OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College football team scored 35 unanswered points to beat Adrian College, 35-7, in its Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association opener today before a spirited Homecoming crowd at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet.
Neither team put any points on the scoreboard in the first half. Defense prevailed in the opening half, as the Comets were held to 187 total yards, and the Bulldogs were limited to 180 yards. Both teams had a 115 passing yards.
Adrian receiving the second-half kickoff. The Bulldogs used a nine-play, 68-yard drive, capped by a one-yard run by quarterback Stephen Milarch to go up 7-0. Olivet quickly tied the score at 7-7. Junior Braden Black hit senior Jason Barbosa in stride for a 72-yard touchdown pass on its first play from scrimmage in the third quarter.
Adrian took advantage of a 20-yard return on the kickoff and a personal foul penalty to get the ball back at the Comet 40-yard line. However, the drive stalled when Cameron Cook missed a 24-yard field attempt. The Comets got the ball at their own 20 on the miss. On the 13th play of the drive, freshman Andre Houston rushed into the end zone from a yard out to put Olivet ahead for the first time. Sophomore Gunnar Aper made the PAT kick to make the score 14-7.
The Bulldogs used a 49-yard kickoff return to start another drive in the Olivet half of the field. The drive was stopped one more time, as the Comet defense forced an incomplete pass on a fourth down play at the Olivet 18.
The Comets took over and marched 82 yards down the field to go ahead 21-7. On a fourth down play at the 1, Houston punched the ball into the end zone for a touchdown. On the ensuing kick, D'Angelo Gaines muffed the return but fell on the ball at the one-yard line.
Olivet's defense stood tall one more time, forcing a three and out. The punt traveled only 19 yards, and on the Comets' first play, Houston rumbled 22 yards for a touchdown. Aper's PAT kick made the score 28-7. On the Bulldogs' next possession, freshman Jaquan Short stepped in front of a Milarch pass and returned the ball 43 yards and down to the one-yard line. On the first play, Houston scored his fourth touchdown of the game, and the Olivet's final touchdown of the game.
After Adrian punted the ball back with 8:09 left in the third quarter, the Comets were able to get four first downs and run out the clock.
For the game, Olivet totaled 29 first downs and 534 yards of offense compared to 16 first downs and 321 yards for Adrian. Sophomore Christopher Jones led the Comet ground game with 17 carries for 82 yards, while Houston and sophomore Jerome Washington each had 10 rushes for 51 and 67 yards, respectively.
Black completed 21-of-30 passes for 300 yards. Barbosa hauled in five passes for 112 yards. Junior Mitchell Bailey caught four passes for 48 yards. Sophomore Walter Love III and senior Justin Madar topped the defense with seven tackles each. Senior Andrew Pabst recorded six tackles.
Milarch was Adrian's leader on offense. He was 14-of-27 passing for 178 yards, and had 15 carries for 61 yards. Emmanuel Stewart had 53 rushing yards and 54 receiving yards. John Carlin led the defense with 14 total tackles.
The Comets travel to play Trine (Ind.) University next Saturday, Oct. 10. Kick-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.