Football team squeaks past Adrian, 35-28

ADRIAN, Mich. – Sophomore Cortaveon Barnett accounted for 288 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Olivet College football team to a 35-28 win over Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) rival Adrian College this afternoon at Docking Stadium.

Final Score: Olivet 35, Adrian 28
Location: Docking Stadium; Adrian, Michigan
Records: Adrian 4-5 overall, 2-3 MIAA; Olivet 6-3 overall, 3-3 MIAA

• At the end of the first quarter, the Comets led 14-0 behind a 51-yard touchdown run by Barnett and a 54-yard touchdown pass completion from senior David Coffey to Barnett. Junior Samuel Roose converted both PAT kicks.
• The Bulldogs answered with 14 second-quarter points. The first seven were on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Jack Wurzer to Preston Smith, and PAT kick by Cooper West. The next seven were on the last play of the first half on a one-yard touchdown run by Jimmie Clark and West's PAT kick.
• Adrian scored a touchdown on its first possession of the second half. The score was a 54-yard pass from Wurzer to Gage Palus.
• The Bulldogs fumbled the ball on their next series. Olivet took advantage of the turnover and drove down the field to tie the game at 21-22. The 11-play, 77-yard drive was capped by a 10-yard touchdown run by Barnett.
• The Comet defense forced a three-and-out for Adrian. Getting the ball back at midfield, Olivet marched down the field to take a 28-21 lead. Another 11-play drive ended with sophomore Jeremiah Sterling rushing one yard into the end zone.
• Olivet blocked the Adrian punt and senior Andrew Campbell picked-up the ball at the Bulldog 2-yard line. Coffey snuck into the end zone for a touchdown on the Comets' first play. Roose's PAT kick was good to put the Comets ahead 35-21 with 10:22 left in the game.
• The Bulldogs closed the gap to 35-28 when Wurzer threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Donald Scott on a third and 19 play.
• Olivet got the ball back with 5:19 left in the game. On the third play of the drive, Barnett rumbled 56 yards down to the Adrian 10. The Comets had a chance to seal the game but missed a 25-yard field goal with 1:45 left.
• The Bulldogs took possession at their 20-yard line. Adrian was able to get down to the OIivet 22-yard line before turning the ball over on downs with 10 seconds remaining in the game.

• Olivet totaled 409 yards of offense – 287 on the ground and 122 through the air.
• Barnett had 27 carries for 222 yards and two receptions for 64 yards.
• Sterling rushed eight times for 48 yards.
• Coffey completed 10-of-15 passes for 122 yards, while running for 17 yards on eight carries.
• Campbell topped the defense with nine total tackles, five solo and four assisted.

• Adrian registered 478 total yards of offense.
• Wurzer threw for 257 yards on 17-of-30 passing.
• Palus hauled in five passes for a team-best 80 yards.
• Scott caught four passes for 74 yards.
• Malik Ray led the ground game with 17 carries for 114 yards.
• Brandon Kwiatowski recorded 11 tackles to lead the defense.

• Olivet hosts Finlandia University for its season-finale next Saturday, November 13. Kick-off at the Cutler Athletic Complex is 12 p.m.