Fighting Comets defeat Ohio Wesleyan, 21-0

In a battle of Wing-T offenses, the Olivet College football team prevailed with a 21-0 victory today at non-conference foe Ohio Wesleyan University. The Fighting Comets (2-0) carried the ball 63 times for 329 yards, and outgained the Battling Bishops, 351-280 in total offense.

The last time Olivet shut-out its opponent was Sept. 10, 1994 when the Comets defeated Manchester (Ind.) College, 19-0. In 1998, Olivet also started the season with two victories.

Neither team was able to put any points on the scoreboard in the first quarter and for most of the second quarter.

Olivet then scored after putting together a 17-play, 72-yard drive to take a 7-0 lead with just 35 seconds left in the first half. Freshman Kemp Luchie (Grand Rapids/Forest Hills Northern High School) capped the drive off with a five-yard run and sophomore Justin Hunwick (Sterling Heights/Stevenson High School) added the PAT kick.

After recovering a fumble in the closing seconds of the third quarter, Olivet sophomore running back Mick Faasen (Belding High School) rushed up the middle for 48 yards. On the next play, Faasen picked-up 19 yards. Sophomore Dwight Houston (Detroit Denby High School) then scored from a yard out and Hunwick nailed the PAT kick to make the score 14-0 with 13:30 left in the game.

Olivet forced and recovered another fumble on Ohio Wesleyan's second play after the touchdown. The Comets marched 63 yards down the field, and Faasen scored the touchdown from a yard out. Hunwick made the PAT kick.

In the game, Faasen led the ground attack with 18 carries for 164 yards. Luchie had nine carries for 46 yards, and Houston had 39 yards. Junior quarterback Rick Mason (Belding High School) completed three-of-four passes for 22 yards. Defensively, junior linebacker Brad Buelow (Jonesville High School) recorded 13 tackles, including eight solo stops.

Nick Rice led the Ohio Wesleyan (0-1) offense with 13 carries for 60 yards and two pass receptions for 45 yards. Jeff Hanna completed five-of-13 passes for 89 yards. Chad Smith carried the ball eight times for 43 yards. Tom Thome led the defense with 16 tackles.

Olivet is idle until Saturday, Sept. 27 when it travels to play Manchester College in North Manchester, Ind. Kick-off is set for 2:30 p.m. EST.