Football team rallies to beat Franklin, 35-31, in season-opener

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College football team came back from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat Franklin (Ind.) College, 35-31, in its season- and home-opener today inside the Cutler Athletic Complex.

• Final Score: Olivet 35, Franklin 31
• Location: Cutler Athletic Complex; Olivet, Michigan
• Records: Franklin 0-1 overall, Olivet 1-0 overall

• The Comets won the coin toss and elected to receive the ball. Junior Deonte Higgins hauled in a 15-yard touchdown pass from sophomore Evan Ormsby with 12:01 left in the first quarter.
• The Grizzlies took a 10-7 lead behind a 26-yard field goal and 1-yard touchdown run.
• Olivet grabbed the lead back when senior Jalen Broussard caught a 46-yard touchdown pass from Ormsby at the 11:44 mark of the second quarter.
• Franklin responded with a touchdown to take a 17-14 halftime lead.
• The Grizzlies stretched their lead to 24-14 on a 62-yard touchdown pass on their opening drive of the third quarter.
• The Comets closed the gap to three points when Higgins rushed 36 yards into the endzone on their first play of the fourth quarter.
• Franklin took advantage of a turnover to make the score 31-21 with 11:26 remaining in the game.
• Olivet used a 12-play drive to trim its deficit down to three points. Senior Nyassinu Crowell, Jr. ended the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run with 4:51 left.
• The Comet defense forced the Grizzlies to a three-and-out.
• The Comets took over at their 38-yard line and 3:28 showing on the clock. On the sixth play of the drive, freshman Thomas Foust found Broussard in the endzone for a 15-yard touchdown pass. Senior Samuel Roose made the PAT kick.
• The Grizzlies got the ball back at their 28-yard line and 51 seconds remaining. They drove down the field. A final pass was broken up in the endzone by senior Isaiah Moon.

• Olivet totaled 24 first down and 505 yards of offense compared to 21 first downs and 464 yards for Franklin.
• Crowell, Jr. had 16 carries for 122 yards.
• Freshman Dontal Wright rushed 10 times for 84 yards.
• Ormsby completed 9-of-20 passes for 149 yards, while Foust was 3-of-4 for 47 yards.
• Broussard caught three passes for 70 yards.
• Higgins also had three receptions for 43 yards.
• Junior Justin McMurren topped the defense with 10 tackles.
• Seniors Anthony Merriman III and senior Ricky Williamson were next with nine tackles apiece. Seven of Williamson's stops were for negative 25 yards.

• The Comets host Eureka (Ill.) College next Saturday, September 10. Kick-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.