Football team rolls past Manchester, 59-7, in home-opener

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College football team scored a touchdown in all three phases (special teams, offense and defense) on its way to a lopsided 59-7 victory over Manchester (Ind.) University in its home-opener this afternoon at the Cutler Athletic Complex.

Final Score: Olivet 59, Manchester 7
Location: Cutler Athletic Complex; Olivet, Michigan
Records: Manchester 0-3 overall, Olivet 2-0 overall

• Olivet won the coin toss and elected to receive the ball to start the game. Sophomore Akeem Benjamin got the ball at the three-yard line and broke tackles along the way to get into the end zone for a quick 6-0 Comet lead. The PAT kick was good by junior Samuel Roose.
• After the Olivet defense forced a three-and-out for the Spartans, Benjamin had a 15-yard punt return to set-up the Comets at the Manchester 48-yard line. Olivet needed eight plays to cover the 48 yards, capped by a two-yard touchdown run by sophomore Jeremiah Sterling.
• The Comets pinned the Spartans down at their four-yard line on a punt on the last play of the first quarter. On the third play of the drive, senior Logan Fee stepped in front of pass and returned the interception 14 yards for a touchdown.
• A short punt on Manchester's next drive put Olivet on the Spartans 25 to start the drive. Sterling rumbled nine yards into the end zone to put the Comets ahead 28-0 with 9:39 left before halftime.
• The Comets added to the scored with another nine-yard touchdown by Sterling on its next possession.
• The Spartans got only its second first down of the game on its next drive. But on the very next play, senior Anthony Merriman III intercepted a pass and returned it to the Manchester 5-yard line. A penalty pushed the ball back to the 20-yard line.
• The Comets' first play saw freshman quarterback Evan Ormsby connect with junior tight end Seth Young for a 20-yard touchdown pass with 2:05 remaining in the opening half.
• A three-and-out forced the Spartans to punt. The punter kicked the ball into a teammate, and Olivet recovered the ball at the one-yard line. Orsmby followed senior offensive center Andrew Sikkema into the end zone for a touchdown.
• The ensuing kickoff went into the end zone for a touchback. On Manchester's first play, the quarterback fumbled the ball and Fee scooped-up the loose ball. The Spartans were flagged for a pass interference call on the Comets' first play from scrimmage. After an incomplete pass, Roose booted a 25-yard field goal as the first-half clock expired to make the score 52-0.
• Neither team put any points on the scoreboard in the third quarter.
• A 23-yard interception return by freshman Austin Berkompas gave the Comets the ball at the Manchester 15. On the second play of the drive, sophomore Cooper Beard rushed eight yards into the end zone for Olivet's final touchdown.
• The Spartans used a nine-play, 60-yard drive to score their only touchdown with 42 seconds remaining in the game.

• For the game, Olivet had 13 first downs and totaled 248 yards of offense compared to 10 first downs and 150 yards for the Spartans.
• Senior Nyassinu Crowell, Jr. had 11 carries for 78 yards.
• Sterling rushed six times for 41 yards and three touchdowns.
• Ormsby completed four passes for 39 yards in the first half.
• Senior David Coffey also completed for passes for 29 yards in the second half.
• Junior Tashawn Morris caught two passes for 16 yards.
• Six other players each had a reception.
• The defense recorded eight tackles for loss, picked off four passes and recovered a fumble.
• Senior Jeylin Rogers had five tackles, including two for minus 17 yards.
• Freshman Anthony Mitchell had five tackles, with a team-best four solo stops.
• Roose was a perfect 8-of-8 on PAT kicks.

• Christian Smith had 17 carries for 41 yards.
• Eric James threw for 103 yards on 12-of-24 passing.
• Harrington Greer caught four passes for 33 yards.
• Gabe Melvin hauled in four passes for 27 yards.
• Marvin Collins recorded a team-best five tackles.

• The Comets make the trip to play Millsaps (Miss.) College next Saturday, September 25. Kickoff at Harper Davis Field is 12 p.m. CT/1 p.m. ET.