Football team defeated by Hope, 56-37

The Olivet College football team was defeated by Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association foe Hope College, 56-37, today before 1,650 fans at Griswold Field in Olivet.

After the Flying Dutchmen scored on their first possession, the Fighting Comets answered with their own touchdown. Sophomore halfback Travis Sleight (Battle Creek Lakeview High School) capped a seven-play, 65-yard drive with a 16-yard run. Sophomore Justin Hunwick (Sterling Heights/ Stevenson High School) made the point-after-touchdown kick. Hope then took a 21-7 lead with two more touchdowns on back-to-back possessions.

The Dutchmen stretched their lead to 28-7 midway through the second quarter. Olivet scored on a 27-yard run by freshman Kemp Luchie (Grand Rapids/Forest Hills Northern High School) and Hunwick nailed the PAT kick to cut the deficit to 14 points. Hope scored again with 2:52 left before halftime. Junior DeShaun Warren (Detroit Denby High School) ran the ensuing kickoff back 76 yards to the Hope nine-yard line. Olivet was then stopped on a fourth down play.

On the first drive of the second half, sophomore Mick Faasen (Belding High School) scored from a yard out and Hunwick made the PAT kick. The Dutch stretched their lead to 48-21 in the fourth quarter. Sleight and freshman Jared Dell (Mendon High School) scored fourth quarter touchdowns for Olivet.

For the game, the Comet ground attack accounted for 361 yards of their 371 yards of total offense. Luchie carried the ball six times for 85 yards. He was followed by Faasen with 84, sophomore Dwight Houston (Detroit Denby High School) with 60 and Sleight with 58. Defensively, sophomore Jarrod LaRoche (Lake Odessa/Lakewood High School) topped the team with 13 tackles, including eight solo stops. Warren had seven tackles.

Hope was led by quarterback Phil Butler, who completed 20-of-30 passes for 316 yards and six touchdowns. Scott Jeschke had seven catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns. Joe Verschueren caught five passes for 77 yards and three touchdowns. Dan Bloemers led all ball carriers with 28 carries for 193 yards.

Olivet will next be in action on Saturday, Nov. 15 when it travels to play Wisconsin Lutheran College. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. EST.