Football team loses to Trine, 42-17

The Olivet College football team was defeated by defending Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) champion Trine (Ind.) University, 42-17, this afternoon at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet.

The Thunder (5-1, 3-0 MIAA) scored a rushing touchdown on each of its first three possessions of the game and opening quarter of play. Each was by a different player, a 2-yard run by Kent Biller, a 4-yard run by Jeff Langley and a 2-yard run by Luke Rosengarten. Jeremy Howard nailed all three PAT kicks.

Trine added to its lead with 2:35 left before halftime when Biller rumbled 10 yards into the end zone. Howard's PAT kick was good. On the ensuing series, Olivet put together a five-play, 65-yard scoring drive, capped by a 2-yard run by sophomore Mike Martin (Caledonia/Wayland Union). The PAT try was blocked. In the closing seconds of the first half, the Thunder had their first fumble of the season. The Comets had a chance to put three points on the scoreboard, but a field goal attempt was blocked as the first half clock expired.

After forcing Olivet to punt the ball away on its first series of the third quarter, the Thunder needed just two plays to score. The second play was a 9-yard touchdown run by Biller. Howard's PAT kick attempt split the uprights, and Trine led 35-6.

Junior Cam Bramer (Olivet) ran back the kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. The 100-yard kickoff is the longest in school history, and ties for the longest in MIAA history. The previous Olivet record was 95 yards by DeShaun Warren Sept. 23, 2006 against Elmhurst (Ill.) College. Three others in league history have accomplished the feat.

The Comets cut their deficit to 18 points on a 24-yard field by senior Graham Lockwood (Haslett/Williamston) with 3:06 remaining in the third quarter. In the final quarter of play, Olivet drove down to the Trine 7, but an interception ended that drive and a turnover on downs ended another drive. Trine closed the scoring on a six-yard touchdown run by Ian McCaffrey with 1:27 showing on the clock.

For the game, Olivet had 335 yards of offense, 115 on the ground and 220 in the air. Martin carried the ball 17 times for 89 yards. He also caught four passes for 46 yards and returned three kickoffs for 68 yards for his second straight game with more than 200 all-purpose yards. Making his first collegiate start, sophomore C.J. Gregory (Canton/Plymouth) was 15-of-23 for 178 yards. Junior Ben Sherman (Charlotte) had nine receptions for 94 yards.

Defensively, senior Hakeem Yakubu (Kalamazoo/Central) had a game-high 13 tackles. Senior Alex Hill (Berrien Springs) was next with eight tackles, broke up two passes and forced a fumble.

Trine had 521 total yards. Eight ball carriers combined for 281 rushing yards, led by Biller's 174. Eric Watt completed 11-of-22 passes for 240 yards. Adam Kurtz and Paul Cutis had three catches each for 55 and 48 yards, respectively. Aaron Selking led the defense with eight total tackles, including six solo stops.

Olivet (0-7, 0-3 MIAA) returns to action next Saturday at Alma College. Kickoff from Bahlke Field is 1 p.m.