Football team stings Kalamazoo, 41-17

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College football team began the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) portion of its schedule with a 41-17 victory over Kalamazoo College today before a packed and spirited Homecoming crowd at the Cutler Athletic Complex.

• Final Score: Olivet 41, Kalamazoo 17
• Location: Cutler Athletic Complex; Olivet, Michigan
• Records: Kalamazoo 3-3 overall, 0-2 MIAA; Olivet 5-0 overall, 1-0 MIAA

• The Hornets won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. Olivet received the opening kickoff.
• On the fifth play of the drive, junior Deonte Higgins rushed 26 yards for a touchdown at the 12:19 mark.
• The Comet defense forced Kalamazoo to punt on its first possession. The snap on the punt was dropped by the punter. Senior Damani Carter picked-up the loose ball and returned it 22 yards for a touchdown. The PAT kick was missed, and Olivet led 13-0 with 9:30 left in the opening quarter.
• The Hornets got on the scoreboard when Ian Burr made a 47-yard field goal.
• Olivet had to punt on its next drive. Kalamazoo marched down the field, and on the 10th play of the series, Josh Nichols threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Lucas Hanifan. The PAT kick was good to cut the Hornet deficit down to three points, 13-10, with 1:35 remaining in the first stanza.
• Olivet answered with a 12-play, 76-yard drive to push its lead back to 10 points. Sophomore Evan Ormsby tossed a 6-yard touchdown pass to senior Jalen Broussard for the six points.
• A three-and-out for Kalamazoo handed the ball back to the Comets. Olivet went down the field and senior Nyassinu Crowell, Jr. rushed five yards for a touchdown to make the score 27-10 at the 4:52 mark of the second quarter.
• The Hornets got one first down before a short punt gave the ball to the Comets at their own 40-yard line. A 32-yard pass completion put Olivet at the Kalamazoo 28. After two running plays, Orsmby passed a 9-yard touchdown to senior Jacari Hamilton in the final minute of the first half.
• The Comets led 34-10 at halftime.
• Both teams scored a touchdown in the second half.
• Kalamazoo's touchdown was the result of a blocked punt on Olivet's first possession of the third quarter. Joe Binkowski blocked and scooped-up the loose ball and returned it 12 yards for the score.
• Olivet immediately responded on its next drive. On first down, Hamilton hauled in a 53-yard pass from Ormsby. The next play saw Crowell, Jr. break tackles and drag defenders 22 yards for the touchdown.

• Olivet recorded 506 yards of offense, including 320 on the ground.
• Crowell, Jr. had 14 carries for 128 yards and two touchdowns.
• Higgins and freshman Samuel Kunnuji rushed for 64 and 62 yards, respectively.
• Ormsby completed 12-of-15 passes for 186 yards.
• Broussard caught a team-best six passes for 55 yards.
• Defensively, the Comets registered 10 tackles for loss, with half being quarterback sacks.
• Sophomore Kolbe Lewis had nine total tackles, with eight solo stops.
• Senior Dennis Simmons finished with eight tackles, including 2.5 sacks for negative 13 yards.
• Senior Ricky Williamson also tallied 2.5 sacks for minus eight yards.

• Kalamazoo totaled 261 yards – 35 rushing and 226 passing.
• Nichols threw for 209 yards on 21-of-37 passing.
• Eleven receivers caught at least one pass. Jonah Spates led the way with five catches for 46 yards.
• Jon Brunette rushed 11 times for 35 yards.
• Payton Fleming led the defense with 11 tackles, eight solo and three assisted.

• Olivet hosts Trine (Ind.) University next Saturday, October 15, at 1 p.m.