Seven players named to 2004 All-MIAA football teams

Seven Olivet College student-athletes have been named to the 2004 All-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) football teams. Junior offensive tackle Kyle Lackscheide (Vermontville/Maple Valley), junior offensive center Mike Pfiester (Bellevue), junior running back Travis Sleight (Battle Creek/Lakeview), junior defensive lineman Andy Storey (Battle Creek/Harper Creek) and sophomore offensive guard Josh Van Laan (Grand Rapids/South Christian) earned All-MIAA first-team honors. Junior tight end Josh Ewing (Hopkins) and senior running back Mick Faasen (Belding) are second-team selections.

Ewing, Lackscheide, Pfiester and Van Laan helped block for the MIAA leaders in rushing offense at 417.1 yards per game (ypg), total offense at 493.1 ypg. and scoring offense at 45.8 points per game. Olivet's rushing average topped all NCAA divisions while the total offense and scoring averages are fifth among NCAA Division III schools. Ewing caught a team-high 11 passes for 283 yards with three touchdowns.

Sleight led the MIAA in scoring with 120 points. These totals also broke the Olivet single-season record. He finished the season with 127 carries for 694 yards and 16 touchdowns along with 10 catches for 299 yards with four touchdowns. Sleight is also the Olivet career leader with 41 touchdowns and 246 points.

Storey was part of the Comet defense, which ranked first in the MIAA in rushing defense at 107.9 ypg and third in total defense at 320.2 ypg. Individually, he was credited with 28 tackles, including seven for minus 31 yards, and tied for the MIAA lead with three fumble recoveries.

Faasen was first on the team and fourth in the MIAA in rushing at 100.1 ypg. In eight games, he had 116 carries for 801 yards with seven touchdowns.

In addition, junior linebacker Ryan Hayes (Livonia/Franklin), junior placekicker Justin Hunwick (Sterling Heights/Stevenson), senior defensive lineman Mark Long (Stockbridge), sophomore running back Kemp Luchie (Grand Rapids/Forest Hills Northern), sophomore offensive guard Al Olds (Kingsley), sophomore defensive backs Chris Quackenbush (Waterford/Mott), Cliff Sims (Reed City) and Eric Smith (Nashville/Maple Valley) and sophomore defensive lineman Blake Wagner (Belding) earned coaches' honorable mention honors.

The Fighting Comets led by third-year Head Coach Irv Sigler, ended their 2004 season with an 8-2 overall record and 5-2 mark in MIAA play. The eight victories tied the school single-season record. Olivet also had eight victories in 1901, 1961 and 1967.