Football team loses to #9 North Central, 37-7

The Olivet College football team dropped a 37-7 decision to North Central (Ill.) College, 37-7, tonight at the Cutler Athletic Complex. The Cardinals entered the game ranked No. 9 in the latest D3football.com Top 25 poll.

For the game, North Central had 553 yards of total offense to 229 yards for the Comets. Individually, quarterback Aaron Fanthorpe accounted for 417 yards, 355 on 21-of-32 passing and 62 yards on seven carries, for the Cardinals. Dominic Sulo led the ground game with 13 carries for 72 yards. The leading receiver was Steve Hlavac with five catches for 64 yards. Defensively, Matt Wenger had 12 total tackles.

Freshman Mike Martin (Caledonia/Wayland) led Olivet's rushing attack with seven carries for 41 yards. Junior Pat Clasgens (Livonia/Stevenson) had 17 rushes for 40 yards and also threw a pass for 33 yards. Junior quarterback Lukas Linn (Harbor Beach) was 10-of-18 for 93 yards. Senior Carl Mulder (Battle Creek/Lakeview) caught three passes for 84 yards.

Defensively, senior Justin Hughes (Marshall) recorded a team-high nine tackles, including seven solo stops. Junior Alex Hill (Berrien Springs) finished with eight tackles and also intercepted two passes with 78 return yards. Senior Michael Terranova (Lansing/Lansing Catholic Central) had seven tackles.

After North Central led 14-0, Olivet put its seven points on the scoreboard with 3:38 left before halftime. Junior fullback Sean Misko (Casco/Richmond) capped a 5-play, 17-yard drive with a one-yard plunge into the end zone. Senior Kyle Zabel (Sturgis) made the PAT kick.

The Cardinals answered with a touchdown on their ensuing possession to make the score, 21-7, at halftime. North Central scored 17 points over the final two quarters of play.

The Comets will celebrate Homecoming next Saturday, Oct. 4, when Albion College visits Olivet for a 2 p.m. game.