Football team defeats Kalamazoo, 42-20, for third straight win

The Olivet College football team won its third straight game today with a 42-20 victory at Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) foe Kalamazoo College. With the win, the Fighting Comets (6-2, 3-2 MIAA) secured a winning season for the second time in three years and only the fourth since 1974.

Olivet took the opening kickoff and marched down the field. Junior Travis Sleight (Battle Creek/Lakeview High School) capped a 15-play drive with a one-yard run for his 30th career touchdown, which breaks a school record. Junior Justin Hunwick (Sterling Heights/Stevenson High School) made the PAT kick. Kalamazoo (1-7, 0-5 MIAA) was forced to punt on its first series.

The Comets made the score 14-0 with 29 seconds left in the first quarter when sophomore Jared Dell (Mendon High School) scored from two yards out. The Hornets cut into the Olivet lead with a 13-yard scoring strike by Tim Kaselitz to Jeff Green at the 9:09 mark of the second quarter. The Comets answered their score with a 11-play, 55-yard scoring drive. Sleight finished the drive with a two-yard run into the endzone. At half, the score remained 21-7.

After a scoreless third quarter, the two teams combined for 34 points in the fourth quarter. Dell scored the first touchdown just four seconds into the last quarter. The Hornets responded with a passing touchdown and then forced Olivet to punt on its next possession.

At the 7:48 mark, sophomore Chris Quackenbush (Waterford/Mott High School) intercepted a Kaselitz pass and returned the ball to Kalamazoo's 11-yard line. Olivet made quick work of the turnover with junior Dwight Houston (Detroit Denby High School) rushing for a one-yard touchdown run. After stopping the Hornets, sophomore Drew Nielsen (Belding High School) had a 22-yard touchdown run. Kalamazoo closed the scoring with a rushing touchdown with just over a minute left in the contest.

For the game, Olivet had 81 rushing attempts for 353 yards. Senior Mick Faasen (Belding High School) topped the team with 19 carries for 102 yards, followed by Sleight and Houston with 62 and 60 yards, respectively. Senior Rick Mason's (Belding High School) only pass attempt was an incompletion.

Defensively, sophomore Blake Wagner (Belding High School) was credited with a team-high six tackles. Senior Ryan Hayes (Livonia Franklin High School) had five tackles, including two quarterback sacks for 17 yards. Hunwick was a perfect five-of-five on PAT kicks. Sophomore David Zenner (Kingsley High School) made the last PAT kick for the Comets.

Kalamazoo had 227 yards of offense, including 20 rushing yards on 19 carries. Kaselitz completed 11-of-17 passes for 207 yards. Green was the top receiver with five catches for 75 yards. Stan Peplinski had five receptions for 64 yards. Jeremy Vanisacker led the defense with 27 tackles, including 13 solo stops.

Olivet returns home to face Wisconsin Lutheran College on Nov. 6. Kickoff from the Cutler Athletic Complex is 1 p.m.