchdown run. On their eighth series of the game, the Comets had to punt for the first time in the game. The Olivet defense forced a three and out for Concordia. The Comet offense immediately answered with a 34-yard touchdown pass from Kapral to freshman James Williams (Battle Creek/Central). Byrens closed the Comets' scoring with his first collegiate touchdown midway through the final quarter.

he Comets will host North Central (Ill.) College next Saturday, Sept. 27. Kickoff from the Cutler Athletic Complex is set for 6 p.m.