UOlivet defeated by Albion, 58-42, on Senior Day

OLIVET, Mich. – The University of Olivet football team lost 58-42 to Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) rival Albion College this afternoon inside the Cutler Athletic Complex.

THE BASICS

• Final Score: Albion 58, Olivet 42
• Location: Cutler Athletic Complex; Olivet, Michigan
• Records: Olivet 1-8 overall, 1-5 MIAA; Albion 3-6 overall, 1-5 MIAA

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Britons scored a touchdown on their first play of the game, a 40-yard rush by running back Tayshaun Nichols.
• The Comets were stopped on fourth down on their first possession of the game. Albion needed only five plays to score its next touchdown, a 36-yard pass from David Crossman to Braden Fracassi.
• Olivet answered with a touchdown on its next drive. Jaylan Johnson rushed 19 yards into the end zone for the score, as well as scored the two-point conversion to make the score 13-8 with 3:06 left in the opening quarter.
• The Britons countered with a 5-yard touchdown run by Fracassi in the final minute of the quarter.
• Albion extended its lead to 27-8 when Fracassi returned a punt 52 yards for a touchdown.
• The Comets quickly responded on the first play of their ensuing drive when Johnson rumbled 75 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown.
• After forcing a stop at their 9-yard line, the Britons marched down the field and scored a touchdown, a 2-yard jaunt by Nevin Dent to make the score 34-14 with 5:50 remaining in the second quarter.
• Olivet came back with a 9-play scoring drive, capped by a 20-yard touchdown pass from Daniel Avila to Carter Leatherwood. The two-point conversion pass was good, and the Comets trailed 34-22 at the two-minute timeout in the first half.
• Albion did not waste any time and put together an 8-play drive, finished by a 1-yard touchdown run for Nichols. The PAT kick was good, and the Britons led 41-22 at halftime.
• Olivet received the second-half kickoff and scored a touchdown when Avila rushed 15 yards into the end zone. He also ran in the two-point conversion to make the score 41-30.
• The Britons pushed their lead to 14 points on a 45-yard field goal by Logan Grwinski.
• The Comets cut their deficit down to a one-possession game, 44-36, on the first play of the fourth quarter when Noah Bates hauled in a 9-yard touchdown pass from Avila.
• Albion scored touchdowns on their next two drives to stretch their lead 58-36 at the 7:15 mark of the fourth quarter.
• Olivet capped its scoring with 1:47 left when Wade Brashears caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Avila.

FOR THE COMETS

• Olivet had more first downs, 26 to 22, and total offensive yards, 475 to 457, than the Britons.
• Johnson led the ground game with 25 rushes for 188 yards and two touchdowns.
• Avila completed 26-of-44 passes for 240 yards and three touchdowns.
• Rashawn Mersier caught eight passes for 75 yards.
• Javon Peterson recorded a team-best 14 tackles.
• Christian McMillan added nine stops.

UP NEXT

• Olivet closes out the 2025 season next Saturday, November 15, when it travels to play Hope College. Kickoff from Ray & Sue Smith Stadium in Holland is at 1 p.m.