Football: Olivet defeated by Hope, 45-7

OLIVET, Mich. – The University of Olivet football team was on the losing end of a 45-7 final score to Hope College in a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) contest today at the Cutler Athletic Complex.

• Final Score: Hope 45, Olivet 7
• Location: Cutler Athletic Complex; Olivet, Michigan
• Records: Olivet 3-4 overall, 1-2 MIAA; Hope 6-2 overall, 3-1 MIAA

• The Comets received the opening kickoff and drove down the field on their first drive. An interception ended the drive.
• On Hope's first play from scrimmage, Zach Trainor completed a 65-yard touchdown pass to Grant Holtzer.
• Olivet was forced to punt on its next series.
• The Flying Dutchmen put together a 10-play scoring drive, capped by a 35-yard field goal by Caden Balkon at the 4:13 mark of the opening quarter.
• Another Comet punt was answered with a Hope touchdown early in the second quarter.
• Olivet responded with a 13-play possession, but it ended with an interception in the end zone.
• The Flying Dutchmen scored two touchdowns late in the second stanza to take a 31-0 halftime lead.
• A pair of 1-yard touchdown runs pushed Hope's lead to 45-0 with 2:49 remaining in the third quarter.
• The Comets got on the scoreboard at the 10:56 mark of the fourth quarter when sophomore Samuel Kunnuji rumbled three yards into the end zone. The drive was kept alive twice on Flying Dutchmen penalties – the first being a targeting call and the second on pass interference.

• Olivet had four more first downs, 20 to 16, but Hope out-gained the Comets in total yards, 448 to 264.
• Junior Evan Ormsby was under center for the second half and completed 15-of-27 passes for 118 yards.
• Sophomore Thomas Foust started the game at quarterback and threw for 72 yads on 7-of-12 passing with four interceptions. He was the leading rusher with 13 carries for 37 yards.
• Senior Keyon Johnson caught four passes for 46 yards.
• Senior SirQuarius Ball also had four receptions for 37 yards.
• Freshman Fulton Reed averaged 47 yards on four punts, with a long of 51 yards.
• Freshman James Banks topped the defense with eight tackles.
• Senior Ricky Williamson registered two quarterback sacks for minus 13 yards. He now has 16.5 career sacks, the fifth-most by an Olivet player since the 2002 season.

• The Comets are on the road to play MIAA leader Alma College next Saturday, October 28. Kickoff from Bahlke Field is 1 p.m.