Football team hangs on to beat Hanover, 31-28

HANOVER, Ind. – The Olivet College football team outscored Hanover (Ind.) College 28-7 over the first 25 minutes of the second half to beat the Panthers, 31-28, this afternoon at Alumni Stadium in Hanover, Indiana.

• Final Score: Olivet 31, Hanover 28
• Location: Alumni Stadium; Hanover, Indiana
• Records: Hanover 0-3 overall, Olivet 3-0 overall

• The Panthers forced a Comet fumble on the opening kickoff and recovered the ball at the Olivet 15. On the fourth play of their drive, Matthew Weimer tossed a 1-yard touchdown pass to Eric Roudebush.
• The Comets got on the scoreboard for the first time when senior Samuel Roose booted a field goal with 13:22 left in the second quarter.
• The score remained 7-3 at halftime.
• Olivet's defense forced a three-and-out for Hanover on its first drive of the third quarter.
• The Comets needed six plays to cover a 55-yard scoring drive. Senior Nyassinu Crowell, Jr. capped the drive with an eight-yard run into the end zone.
• Another three-and-out for the Panthers handed the ball back to Olivet.
• This time, the Comets had a seven-play, 42-yard drive, which ended in a 3-yard touchdown run for Crowell.
• Hanover returned an interception down to Olivet 2. After a tackle for loss on first down, Weimer completed a three-yard touchdown pass to VJ Anthony with 2:55 remaining in the third quarter.
• On the Comets' ensuing drive which spanned the end of the third stanza and start of the fourth quarter, sophomore Evan Ormsby threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to junior Deonte Higgins.
• After both teams punted their next time with the ball, the Panthers were stopped on fourth down at the Olivet 37.
• Higgins broke tackles on his way to a 55-yard touchdown run. Roose's PAT kick made the score 31-14 with 6:34 remaining in the game.
• Hanover scored a touchdown on its next drive.
• The Comets had to punt on their next possession. The punt went into the end zone for a touchback with 2:07 showing on the clock.
• The Panthers ran their two-minute offense and completed six passes to cover 76 yards and down to the Olivet 4. A short pass over the middle was completed for a touchdown. Hanover made the two-point conversion with 43 seconds left.
• Olivet recovered the on-side kick and needed one kneel-down to end the game.

• Olivet out-gained the Panthers, 477-349, in total offensive yards. The biggest difference was the ground game, as the Comets finished with 294 yards compared to 28 for Hanover.
• Crowell had 24 carries for 132 yards.
• Higgins rushed 10 times for 117 yards and caught five passes for 65 yards.
• Senior Jalen Broussard also hauled in five passes for a team-best 83 yards.
• Ormsby completed 15-of-32 passes for 183 yards.
• Junior Justin McMurren led the defense with 11 tackles.
• Sophomore Isaac Rowe recorded nine tackles.

• The Comets travel to play Greenville (Ill.) University next Saturday, September 27. Kick-off from Francis Field is 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT.